Wood moulding'sbest lriend

By Guy Boulanger and Michael C. Massa

HAT IS the Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers Association? What is it composed of? What does it do?

We can't tell you how many times we have been asked these very questions. To explain exactly what WMMPA is, we have to travel back in time to 1963.

On June I l, 1963, "Fitz" Binnion of Lakeview Manufacturing Company called a meeting in San Francisco, Ca., to propose to nine other companies that they form a trade association of moulding and millwork manufacturers. Binnion felt that a group of manufacturers could tackle industry problems more effectively than any single producer could. The group agreed, and they formed the Western Wood Moulding Producers, which later became the WMMPA.

Thirty-seven years later, the Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers Association is an international trade association for manufacturers of hardwood, softwood, fingerjoint and medium density fiberboard mouldings, interior and exterior doorjambs and frames, plank paneling and related millwork products.

The association's goals are fivefold:

(1) Promote quality products produced by its membership.

The WMMPA promotes the products its members produce in a number of ways. Part of its annual operating budget is applied toward marketing, including advertisements in industry publications such as The Merchant Magazine and Better Homes & Gardens. WMMPA also submits articles for these and other publications to promote the use of wood mouldings and millwork.

The association also produces many in-house publications and videotapes to help disseminate information on our members' products. Some of the brochures explain how to work with and install certain types of wood mouldings (lattice, crown, picture frame, jambs and frames), how to finish and stain wood mouldings and millwork, and even how to sell wood mouldings.

The WMMPA realizes that it needs to target all areas of the market from the jobber to the do-it-yourselfer and everyone in between, and it has designed brochures and tapes to do just that. It also produces a buyer's directory each year that describes each member firm and the products they produce. The publication has become the "must-have" tool for industry buyers of millwork products.

(2) Develop sources of supply.

The WMMPA has arranged wood sourcing trips around the world that have helped its membership scout out and acquire lumber they can use to manufacture wood mouldings. Recent destinations include New Zealand, Chile and Russia.

(3) Promote optimum use of raw materials.

The WMMPA is committed to perpetuating the world's forests for products and the environment. It supports a forest policy featuring reasonable set-asides for enjoyment by people and a balance with other living things. It also supports the principles of a renewable resource to provide timber dedicated to wood products for the public. The WMMPA believes the environment can best be served by both and is committed to the protection and enhancement of the natural life cycle of our forests.

(4) Standardize the products our members produce.

The WMMPA has developed a number of industry standards for the

Group programs in

works will allow WMMPA members to take advantage of bulk-priced buying of items such as electricity.

products

(f) Non-pressure treating of millwork

(g) Twentyminute firerated wood door frames

(h) Positive pressure t5l

The standards are published by the WMMPA and are reviewed and updated on a regular basis, with changes being made as needed.

Increase the domestic and foreign usage of wood moulding and millwork

products.

WMMPA promotes the use of wood mouldings globally in a number of ways. production of moulding and millwork products. These standards cover such items as:

Representatives attend both international and domestic trade shows, such as the National Association of Home Builders Show, National Sash & Door Jobbers Association's annual meeting, International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair in Atlanta, Ga.; AWFS Woodworking Fair in Anaheim, Ca.; Ltcxa. in Germany, the Good Living Show in Japan, and Maderalia in Spain.

(a) Hinged interior wood door jambs

(b) Exterior wood door frames

(c) Wood moulding requirements

(d) Vinyl wrapped interior moulding and millwork

(e) Standard certified fingerjointed or laminated non-structural wood

The international trade shows are a marketing tool funded with Foreign Agricultural Service money provided through both the Softwood Export Council and the American Hardwood Export Council. The WMMPA is a member of both organizations.

The WMMPA also maintains a Web site at wmmpa.com. The site features a directory of manufacturing and associate members, information on available literature and upcoming association events, links to other wood industry sites, and samples of moulding usage with color pictures illustrating the various ways to decorate a room. The site also welcomes questions about wood moulding by email.

The WMMPA stages two membership meetings ayear, providing members with the opportunity to discuss industry topics at board and committee meetings and listen to top industry speakers address the most current topics and issues of the day,

In addition to collectively addressing common problems with other producers, members can use meetings to meet with suppliers of raw materials, machinery. supplies and services.

The WMMPA has group programs in the works that will allow the membership to take advantage of bulkpriced buying of items such as electricity. Another program in the planning stages is a property tax auditing service that may permit members to realize tax savings on misclassified ASSEtS.

Studies have shown that when a typical consumer buys for a remodeling project, 257o of the purchases for that project are moulding and millwork. The WMMPA is very proud of this amazing statistic, and remains committed to supporting and promoting these sought-after products.

D IG CHANGES are under way in Ilhow retail companies train their employees.

"Retail organizations have greater expectations of what training can achieve and workplace learning is being transformed as a result," says Herb Cohen, ceo of Mohr Learning.

Cohen cited six trends to watch for: I

I Focus is on learning, not training. This is more than a semantic sleight of hand. Today learning is more employee-centered than in the past. Instead of talking down to store associates, for instance, there's more listening and greater interaction between employee and trainer. And rather than impose inflexible rules or procedures, learning is now intended to empower employees, at all levels, to use judgment and initiative to solve problems. at

G Learning is used to improve retention.

Workplace learning can not only improve employee performance and customer service, but also reduce costly employee turnover. Indeed, Fortune magazine's yearly study of the best companies to work for offers clear evidence that the retailers that provide more learning opportunities have significantly higher rates of retention than the industry average. Coupled with careful hiring, many