Building Products Digest - October 1997

Selllng tothc wEsr2

Plus Alaska and Hawali

lf you sell into the West, or any part of it, we can help you get across your message.

The Merchant Magazine covers all 13 Western states (from New Mexico up through Montana, to California and the rest of the West Coast, plus Alaska and Hawaii). Founded in 1922, il has been the listened-to voice of the industry in the West for more than seven decades. Our longevity also proves we can get an advertise/s message to the important trade factors better than any other medium. And at the right price.

Our paid circulation is over 4,000 - a remarkable vote of confidence as these industry influentials receive at least four or five free

magazines monthly. The Merchants paid circulation tells you clearly which magazine Westemers read.

The Merchant's unique blend of news, rterchandising and marketing information, salted wilh personal news and notes and seasoned to the Westemers' taste reaches an audience of home centers and lumber dealers, as well as the wholesalers, distributors and jobbers that back them up. The Merchant, incidentally, is the sister publication of Building Products Digest.

You can count on reaching the ma*et in the West through The Merchant Magazine. Call today, you'll be glad you did.

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EDITORIAL

$3.3 Trillion, Yes, Ma'am!

It is remarkable that as we approach the year 2000 retail experts are still having to point out the importance of women customers.

No less a marketing guru than Dr. Tom Peters (In Search of Excellence) took for his topic "Women Power" when addressing a recent International Mass Retailing Institute convention. In as much as IMRA includes the likes of WalMart, Kmart and Target, you would think if anyone realized the importance of women customers, it would be this bunch.

According to Peters, women account for the largest retail purchases and possess $3.3 trillion in consumer purchasing power. He noted that 35Vo of wives out-earn their husbands and that the female role in business is expanding across the economy. In 1970, for example, only one percent of business travelers were women; today it's half.

"Fifteen years ago retailers competed on price," Peters said, "Today it's quality and tomorrow it's design." The key word here is design. These are the creative areas of color, fashion, and

ambience that women love and respond to. While most men may not care whether store walls are blue or grcen, women do and it can have a marked effect upon their purchasing.

A recent IMRA study backs up Peters. Brand characteristics, personal assistance from clerks or experts, and U.S.-made products rank higher with the distaff side. Women pay more attention to coupons and special promotions. Last, but not least, is the major importance females place on service.

Concluding, Peters foresees that to compete in the 2lst Century, retailers will not only have to know what consumers want, but how they want it. Although 69% of consumers enter a store knowing what they want, 5l7o leave empty handed. Obviously, retailers must do a better job analyzing data on consumer needs and wants.

The old cliche is true: half the people are women and that half controls more than 5O% of consumer spending. Enough said?

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ffnnnWOOD floors are getting a Ilfacelift. Custom painted wood flooring is quickly becoming the hottest trend in faux decorating. combining wood layout with an artistic flavor. Updated styles of marble, stone and even checkerboard now grace wood floors across the country, replacing carpet and linoleum in kitchens, dining rooms and foyers.

Painted hardwood floors add versatility to a room, pairing traditional elements with a splash of panache. Architects are capitalizing on the trend and transforming older hardwood floors into attractive focal points of the home. The results are striking. Custom painted hardwood floors may make a room appear larger or may complement a certain look. A checkerboard design may evoke a classic look, while gingham may portray a country setting.

No matter the chosen design, painted hardwood floors are becoming artistic investments for homeowner. Homeowners are also customizing their floors by creating illusions of grandeur and beauty through painted design.

Story at a Glance

Latest fad: painted hardwood floors faux finishes mimic gingham patterns, oriental rugs, marble tiles.

Custom painted floors refect personality and an unmatched attention to detail.

Gingham patterns, oriental rugs and marble tiles can be simulated by new colors, paint and a brush.

Painted hardwood floors provide a long-lasting beauty that will be enjoyed for decades to come. Finishes and lacquers are often added to protect the designs as well as the floors. Many homeowners are choosing hardwood floors with surface finishes because they require no waxing and are easily maintained by sweeping or dust-mopping.

Painted wood is also versatile and affordable. Unlike other flooring materials, as taste and trends change, so can the look of wood floors. The painted wood designs can be easily sanded off and refinished to the timeless look of natural hardwood.

"Faux finishes are definitely mak-

ing a statement throughout the wood flooring industry as well as the design industry," says Ed Korczack, executive director of the National Wood Floorins Association. "The look for

1997 is a balance of simple natural products like wood but with a trendy, creative twist. The possibilities are unlimited, allowing any homeowner to create a true one-of-a-kind floor."

A Mdium & natural ton€s are most fra quenily chosen cotors for wood fbodng42.5o/o &fi.$Yo respcctively. An additional 10.4olo say white tones are mo6l popular.

A While the living room is most often mentioned as the place for wsod floors (28.8%), ttp remainder of dosigrers were evenly divi&d betwst dinirp roons, fop ett, kitchens & derls.

VOUR CUSTOMERS want the

I warmth of North American hardwoods like ash, maple, oak and poplar. Unfortunately, finite budgets often preclude you from selling flooring, cabinetry or woodwork simply by wood and by style.

How do you and your customer know what you are getting if You don't specify "the best"? The answer is there is no single best-but there is a best solution for your Project. Buyers sometimes confuse quality, consistency and uniformity. Natural hardwood products are never as uniform as, say, wallpaper from a catalog, and that's a source of their charm. But "less uniform" doesn't mean "inconsistent" or "lower qualitv.

To describe the look you and your client want, and to determine the degree of uniformity their budget allows, it is helpful to understand the three hardwood product grading standards. They cover almost any combination of species, quality or application you are likely to encounter, and are similar in spirit to the familiar structural lumber standards.

