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To Increase Pro Focus

To increase sales from professional contractors and builders, Home Depot will add six more test sites in stores by the end of the year.

Already in use in three stores, test site sales staffs work closely with pros to develop relationships.

Should it prove successful, Depot will expand the program nationwide over three years.

SFPA Teams With APA

APA-The Engineered Wood Association has aligned itself with the Southern Forest Products Association to improve the competitive standing of the wood products industry.

The collaboration should streamline costs to maximize returns generated from membership fees.

Among the activities to be reviewed are e-commerce, standards and codes, production and demand forecasts, industry meetings, market research, international markets, media relations and advertising.

Harmony & Hardware

Thanks to not missing a day of business in nine years, Island Hardware & Marine Supply, St. James City, Fl., has come to be the place for everything from bolts and fasteners to frozen bait and live shrimp.

But, that's not all. Every third Saturday, the Do it Best store welcomes 200-300 people who gather at its docks for "Music Night."

"We started 'Music Night' two years ago and it's escalated to where we've had as many as 500 people come from as far as 50 to 60 miles away," said Bob Hawkins, owner of the store and marina.

The "amphibious" retailer, located on Pine Island, not far from Fort Myers, has 180' of waterfront land, 1 I boat slips and two davits that lift boats in and out of the canal.

BMA Merging With Ace LBM

Ace Hardware Corp. agreed to merge its LBM division with Builder Marts of America, creating the nation's largest wholesale LBM buying and distribution group.

The new, non-dealer-owned company, as yet unnamed, will be based out of BMAs Greenville, S.C., headquarters, with annual direct sales of $1.2 billion to over 2,700 retail locations. Ace's five regional LBM buying offices will remain in place.

Duane Faulkner, president of BMA and Guardian Fiberglass, which last year acquired a 49.9Vo stake and control of BMA, will serve as president and ceo of the new firrn, and BMA s Martin Powell and Ace's Wayne Wiggleton as senior v.p.s. whatever it takes.

The agreement also includes an alliance with Ace's three-year-old National Hardlines Supply division, which becomes exclusive hardlines supplier for the new company's customers who are not Ace dealers.

Founded in 1967, BMA had annual sales last year of $600 million to more than 1,700 retailers.

That's a commitment we've made to Willamette customers for the better part of a century and that's not going to change. Tell you why. Having loyal pannerships is what we value most. Everything it takes to deliver products 0f consistent quality-traditional and engineered wood-is a Willamette priority. As it should be. Because the customers we work with every day depend on this quality standard to do their jobs well. After all, they have a vested interest. Which is why making capital investments in our plants, keeping pace with new product development, and responsibly managing our forest resources are s0 important to the job we do now and in the future. lt's a team effort, and one we're mighg proud of. lf you'd like to know more, call us at 1-800-887-0748 ext. 100 or visit us at www.wii.com.