How two hardwood associations help you

ABINETS for kitchen and bath, KD furniture, stair treads and risers, Picture frames, panels, mouldings and decorative accessories are a few of the hardwood products in a home center which originate with members of the National Dimension Manufacturers Association.

Formerly known as the Hardwood Dimension Manufacturers Association, the organization has served the quality wood comPonent Products industry since 1929. Members come from throughout the United States and Canada. Steven V. Losser is executive director at the Marietta, Ga., headquarters.

Most of the Products manufactured by members of the association are sold to other manufacturers who use them in products such as furniture and cabinets which eventually become inventory in a home center.

In addition to qualitY standards, the association Promotes a demand for dimension products, collects and distributes industry information, conducts seminars and meetings, and interacts with other wood Product trade groups and government agencies on behalf of the dimension manufacturers.

Studies including market trends and developments and analysis of potential new markets are among the industry research projects undertaken by NDMA. A monthlY newsletter keeps members uP to date.

Membership in the association has grown steadily in the last year, with an initial leap from27 in August of 1984 to 65 in JanuarY 1985. According to Losser, the goal is for 80 members representing approximately 4O9o of the firms in the U.S. dimension industry by the end of this Year.

Dimension manufacturers are bothered by the number of foreigrt dimension parts being imported and the number of finished products such as KD furniture coming from outside the U.S. Their goal is to increase their share of the market with what they feel to be superior U.S. manufactured dimension parts.

Story at a Glance

Behind the scenes Product development & market surveys assurc better hardwood Prod' ucts for market...two asso ciations broaden membershiP and aid the industry...both have new names.

ARKET development and promotion are key issues for the Hardwood Manufacturers Association.

Known as the Southern Hardwood Lumber Manufacturers Association for 50 years, the Memphis, Tn., based organization adopted a new name and extended its membership nationally a year ago. Although its membership is timited to hardwood producers, its activities have an influence on the entire industry including the dealers.

In addition to creating a Sreater awareness :rmong customers and the general public of the quality, beauty and versatility of hardwood products, the association is devoted to :lssembling and distributing industry statistics.

Special industry surveys and reports also are compiled and circulated periodically. An information service is maintained to cover technical facrs about hardwoods and their availability.

HMA holds an annual convention each March and a production meeting each fall to explore problems and opportunities for manufacturers. The first annual meeting of the expanded association was held last sprilg in New Orleans, 13.,with over 40 hardwood people.

Fred Netterville, Fred Netterville Lumber Co., Woodville, Ms., is the chairman of the board; Dondd Overmyer Jr., Linden Lumber Co., Linden, Al., lst vice chairman; L. N. Thompson Jr., T&S Hardwoods, Inc., Milledgeville, G8., 2nd vicc chairman. George E. Kelly is president and James H. Lee is executive vice president. Both are based in the HMA Memphis office.

Working behind the scenes to improve utilization of hardwood resources as well as supporting both the manufacturer and dealer, the Hardwood Manufacturers Association is only one of the manY links in the chain between Produccr and consumer. Although they are relatively unknown to the dealer and his customers, they PlaY an imPortant role in providing the best hardwood products possible.