The three basic hardwood grading standards are issued by:

o the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA), whose rules prevail in grading hardwood lumber,

r the National Oak Flooring Manufacturing Association (NOFMA), whose standards cover hardwood flooring,

o and the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI), whose guidelines deal with the quality, materials, work-

manship and installation of finished wood products (including softwoods), such as cabinetry, stairways and rails, doors, window frames, chair rails and paneling.

Grades For Usabillty

NHLA grades describe only the amount of material in a board that a manufacturer of fl ooring, furniture, cabinetry or millwork will be able to use. In NHLA terms, FAS (firsts and seconds) describes higher, more valuable grades-long, wide clear boards with little waste. Intermediate grades, like selects, #l and #2, are assigned in descending order as size percentage of clear lumber and value decline. In this system, about half of every log is non-appearance grade, destined for applications like pallets and crates.

Story at a Glance

Hardwood grades help match the vision with the budget makang hardwood character atfordable for everyone.

Grades For Appeariance

The NOFMA grading system is appearance-based. To understand these grades, it is necessary to be familiar with the terms "heartwood" and "sapwood," and "plain sawn" and "quafier sawn."

Heartwood is the oldest, densest, innermost section of the log. It is

often darker and richer in color than sapwood, which lies closest to the bark. The color differcnce may be so pronounced that heartwood and sapwood from the same tree ar€ marketed under separate nnmes. Red pecan, for instance, is the heartwood: the sapwood of the same tree is sold as white pecan.

Boards can be cut from a hardwood log in two principal directions: tangential to the annual rings (plain sawn or flat sawn), or radially across the rings (quarter sawn).

Arched or flame-shaped markings, evident in bold-grained hardwoods, such as oak, characterize plain sawn wood, while quartersawn or "quartered" boards show a pattern of roughly parallel lines. Both have advantages in price, appearance and function, depending on application and species.

NOFMA divides unfinished strip flooring into four grades: clear, select. #l common and{2 common.

Clear and select grades are frrther distinguished by sawing direction using the designations: clear plain, clear quartered, select plain and select quartered.

Length also plays a part in NOFMA terminology; l-ll4 shorts, for instance, are l5-inch- to 3-footlong flooring strips. Builders might request l-l/4 shorts to reduce waste in bay windows and other irrcgular configurations.

NOFMA also maintains separate grading standards for pre-finished oak flooring: prime, standard, and tavern.

Since more than 90% of the hard-

wood flooring sold in the U.S. is oak, NOFMA grading dominates flooring. However, NOFMA also certifies maple, beech, birch and pecan flooring as first, second, or third grade. First grade strips are practically free of character marks, but permit natural variations in color. Second grade displays tight, sound knots and other light character marks. Third grade flooring must merely provide a serviceable floor.

Guidelines for Quality

AWI sets the standards for the appearance, engineering, fabrication, finishing and installation of wood products.

Builders and architects need to be aware of only the three AWI grades when specifying woodwork: premium, custom and economy.

To illustrate, in custom grade millwork, the gap between doors, drawers or panels and frames must be 1/16" or less. In premium grade work, the tolerance is l/32"; in economy 3/32" is acceptable.

A partial list of other variables specified within these grades include the flatness of doors, flushness of joints, surface smoothness, hardware and construction techniques. Most architectural woodwork is custom grade, with premium grade reserved for special projects or focal points. Economy grade represents the minimum expectation of quality, workmanship, materials and installation.

AWI appearance grades refer only to character marks in finished products. Grade I. Grade II and Grade III limits, which set standards for clear surface area, vary by species.

Since a log produces only a few clear boards-pieces free from character marks and other distinguishing features-boards with fewer character marks rate the highest grades. Much of the remaining lumber offers good value, and may be perfect for your project. With a knowledge of lumber grading, you can take advantage of diversity, balance the variables and get consistent results.

3 Budgets,3 Guidelines

At the top of the line, clear, topquality materials should be specified. To avoid trouble, however, be sure the client realizes that not even the most expensive woods are completely uniform in color and grain.

On a moderate budget, hardwoods with occasional character marks, such

as knots or mineral streaks, may be specified. Used with good taste, they enhance a home's one-of-a-kind personality. An educated client will appreciate their economy and rich appearance.

On a constrained budget, there are still creative solutions that take advantage of greater variations in appearance, and still look and feel better than substitute materials.

Hardwoods that carry character marks have a lot of appeal, especially for homeowners who appreciate natural materials.

o Character marks record a tree's career in the forest: growth rings tally a lifetime of spring renewals; knots show where limbs have sprouted; bird pecks reflect interaction with forest life, and mineral streaks tell of trace

elements absorbed through water and soil.

o Installing character-marked hardwood grades means that more of each tree harvested is used responsibly in lasting applications.

o Hardwoods with character marks extend the range of creative options for homeowners, builders, architects, designers and woodworkers.

When you understand the basics of grading, you can make informed suggestions, clearly defining what your customers can expect and your supplier can provide. Don't be intimidated by the fine details of the terminology. Your hardwood products supplier can help you clarify the details; just remember that grading is one way to ensure a match between the budset and the vision.

los in fib

OVE OVER, vinyl. Fiber cement is the siding about to go through the roof.

Composed of Portland cement, ground sand, cellulose fiber, select additives and water, the panels, so common in Europe and Australia for decades, are finally beginning to catch on in the U.S. After four steady years, domestic sales have more than doubled in the last three years and manufacturers expect demand to continue snowballing as additional plants come on line.

"Before, production was limited not by demand but by capacity(manufacturers) couldn't make it fast enough," explains Dave Warford, spokesman for James Hardie Building Products, Mission Viejo, Ca.

Supply is trying to catch uP to demand. Hardie's Australian parent began manufacturing fiber cement products in l9l9 and opened its first U.S. plant in Fontana, Ca., in 1989 with a capacity of 75 million sq. ft.

