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Editorial

Lead, follow or look out

This election season we're hearing lots of talk about leadership for America. For any business, this elusive quality called leadership is an equally important asset

Leadership involves many areas. Professor Leonard L. Berry, writing for Arthur Andersen & Co., observes that "We have a poverty of leadership in retailing today - just as we do in all other major industries and sectors of society. The qualities of leadership... love of the business, a core vision, innovativeness, a passion for excellence, integrity... are too often absent in the people running retail companies, and thus in the companies themselves."

Enthusiasm especially seems in short supply. How often do we encounter leaders who are sparkling and excited each morning about the challenges and opportunities of the day? Some are and it is fascinating to observe. Yet too many just grind it out - another day, another dollar. Call the latter negative leadership.

Unless a person in a leadership capacity is born with a love of retailing in his or her blood, naintaining enthusiasm can be a daunting task. In the brutal world of retail, disappointments and nasty surprises come all too often. Maintaining the magic can be tough. Yet it is just those kinds of qualities that separate the true leader from the pack. Some of tiis falls under the heading of "when the going gea bugh, the tough get going."

Leaders come in all kinds, shapes and types. Firm rules do not always apply. While leadership may be difficult or perhaps impossible to define precisely, when you are in its presence or feel its effect from a competitor, you know what it is.

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Dean Ups Treating Capacity

Dean Lumber Co., Gilmer, Tx., has increased its treating capacity and the unifonnity of its reated wood.

Treating plant equipment, narnely pumps and the mix system, has been upgraded with pneumatic console controls replaced by a process control computef system. Changes have cut 20 minutes from the previous treating cycle, reduced the possibility of errors and provided flexibility to the treating operation. Using the same treating cylinders as before, production capacity has been increased. Treated wood is also drier when removed from the cylinders. The entire treating process is conducted under a 2-ll2 acre rcof

Plant manager Danny Hurt and trcating plant operators Pat Nott and John Finney are pleased because the new system enables them to treat to exact AWPB standards and to comply with snict EPA guidelines.

"We have always enjoyed a reputation for quality," said company president Steve Dean. "This is one more step in our quest for the perfect product. Our customers are getting clean, environmentally sound treated wood."

Hickson Cotp., Atlanta Ga., coordinated the improvements. Dean Lumber produces Wolmanized pressure treated wood, Wolnanized Extra weather resistant lumber, Dean Deck and Dricon fire retardant treated wood.

Lowe's To Open 60 Locations

Lowe's will add 60 new waehouse units next year and increase lotal floor space by 457o. Thirly stores will be in new markets, mostly southeastern, with the rest replacing existing stofes. The company set a goal of fipling annual revenue to $10 billion by the end ofthe decade.

Chairman Robert Strickland said the chain is pursuing a Wal-Mart strategy with smaller cities, adding there is plenty of unconquered territory for both Lowe's and Home Depot. "The analogy I use is two elephants in a chicken yard," he said.

The company claims it has found a successful fonnula with its largest stores, which carry everything from lutber and garden equiprment to washing machines and telephones within 65,000-100,000 square feet. The average large Lowe's increased sales 25Vo over 1991 in the second quart€r.

In response to charges that Lowe's has poor service, management said they're taking steps to improve service, eliminating an inconvenient catalogbased checkout system, training employees better and placing paging systems throughout some stores so customers can call a salesperson with the push of a button.

Hurricane Report

Coverage of damage by Hurricane Andrew will appear next month.

Hechinger To Gut Prices

Prices in all older, traditional Hechinger Co. home improvement stores will be cut to match prices at its new Home Project Centers.

"For all intents and purposes over the next several years we're going to convert the Hechinger chain to Home Project Centers," ceo John W. Hechinger Jr. said.

Ten stores have been converted to the new format which groups products around service desks specializing in the most common projects.

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