ome Center erchant

Bill Fishman

Bill Fishman & Atliliates

11650 lberia Place

San Diego, Ca.92128

? lll: phonc docsn't ring at .15.(XX)

I icct so I usc nry flying time to cutch up on reading trade publications and mail. llcre ore sonre notcs I scratched en route to nnd from the National llardwarc Show.

AtjTOMnTl:l) MISTAKLS

The lctter came lirst class nrail. The cnvelope was correctly addresscd to me. Thc inside address on the letter was also correcl. The salutation. however, rcad: "l)ear Mr. I'hilips."

I wonder how many thousands of computer generated letters greeting the rcader with somcone else's name were mliled?

TOP l5 IIOME ('l:NTl:R ('llAlNS

('lnin Store .4sc listed the toP l5 llome ('enters for this year. Their combined volume exceeded $16 billion within 2,299 store units.

Seven of'these chains again ntade the list of the 100 top tJ.S. retailers: Lowe's. llonre l)epot, Payless ('ashways, lluilders Square, Wickes, (irossnran itnd I lechinger.

(lOMPLlTtrR PR(X;RAM LIP(;RAI)l:S

I'm a Lotus freak! l)uring the past five years I have beconre lirirly proficient creating spreadsheets and graphs on nly original Lotus la program. Often I think of purchasing updates and add-ins but the vision of 400* pages of instruction manuals keeps me lrom mailing the order form. (But Icontinue to save all the catalogs. )

BN R COI)ED LUMI]ER

ilancock Lumber of Casco, Me., is now supplying (through their wholesaler) Pergament Home Centers, the 40 store eastern chain. with bar coded pine shelving. The UPC stickers are applied at the mills after their high speed cuts. The problem ol'bcing too sticky or not sticky cnough appcilrs to havc bccn solvccl.

('l.l:AR YOtIR l)l:SK:

Rcg. $1,(X)0/Salc $395 gu1$.j95 two-day session will include work organization and dcsk clearing. Attcndccs will rcccive a copy of'Joe's tape.

When we discussed the curriculum lilr our upconting two-day scntinars, Joe Sanrulin included ir segment on orderly wrlrk cnvironmcnt. Joc has produccd a vidc<l tapc showing how to ntaintain a clear dcsk. This wcck hc mailcd mc two articlcs about JclTery Maycr, the consultlnt who contntands $|,(Xn a dly for showing cxccutivcs how to kccp their dcsk clear.

llRUTAt_ll'Y

lleard ollen at the show werc tales of the cold brutality of the investment bankers in ending the tenure ol home center executives who lall out of' lavor with the investors.

I'}LNSIONS nNl) l'ROl:ll' Sl IARIN(;

Tax law changes require that c// pension and prollt sharing plans have to be updated or amended in 1989. Shearson Lehman llutton is promoting a service for review and update plans without "professional costs."

SOME INNOVATIVtT Stlow lT[MS

('inchy - Rope tie down, one-size-fitsall bungie cord replacement.

Ilampton LockerCombination lock with compartment... in designer colors.

(irip and StripWire stripper from Ideal.

Paint StickIrrom Power-lrlo Products.

Ilulb Changerl:xtension pole bulb changer from Mr. Longarm Inc.

TorpedoLED torpedo level lrom Zircon International.

Exacut Knife System - [leavy duty trimming knife from ltisco.

Systems Lok - Security for portable items from Patrick Manufacturing.

Weyefiaeuser To Close 12 DCs

Weyerhaeuser will close l2 forest product distribution centers as part of a company wide refocusing to improve performance.

Asheville. N.C.. Houston. Tx.. Orlando and Tampa, l.'1., and Los Angeles (Hill St.), Ca., Weyerhaeuser Customer Service Centers are among those identified for sale. Target date for completing the sale is the end of the year. In the meantime, the facilities will continue to operate.

Big W will continue to own and operate distribution outlets in most major markets and continue availability of products to all markets either directly or through other distributors, a spokesman said.

National Forest Products Week

National Forest Products Week will be observed Oct. 15-21 this year to acknowledge the contributions that forest products and the forest products industry have made to this country.

Reflecting the industry's commitment to America's future, the theme will be "Managing the Future of America's Forests." A kit is available from the American Forest Foundation and the American Forest Council to help individual companies tell the public the story of the industry's environmental sensitivity, its land stewardship, economic vitality and the convenience forest products bring to everyday life.

An advertising campaign will appear on television as well as in publications such as National Geographic and Omni.

Joint Treating Industry Meet

A joint pressure treating industry conference of five associations has been slated for Nov. 7-10 in New Orleans, La.

The Southern Pressure Treaters Association and the National Timber Piling Council will meet separately on Nov. 7 at the Maison Dupuy Hotel, and then join the American Wood Preservers Bureau, American Wood Preservers Institute and the Society of American Wood Preservers for sessions at the Westin Canal Place Nov. 8-10.