New plants were in Plant City, Fl., and in May in Cleburne, Tx.; capacities increased at existing facilities, and a fourth plant is under construction in near Tacoma, Wa. When the new facility opens next summer, companywide capacity will exceed 900 million sq. ft.

They produce lap siding, vertical siding, roofing, soffits and tile backerboard, and recently opened a research center next to their Fontana plant to look for further applications.

Fiber cement's slow start in the U.S. can also be attributed to buyer resistance. "People hate change. They (mistakenly) get the idea that you can't nail it or cut it, or that it's very heavy. It was a little bit more expensive, but is now very competitive. And installation does require a slightly different technique," says Rodney Kerr, national sales manager for MaxiTile Building Products, Carson, Ca., whose French parent, SaintGobain, began producing fiber cement

iding

in l9l7 and now has factories around the world, including four in Mexico.

Manufacturers mostly attribute the suddenness of their products' popularity to failures of Louisiana-Pacific's OSB siding and Masonite's hardboard siding. Tens of thousands of homes in wet, humid climates had to be resided, and fiber cement's biggest selling feature is its moisrure resistance.

"Composite wood products are made of sawdust, chips, bits of wood glued together, and when it's humid, wood expands," Kerr explains. "True fiber cement includes about 7% cellulose fiber, so it's totally immune to moisture."

According to John Dybsky, marketing manager for fiber cement siding at James Hardie, especially strong markets have been the Pacific Northwest, Houston, Tx.; Atlanta, Ga., and Northern Florida. In Houston, for example, 24 out of the top 28 builden reportedly are using fiber cement siding.

Sales of fiber cement siding are also pushing into the chillier Northeast and Midwest. The lO2-year-old Etex Group of Belgium has been marketing fiber cement roofing slate in the freeze-thaw regions of the U.S. for more than l0 years.

Cemplank, manufactured since 1994 by Etex division F.C.P., Inc., Blandon, Pa., offers a full 50-year non-prorated warranty, while manufacturers' guarantees reportedly are prorated after the first 12 months to five years. "With the spurt of demand for fiber cement coming from failures of hardboard and OSB. builders and developers are looking for future insurance with fiber cement siding," says Mahesh Dayal, v.p.-sales & marketing. "While fiber cement is generically moisture resistant, non-combustible and termite resistant, the technology for freeze-thaw performance is critical."

FIBER CEMENT siding has benefitted from the recent woes of some OSB and hardboard products.

But whereas established manufacturers have been intent on converting fiber cement from specialty item to commodity, ABTco is pursuing a higher end market. The nation's top hardboard maker and a leading vinyl siding producer, ABTco in June began shipping fiber cement siding from its new Roaring River, N.C., plant. They have slightly altered the manufacturing process reportedly to produce better looking, less porous surfaces.

"We're marketing that difference," says Tom Roe, product manager-hardboard and fiber cement. "We're marketing our process, our added value."

During ABTco's Durapress system, pressing together layers of resin molds

Story at a Glance

Use of fiber cement siding in U.S. snowballing after slow introduction ... new plants, new players.

Fiber Cement Siding Market Growth

produces embossed grains that reportedly look more like cedar or brushed redwood. Since uneven curing can lead to mudcracking, the panels are pre-cured, making the surface less porous, which reduces strike-in during

priming and painting.

Roe says initial capacity of 70 million sq. ft. will be increased when a second line is added.

"It's an exciting market," he smiles, "and we see a lot of growth."

- James Hardie Buiuno Prcducts

Success by Design tips for refixturing your store

I)VLL YOUR business be ready

V V to compete in the year 2000?

As unpredictable consumer spending makes the retail environment fiercely competitive, it is becoming increasingly difficult for retailers to retain old customers and win new ones.

How your store is designed can make a significant difference. GlobalShop has compiled l0 tips for evaluating your store and fixtures, and preparing to compete in a new retail environment:

X rro* Dowx Welm

tD UunV stores built in the'70s, '80s - and even the earlv '90s feel "walledin." A store shouid be inviting, offering customers broad, open vistas which allow a commanding view of the merchandise.

Look around your store from multiple angles to see if all the walls are necessary and if space could be used more wisely. Allowing customers a panoramic view also encourages them to visit parts of the store they might otherwise miss.

Lsr Youn Exrnnron Do Tsr T.lr,rsxc

Not only should customers have a clear view of merchandise across all departments, but they should also get a taste of what your store has to offer before they enter. As time becomes more and more limited, consumers are spending less time strolling in and out of stores. Many simply drive by or look in the window to see if the store

has what they're looking for.

Can customers tell what your business is about from the outside? By its signage, outdoor displays, even its r Il?IIl9?

-t Ef A: advances.in technology con-

- tinue, interactive, in-store displays are becoming increasingly important. Many retailers already offer interactive displays for customers to test a product prior to purchase.

Providing customers an opportunity to test electronic or other merchandise can be very effective, but it also can be frustrating if the equipment is malfunctioning. It's imperative that all in-store displays work correctly and consistently. Store managers need to work closely with employees to develop a system for checking and monitoring displays on a regular basis.

Consider displays or kiosks that allow customers to place orders for merchandise. This service cuts down on the time sales associates spend with customers and allows the customer an efficient means for purchases.

Cnmrg "SrRrKE PoD{T6" TElr

Hrr Hour

Retailers should make shopping as easy and painless as possible by grouping complementary items together. Commonly called "strike points," visual displays that feature several items that can be used together are helpful for busy shoppers.

Using strike points saves customers time and encourages additional purchases.

t. n" Drrrnrrr BY Dpsrcn

A""ording to a recent study, - retail design and fixturing improvements can increase sales and strengthen ties between retailers and customers.

