Major Scandinavian building expo

HEN the Association of Building Material Distributors in Oslo, Norway, decided a few years ago to have a building exposition, it probably seemed to some to be a pretty ambitious undertaking. After all, there are only 450,000 people in Oslo and a total population of just over 4 million in the entire country.

Yet the final figures of the recently concluded I lth Annual Nordic Building Exposition more than prove their confidence was well founded. As the doors closed August 18 after a ten day run, total attendance was 111,800. The final day alone drew almost 9,000. In comparison, the recent Hardware Industry Week/National Hardware Show in Chicago drew 77,685, which was a record. While the Oslo show was approximately half trade and half general public, its attendance is nonetheless remarkable.

In walking the show, it soon became obvious that the Norwegians are as sophisticated in both products and display as any country in the world, including the U.S. Of the 339 exhibitors, 297 were from Norway, 16 from Denmark, l0 from Sweden, 12 from Finland, 2 from West Germanv and one each from Belgium and The Netherlands. The United States was not represented among the exhibitors, though a scattering of U.S. products were present. Products from more than 800 manufacturers world wide were to be seen in the displays.

The exhibits, by both manufacturers and suppliers, ran the full range: building materials, fixtures, fittings, hardware, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, glass, lighting to just about every building product under the sun. Outside, adjacent to the huge exhibition center, was a large area used to display full sized second homes and vacation cabins.

While some of the exhibits were obviously slanted to the builder, many others targeted the remodeling contractor and the do-it-yourselfer. Though the d-i-y movement was slow to get started, it has been picking up speed in recent years and is now the fastest growing segment of the market in terms of percentage growth.

It also seems there are some universal aspects to the handyman that go beyond language, customs and nationality. As in this country, drawings, photos and brochures tended to portray the d-i-yer as perplexed, frustrated, confused and, yes, sporting a newly-bashed thumb when the hammer in the other hand missed its target.

On a more positive note, other company graphics made clear that all

Story at a Glance

Oslo, Nonray exhabition is an impressive showcase of modern, innovative products . . . sophisticated, high tech building systems and products . . . more foreign merchandise likely for U.S. market.

this suffering was more than rewarded by pursuing the task to conclusion and enjoying the wonderful sense of accomplishment a successful d-i-y job brings.

The theme of the show was Mod-

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((-<trttinucd Jrottt prcvious page ) ernization and Maintenance (home fix-up to us). Last year the houseproud Norwegians spent more than $2 billion on home improvement. Indeed, the high level of maintenance of all structures is obvious even to the casual observer, despite their bruising winters.

It is estimated that half the homes in the nation received some improvement last year and, like the U.S., home improvement is now a larger market than new home construction. Housing starts in Norway, average about 20,000 per year, something less than l09o of the U.S. pace. New home construction, incidentally, is a difficult and time consuming procedure as basements must be carved out of solid granite in virtually every region of the land.

The general level of affluence was evident in the high number of upscale building products and systems aimed at the public. Indeed, many of the displays were aglitter with the latest in high gloss materials,composites, plastics and metals. Many building products had a decidedly high tech look.

As was to be expected, wood products in this heavily forested land were well represented. The major commercial species is pine. It is used in both clear and knotty and is often left unstained, with only a clear varnish to protect the wood. The effect is quite different from our products and the look achieved ranges from country casual to high fashion. Extensive lines of pine mouldings were offered by many firms. Windows and doors were often rendered in pine, though the metal window, especially, has been making evident inroads into their domestic building industry.

Given the high level of excellence in display and product, it was surprising that these results were not always the efforts of a giant multi-national company, but rather of relatively small, local firms with timited marketing areas within the nation. While the larger firms usually had expansive exhibits, many of the smaller firms also avoided the minimum l0' x l0' booth that so often lends a cluttered look to some of our shows in this country.

Generally speaking, the producs displayed were pitched on the basis of features and quality, rather than a price approach. One exhibitor, reflecting the wide use of English in the country, had a large sign front and center in Enelish that said: "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."

Sales were brisk at Bygg-ReisDeg-1985 (the Norwegian name for their building show). One vacation home maker displaying his all wood cabins sold 90 of them. One ladder manufacturer reported daily sales of 6G70ladders.

A full complement of seminars accompanied the show. A total of 25 topics were discussed; including fitre protection (the biggest draw), energy saving, bath remodeling and building damage repair.

Held every other year, t}te next show will be in Oslo, September 25 to October 4, 1987.

Foreign visitors to this impressive show saw increasing evidence that building products can and do come from anywhere in the world. For our manufacturers, it was increasingly clear that today's alreadY stiff competition from overseas is likely to intensify. For American retailers and wholesalers, the conclusion seemed clear that the long term trend of selling foreign products will continue.

Hardware Convention Program

Leaders in and out of the hardware industry will headline the 1985 National Hardware Convention Oct. ?}23 in San Francisco.

Co-sponsored by the American Hardware Manufacturers Association and the National Wholesale Hardware Association, it is the annual fall gathering of the nation's leading hardware manufacturers and wholesale distributors.

Hurricane Elena Damage Report

Most lumber companies avoided serious injury from Hurricane Elena in early September, despite $543.3 million in damages in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. the storm's center.

"Everyone had a little damage, but everyone's still operating," said Chunh Snead, owner of Coast Wholesale Supply Co. in Long Beach, Ms. Mississippi was most heavily hit, especialy in the Ocean Springs/Pascagoula area.

City Lumber and Supply Co. in Pascagoula was extensively damaged, with water damage to merchandise and a couple of roofs blown off.

Jack Ginn, general manager, said, "A couple of metal buildings were totally destroyed, just ripped apart. We never closed down, but we're still in the middle of digging out. Everyone's been really cooperative in assisting us.

House Showcases Plywood

The American Plywood Association, Tacoma, Wa., and Country Living magazine are co-sponsoring a two-story country home being built near Woodinville, Wa.

The 2,000 sq. ft. structure, opened to the public in September,will be featured in Country Living in February 1986. It incorporates a structural wood panel construction system including APA 303 textured plywood siding applied horizontally to carry out the country style motif.

Why Dealers Tie-in With Plen.Wood

The Plen-Wood system is a heating and cooling alternative, employing standard construction methods and materials to provide significant economies in construction and energy.

As simple as it is effective, the structure is built with a tightly sealed underfloor space. The entire underfloor area is used as a sealed plenum chamber, where conditioned air is kept under slight pressure. A conventional downflow HVAC unit warms or cools the air, which is directed to the plenum and distributed through floor registers to the living space above. l]|0

Our employees pitched in, even though they had damage to their own homes."

Biloxi Cash & Carry Building Materials in Biloxi, Ms., also suffered severe damage, according to spokesperson Chris Newman. She said, "We lost part of a building, the roof of another building and lots of merchandise. But everything's been rebuilt. It didn't slow us down or affect business. We went right on."

Of the $513 million in property damage incurred by Elena, the fourth costliest U.S. hurricane, Mississippi suffered $352.4 million; Alabama, $ I 0 0. 3 million ; Florida, $46.8 million, and Louisiana, $13.8 million.

In Louisiana, the Bogalusa Lumber Co. of Bogalus reported very little damage, although they said nearby Jenkins Building Supply lost a roof.

In Pensacola, Fl., Building Supply Center Inc. and Scotty's Inc. each lost a few shingles.

In Alabama, Hallett Building Materials Inc. in Mobile weathered the storm without a scratch.

Various foundation systems, such as the Permanent Wood Foundation (formerly the All-Weather Wood Foundation), poured concrete or concrete block may be used. Regardless of the foundation choice, standard construction methods are used except that foundation vents are omitted.