Store fixtures should encourage customers to interact with merchandise. A store should not feature a group of mismatched fixtures, but rather a mix of fixtures that complement each other and match the overall personality of the storc. The rend in storc fixtures is moving toward ellip tical shapes, raw woods, galvanized steel and lacquered medium density fiberboard.

"It's important to invest in highquality fixtures and to have a longterm plan when purchasing them," said GlobalShop producer Doug Hope. "Renovations are a large investment and you want to make them wisely so they'll last long into the life of your stor€."

Consumers also must connect with the retail environment. Since merchandise among storcs is very similar, retailers must differentiate themselves by design. Retailers should strive to become the customer's destination store. Since most consumers have limited time, they leave their homes with a particular purchasc and a particular store in mind.

Becoming a destination store is a

matter of offering a narrow product category with a broad mix of merchandise. Consider your target customers' needs and provide them the selection and service they require. Ensure that they'll automatically think of your store as the place to find the items on their list.

X **" SnopprNc Couronrenr,n

s"un your store for unused or - poorly designed areas and use the space to create a seating area for customers. A few strategically placed chairs and tables do not require extensive merchandising floor space, yet offer tired and weary customers an escape from the pressures of shopping.

Cnnnrn Cr.Ben Tnerrrc

Plrrnnns

Customers should have a clear path by which to navigate the store. From the moment they enter, customers should be directed through all departments and given access to the most merchandise possible.

Story at a Glance

Ways to update your storers design make your fixtures and displays look better and work harder.

of their customer base and know how to meet or exceed expectations.

However. while most consumers feel they have less time for shopping (down from an average 4.3 hours a month in 1995 to 3 hours a month in

visuals throughout the store.

Visuals should make stores easier to navigate by directing customers to different departments and complementing the store's personality and merchandise.

GlobalShop's Hope suggests .race- DoEs YouR retail business need a major refixturing, a full-scale facelift or just a little tuck? track-style walkways which lead customers through each of the departments and 8 to lO-ft.-wide walkway 1996), they still value service. So it's Seasonal visuals are also useful. to allow a comfortable amount of imperative that retailers place a Many props can be used for 30-, 60space without taking away valuable greater emphasis on training their or 90-day periods. merchandising space. associates about the merchandise they \

sell and how to provide value-addei

RerunN ox

lxvnsrunNr !- Lighting should complement the \

Youn Lrcnrnvc services for customers.

- While the amount of U.S. retail

- store's overall personality and allow fi1Marn Vrsuers Merren space per capita increased from 8 sq. customers to see the true color of the \p Retailers spend more than $8 bil- ft. in 1972 to more than 18 sq. ft. in merchandise. There should be a con- - lion annually remodeling and building 1993, sales per sq. ft. have dropped sistent level of brightness throughout store interiors. About $2 billion is from more than $200 per sq. ft. to just the store, yet enough variation to cre- spent on visual merchandising and $6 over $120 per sq. ft. With consumers ate focal points directing customers' billion on fixturing, walls, floors and spending less at the retail site and eyes to certain areas. other types of interior products. competition continuing to increase,

For specialty displays, move away Visual displays were used heavily retailers must do everything they can from the bland, industrial lighting of between the'50s and'70s. In the'80s, to attract and retain customers. the '80s to a softer-edged, bathed-in- however, many retailers removed "In order to make an impact, retaillight look, using fewer lighting their displays to create austere, indus- ers must renovate for the right reasources but brighter bulbs. trial-type environments. In the '90s sons-usually proactive rather than

and beyond, retailers will need to reactive," Hope said. "Understanding

Tnv Cusrouen strike a balance, providing an consumers' shopping preferences and

fo build a strong identity, retail- uncrowded shopping atmosphere patterns is integral to implementing

ers must have an intimate knowledge while featuring strategically placed appropriate store renovations."

NEWS BRIEFS

Retailers

Mill Creek Lumber, Thlsa Ok., has acquired Grand CountrY HomeworkJ, Grove, Ok., from Robert Henkle ...

Cajun Lumben Jennings, La., has been acquired by Karl W. Monger, Alfred M. Monger II, and Judy Bernard

F oxw o rth- Galbraith Lumb er Co. has closed its Borger, Tx., yard...

Kelley Lumber, Barnsdall, Ok., was purchased by Jack Johnson from Dorothy Aultz and renamed Johnson Lumber & Feed

Wheeler's Building Materials, Rome, Ga., is now selling exclusively to professional home contractors from its 12 locations in metro Atlanta, north Ga. and southern Tn. ... the chain held a Sept. 23 grand opening at its new 80,000-sq. ft. Cumming, Ga.,location

Sutherland Building Material closed its Enid, Ok., location

National Home Centers, Springdale, Al., is closing its Cbnway, Ar., home center; its Conway pro yard remains oPen

Leeds BuiUing Products, lllarietta, Ga., has agreed to Purchase the assets of Windor Builders Supply, Tucker and Milledgeville, Gi., for about $24 million, as its 15th and 16th locations ...

A truck driver was robbed of his wallet at gunpoint in the Parking lot of Handyman Big Tin Bant, Alexandria, La.

Central Hardware Co.'s shuttered Memphis, Tn., store and five others are being auctioned this month...

Starr Lurnber Co., Blackwell, Ok., is remodeling; Rich Johnson, mgr....

Lowe's Cos. opened 150,000sq. ft. superstores Sept. l0 in Plano, Burleson, Mesquite and two in Dallas, Tx.; Aug. 27 in Macon, Ga., and a replacement store Aug. 13 in Athens, Ga., David Veal, mgr. ... the company will build 150,00Gsq. ft. stores on 24 acres at Warhill (Williamsburg), Va.; in North Myrtle Berch, S.C.: on 20.36 acres in Franklin, Tn.; on 19 acres in Cape Coral, Fl.; on 14.6 acres in northeast Birmingham, Al., and on 16 acres in Garland, Tx.

Lowe's is negotiating for a site in North Naples, Fl., and is considering sites in T-pa Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Fl.; Kingsport, Tn., and Houston, Tx. its new Jackson, Tn., store was evacuated and closed for over 45 minutes due to a small fire in a storage area, presumably started by a welder's torch

Home Depot opens new stores Oct. 23 in Beaumont, Tx., and Greenville, S.C., and Oct. 30 in New Braunfels, Tx., and Canton, Ga. Home Depot will open lll stores this year and about 137 next year ...

Home Depot plans a store in Lake Wales, Fl.; an lll,0OGsq. ft. unit for Florence, Ky.; " 102,00G sq. ft. location in Blufton, S.C.; a 130,000-sq. ft. store in Monroe, La; a 130,000-sq. ft. store on an RV park in Seminole, Fl., and stores on each end of Park Blvd. in Pinellas Park, Fl. ...

Home Depot has broken ground for a 102,000-sq. ft. store with 30,000-sq. ft. garden center in Rock Hill, S.C., and a 110,00Gsq. ft. store with 28,00Gsq. ft. garden center in East Memphis, Tn.; finally won approval to build in west Cobb, Ga., after agreeing to tone down the trademark orange on its building; has contracted to

buy land in Panama City, Fl., and is expanding is Inad 'N Go tmck rental program to 375 of its 500+ stor€s.,.

Anniversaries: Andcrle Inmber Co., Cameron, Tx., 50th Norfok Soutfurn Corp., Norfolk, Va., l5th...

Wholeealers & tanulactunc

Weyerhaeuscr will close its Philadelphia, Ms., plywood phg its oldest and smallest, in early Nov. due to rising raw material costs; 180 will be laid off ...

Georgia-Pacifc will constluct and run the country's largest southern pine seedling nursery later this year in Copiah Centy, Ms.; the Pearl River Nursery will grow 60 million loblolly pine seedlings yearly for rcplanting in G-P's 2 million acres of fqesclmd in Ar.,Ir-, Ms. and Ok

Fibrcform Wood P rducts, l-os Angeles, Ca., plans a new millwork plant in Diboll, Ti.

Willanene Industries plans to build a laminatcd veneer lumber and wood l-joist frcility next to its Simsboro, La., glulam plant by larc next year

United Hardwood is operating from the former site of Rogers Lumber International, Ferriday, L,a.; Bill Dennis, sales mgr. ...

Linden ltmbcr Co. has add€d its 4th flooring mill on site in Linden, Al. ...

Canurcn Ashley Building Prcducts, Dallas, Tx., acquired l4zyl Wholesale Supply Co., Greensboro, N.C., and agr€ed to purchase certain assets and liabilities of Mid-America Siding Supply lrc., Hot Springs andTexa*ana, Ar.

Windor Suppty & Man$acuring, br., Tbls4 Ok., has opened a 30,0fi)-sq. ft. door and window manufacturing and distribution plant in Oklahorna City, Ok-; IGnt -bschler, gen. mgr.; Jc Crrelik and Dave Barton, outsidc sales reps

Housing st4rts in August $arcst figs.) fell 4.8% to a seasonally adiusted annual rarc of 153 milfidn single-family constnrction dropped 5%, multi-family fell 4.3% permits slip'ped 1.6% (Plcasctumnp. 19)

Scotty's Makes The Bucks

The key to Scotty's new marketing campaign is making a lot of money, "Scotty's Money."

For every $5 spent on rnerchandise, cashiers give customers 25p in greenand-white coupons with the Scotty's logo that resemble dollars. hinted in 259, 509, $1 and $2 denominations, Scotty's Money can be spent any time or given away, so clubs, school groups and organizations can pool their savings.

"The beauty of it is that it's impossible to get rid of," says ceo Tom Morris. "We hope that when a cus-

Logging Barred On National Forests In Texas

A federal judge has issued a court injunction banning timber harvests on national forests in Texas.

Distict Judge Richard Schell's order halts "any method" of timber harvest, unless it is for insect or disease control, fire protection "or any other reason necessary to maintain the health of the forest land." Currently, the only specified exceptions are a few sites being logged due to pine beetle infestations.

The ruling covers 637,308 acres on four national forests in East Texas, where last year 254 acres were clear cut. Smaller producers should be most affected, since most of the timber harvested in the region comes from private lands.

Environmentalists, using arguments related to the red cockaded woodpecker and other purportedly endangered species, have been in court trying to lock up Texas forest lands since 1985.

tomer leaves his driveway at home, having it in the wallet or purse might help make the decision to go to Scotty's easier."

Sales increased an average l0%o in 16 stores in Georgia and North Florida where the promotion was tested in February and March.

The 163-store chain launched the program Aug. 3l by including more than2.7 million Scotty's $1 bills with its newspaper circulars.

The next weekend, Scotty's rented 28 helicopters to drop hundreds of thousands more of its bills over the parking lots of 84 of its stores. The stunt was touted by a $4 million ad campaign which included live remote broadcasts on 15 radio stations.

vof .1" MOnth

"If you see a snake, just kill it. Don't appoint a committee on snakes."

- H. Ross Perot

MOCK MONEY is what Scotty's new rebate program is banking on.

CALENDAR

Listings are ofien submined montlu in advance. Always verifi dates and locations with sponsor before makiag plans to attend-

OCTOBBR

Carolinas-Tennessee Building Materid AssnOct 14, credit seminars, Holiday Inn Airport, Nashville, Tn.; Oct 15, Holiday Inn [,ake Norman, Iake Norman, N.C.; (704) 3761503.

Virginia Forest Landowners Assn.OcL 15, forestry seminan, Alberta Va.; (804) 949-1000; (kt. 16, Glenns; Oct 17, Suffolk; (757) 925-2283; OcL 20, Charlonesville; (8O4) 976555; OcL 22, Danville; (80/.) 797-2222; Oct 2!i, Warrcnton: (540) 347-l3U; OcL Zl, Lynchburg: (804) 832-7600; OcL 3I, l,ocust Grove, Va.; (540) 727-3W.

199/ Remodelers' ShowOcL 17-19, Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, Mo.; (800) 368-5U2.

National Hardwood Lumber AssociationOct 17-20, annual convention, leCentre Shemton, Montreal, Quebec; (9Ol) 3771818.

ServistarOcL 17-21, fall convention, Baltimorc C.onvention Center, Baltimore, Md.; (773) 695-5165.

Hardware Wholesalerg Inc.Oct 1&21, fdl market, Indiana, polis, In.; (713) U+1495.

National Sash & Door Jobbers AssocietionOcL lt-22, annual convention, New Orleans, L:.; (800) 78G7274.

National Forcst hoducts Weckft. lL25; (?!2) 63-27U.

Nationd Eardwood Lumber AssocietionOcL 2823, grading short course, Hickory, N.C.; (.104) 361-1445.

International Panel & Fngineered Wood Technolo6r Erpo - OcL 20-4, Georgia Convention Center, Atlanta, Ga.; (415) 9054940.

Carolinas-Tennessee Building Mstcrid AssocietionM- 2J2, investment workshops, Columbia" S.C.; Oct 23, Summerville, S.C.; (704) 37G1503.

lVood Truss Council of AnericaOct. ?,2-A, exp, Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tn.; (913) 843-3781.

Center for Retailing StudiesOct. 23-24, symposium, Wyndham Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Tx.;1469; 8/;54325.

ThaibexOcL 2$26, building & construction expo, Bangkok, Thailand; (203) 84G5355.

Nationd Eardwood DayOct A; (2V2) 63-27W.

Ace Hardware Corp.()ct. ?bD, tall convention and expo, Kansas CiU, Mo.; (630) 99G6641.

International llardwarc ShowOct 2&'30, Hong Kong.

Batimat North Americaft.29-31, construction expo, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, N.Y., N.Y.; (800) 950-1314.

Southern Forest Products Assn.oct 29-Nov. l, annual meeting, Marrion Rivercenter, San Antonio, Tx.; (504) 43 1161.

Green Building ConferenceOct 3G'Nov. 2, Austin Convention Center, Austin, Tx.; (512) 2&M.

NOVEMBER

Batimat '9?Nov. 3-t, Paris Port de Venailles and Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centers, Paris, France; (8m) 321-3269.

Asphalt Roofing Manufactrrers AssocietionNov. 5-7, comminee & board meetings, Amelia Island, Fl.; (301) 231-9050.

North American Wholesele Lumber AssnNov. Gt, traders market, Hyan Regency DFW, Dallas, Tx.; (8m) 5n-8258.

North American Building Matcrial D'istribution AssociationNov. l6lE, annual convention. The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; (312) 321-68/;5.

SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION

Mid-America Lumbermens Associa. tion has booked Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel to perform at its 1998 Expo Feb. I l-12 at the E-Plex Center in Springfield, Mo. Also slated are keynote speaker Ed Hearn and two seminars by Bill Lee.

MLA appointed immediate past president Harold Baalmann, B&B Lumber Co., Wichita, Ks., as its representative on the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association board of directors. He replaces Robert Henkle, who recently sold his lumber business, Grand Country Homeworks, Grove, Ok.

Carolinas-Tennessee Building Material Association is sponsoring credit seminars Oct. 14 at the Holiday Inn Airport in Nashville, Tn., and Oct. 16 at the Holiday Inn Lake Norman in Lake Norman (Charloue), N.C.

Area member workshops on "Maximzing Your Investment: Five Steps to a Better Balance Sheet" will be held Oct. 7 in Asheville, N.C.; Oct. 8, Statesville, N.C.; OcL 9, Greenville, N.C.; Oct. 10, Wilmington, N.C.; Oct. 22, Columbia, S.C., and Oct.23, Summerville, S.C.

Virginia Building Material Association had 320 members and guests attend its recent summer management conference in Virginia Beach.

M. Ronald Helms will conduct a seminar on "Credit, Collections & The Credit Professional" Oct. 14 in Richmond and Oct. 16 in Roanoke.

Mississippi Building Material Dealers Association has selected the Broadwater East Tower, Biloxi, as the site

KDATW DEANH

of its Feb. 19-21 annual convention and the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center for its companion trade show.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association directors will meet Oct. 15 at the Hampton Inn in London.

KLBMDA will hold its annual convention and trade show together with the Ohio Lumbermen's Association Jan. 2627 at the Drawbridge Estate, Fort Mitchell, Ky.

Lumbermen's Association of Texas will hold yard foreman seminars Jan. 13 in Dallas and Jan. l4 in San Antonio.

Depot Settles Bias Suits

Home Depot has settled a class action lawsuit charging its Western Division with sex discrimination and reached agreements in principle to resolve three other gender bias suits.

All four suits allege that the company and its employment practices discriminate against women.

Depot will pay out $104 million, including $65 million for plaintiff class members in the first case, $22.5 million to their attorneys, and $17 million for other related internal costs, including implementing new employment programs and settling the other three suits.

Under terms of the first agreement, reached after court-ordered mediation, Depot will support or enhance certain

company human resources programs, some of which it had already begun implementing, and voluntarily roll out the programs nationally.

The decision to implement the programs nationwide led to resolution of the remaining suits pending final negotiation.

News Briefs

( Continued from page I 6)

Klean-Strip maker W.M. Barr & Co., Memphis, Tn., is acquiring Armor All Home Care,Charleston, S.C., from the Clorox Co. ...

Premdor Entry Systems, Tampa, Fl., has acquired Johnson Door Products' facilities

A district court judge in North Carolina has denied a motion to certify a class action suit against Il Exterior Insulation & Finish Systems manufacturers

Pella Corp. filed a copyright infringement suit against KML Windows over Pella's Architect Series window and doors

New Web site: North American Building Material Distribution Association www.nbmda.org

CooperTbols' Campbell Chain div., Raleigh, N.C., was named Lowe's Hardware Division Supplier of the Year ...

Willamette Industies' structural wood panel mills in Dodson and Taylor, La., received APA safety awuuds, along with Intemational Paper, Nacogdoches, Tx.; Masonite Corp., Cordele, Ga., and G e o rg ia- P ac ific, Skippers and Emporia, Va.; Taylorsville, Louisville and Gloster, Ms.; Prosperity and Russellville, S.C.; Madison, Ga., and Talladega, Al.

For pressure-treated wood thafs kilndried after treatment, call Dean Lumber Go.

The gentle conditioning of our steam dry kilns yields exceptional products such as Dean Deck, Dricono fire retardant.treated wood, Outdooro wood, Wolmanized@ Effa'" lumber, and treated specialties.

Veteran Hardware Show Ends

Co-sponsors International Hardware Distributors Association and American Hardware Manufacturers Association are ending the 96-year-old Hardware Industry Convention.

Upon hearing IHDA would not participate in the March 1999 show set for San Diego, Ca., disgruntled AHMA

pulled out of the March 1998 convention planned for Marco Island, Fl., saying it would be "a non-productive, lame-duck type" meeting.

Doors & Windows Keep Growing

Fueled by the expanding nonresidential and residential replacement markets, U.S. demand for doors and windows should rise 3.6Vo annually to $27 billion in the year 2001, predics the Freedonia Group.

Although an expected decline in new housing starts should keep demand growth behind 1992-96 rates, demand for vinyl and other plastic windows and doors will provide the strongest growth, rising 8.47o annually to $3.5 billion in 2001.

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Square drive recess eliminates driver bit cam-out Sharp point for quick penetration with minimal pressure r Self-tapping coarse threads. Coated with non-stick, dry lubricating film o Solid nickel/ chrome stainless steel for superior corrosion resistance .6 lengths: l" through 3"

Product innovations will stimulate demand in key sectors, especially for do'it-yourself projects, and encourage window and door replacement ahead of weardriven need. Millwork will continue to dominate demand, accounting for more than 5OVo of the total in 2001, with sustained growth also for vinyl and aluminum clad wood windows. But as the most expensive product type, millwork will lose market share to vinyl in new housing applications based on price and performance attributes.

Metal window and door demand will trail market averages, hindered by competition from vinyl in residential. Metal products, however, will increase in nonresidential due to their durability and lower average prices.

HELPING HANDS: ABTco volunteers joined Habitat for Humanity in applying vinyl siding to a home in Comelius, N.C., for a single mother and her two children. During an earlier weekend, the volunteers helped erect the main lrame and install the roof. ABTco also donaled cash for the project.

SEEKING ll{PUT: WoodWare Systems, Memphis, Tn., with its new Cuslomer Ailisory Council. (L*) Company I Customer (L-0 Cader with council members Jim Caroll. Cano Caroll, Canoll Morlding; ToniSlewad, Davidson-Louisiana; Dan Barber, Bamett Millworks; George Buzard, 9ales Lumber, and Chip Wilby, Cleary Millwork. Jim Dading, Meril

Merit Millwork, is nol piclured.

U.S. Window & Door lbmand (millions ol dollars)

, recenty m€l presitJenl NirJ<

HWI To Merge With Our Own Hardware

Hardware Wholesalers, Inc., Fort Wayne, In., agreed to merge with fellow hardware and building material co-op Our Own Hardware, Burnsville. Mn.

Each company's board of directors met separately and approved the intention to merge. The combination is expected to be completed by the end of the year through a stock transfer with no cash involved.

Joining 3,500-member HWI with 900-store Our Own creates a new organization with over g2 billion annually in buying power.

Willamette Adding East Hq.

Willamette Industries is building an East Coast regional headquarters in Fort Mill, S.C.

The company currently has five manufacturing facilities and an administrative office in South Carolina, including a computer forms plant and regional building materials sales office in Rock Hill, a paper mill and MDF plant in Bennettsville, a paper converting plant in Tatum, and a plywood plant in Chester.

About 100 employees will be relo-

A name has not yet been chosen for the new organization, which will be headquartered in Fort Wayne but likely will base some departments or a regional office in Minnesota. All stores will retain their current identities.

While it has members in all 50 states and 30 countries, HWI does not anticipate much overlap, since it has a relatively lighter presence where Our Own stores are most highly concentrated-in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska.

cated to the new facility, which consolidates several offices.

Hechinger Cuts Asking Price

Hechinger Co. agreed to a lower buyout price from Leonard Green & Partners LP after reporting a $40.6 million second quarter loss.

In June, the retailer accepted an offer of $3 a share, totalling about $127 million. The new pact amounts to about $100 million, or roughly $2.37 a share.

PERSONAIS

Dan Russo has joined Diamond Hill Plywood Co., Darlington, S.C., as v.p.sales & mktg.

Terry Moncure has been appointed mgr. of the industrial division at Pleasants Hardware, Richmond, Va.

Dick Kennison, ex-president of Elder Forest Products' Kenfor division, has created Kennison Forest Products, Sulphur, La.

Thomas F. Fitzgerald, v.p.-sales, Chemical Specialties, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., has been appointed v.p.-sales & mktg. Michael Kujacznski, formerly sales mgr.-north central region, has been named senior sales mgr.-northern region. Durand "Darby" Darbyshire, ex-Southern Forest Products Association, is now mktg. mgr.-north central region.

Ilarold Garber, ex-Southern Forest Products Association, has founded ITX Corp., Jacksonville, Fl., which provides international housing construction training and consulting. The company is also involved with building materials exporting and consulting into China and other countries.

Mona Creer is now a sales assistant for the lam sales department at Anthony Forest hoducts, El Dorado, Ar. Ray Tibbotts is now mgr. of Seven D Wholesale's Clearwater, Fl., office. Mike Marmo, ex-A.C. Dutton, has joined the office.

Larry D. Stone has been named exec. v.p./c.o.o. of Lowe's Cos., North Wilkesboro. N.C. Robert A. Niblock, v.p. and treas., is now in charge of the investor relations.

Williom A. Loftus has been promoted to exec. v.p.-retail at Ace Hardware Corp. Ray A. Griffith has been named v.p.retail development and mktg., and Lori L. Bossmann, v.p.-controller. Other promotions: Rite D. Kable, senior v.p.-wholesale; Paul M. Ingevaldson, senior v.p.-international and technology; Daniel J. Miller, divisional director of rctail operations and new business; Wayne Wiggleton, director of lumbcr and building materials, and Wolf Gruber, president of Ace Hardware Canada Ltd. Randy Hook, nationd mgr. of new business, will assume new duties for Ace subsidiary National Hardlines Supply.

Jim F. Roy, Rock Hill, S.C., is now general mgr. of Willamette Industries' Building Materials Group in North Carolina and South Carolina, handling plywood production facilities, forestry operations and administrative functions.

Sherry Specr has been appointed mgr. of Home Depot's new Hermitage, Tn., store. Bobby Murphy is mgr. of the new Anderson, S.C., storc.

Brian Crcs has becn named mgr. of 84 Lumber. Charlottesville, Va. New comgrs.: Curtis Rose, Flemingsburg, Ky., and Tad Dunford, Kingsport, Tn.

Joe [Jhlick, Jr. has becn appointed sales technical rcp at General Products Co., Inc., Fredericksburg, Va. Jemes E. McWeeny has been named cenlral regional sales mgr. James L. Horel is now Southeast regional sales mgr.

Steve Maddox is a new outside salesperson at Streuli Sales, Inc., Grecnsboro, N.C.

Hugh Weeks has been named account executive of Federal Insurance Co., Chadottesville, Va., and is handling the VBMA insurance programs. He succeeds Lynn Zimmerman, who is now with another company.

W. Thomas Stephens, formerly with Johns Manville Corp., is now pres. and ceo of MacMillan Blocdel, succecding Robert I'indley, who is retiring.

Brian W. Makins is a new sales rep at Gelnot Co., Fredericksburg, Va

Rick Hunter is now branch mgr. for Furman Lumber's Orlando, Ft., distribution center. Jim Hart is branch mgr. for Furman's Greensboro, N.C., DC.

Phillip S. Walter has been appointed v.p. and general mgr. of new business development at American Woodmark Corp., Winchester, Va.

Paul Robbins has joined Celotex Corp., Tampa, Fl., as director of transportation. John Vance has been named mgr.-operations administration for gypsum and fiberboard. Charleton Lum has been appointed mgr.-operations administration for mineral ceilings and foam insulation.

Shane O'Neill, O'Neill Manufacturing Co., Rome, Ga., has been appointed 3rd v.p. of the Architectural Woodwork Institute, Reston, Va.

Lou Hahn, research director, G.S. Roofing Products Co., Charleston Heights, S.C., has been named president of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, replacing Bob Metz.

Robert E.G. Ractliffe has been named president/ceo of Ply Gem Industries, Inc., replacing Dana R. Snyder. David J. LaGrand replaces Ractliffe as pres./c.o.o. of Nordyne, Inc., subsidiary of Nortek, Inc.

Steve Tinkler has joined Elco Consumer Products as mktg. mgr.

Peter M. Lieb has been appointed chief counsel-litigation at International Paper.

Jacques Sardas has been appointed president and ceo at Dal-Tile Intemational, Dallas, Tx. Chris VYellborn has been named c.f.o.; Matt Kahny, v.p.-mktg., and Dave tr'innigan, v.p.-American Olean. Barry Kulpa, former c.o.o., and Lisa Samara, former v.p.-mktg., have left the company.

Jim Johnson is now director of business applications at Master Lock Co. Don Sprader has been appointed directorsalaried relations and organizational development, and Rick Kolaczewski, controller.

Julie O'Neill has been promoted to associate buyer for the Manco, Inc.'s Home. Solutions Business Unit.

Kurt Mundloch is now purchasing mgr. for Empire Comfort Systems, Inc.

Robert M. Radostits is the new national sales mgr. for Bostik's Construction & Distribution division. Christopher A. Stevens is now product mgr. for the MRO and industrial business sectors.

Cathy Marx, Southern Forest Products Association, has been appointed to the editorial advisory board for the new Building Components Magazine, which replaces the Wood Truss Council of America's WoodWords.

Brian Daniel Stuckey, Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga., married Mindy Marie GrahamAug.9.

Matthew Rechin is the new national mktg. mgr. at The Flood Co.

Chad Edward Spradlin, appliance specialist for Lowe's Cos., Knoxville, Tn., married Kimberly Jane Letsinger July 4.

Marshall Artz is the new security guard at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

EIFS And Stucco Top Picks

Exterior insulation & finish systems and conventional stucco proved the favorite siding materials in a recent survey of homeowners in 12 Southeastern states.

EIFS or stucco was preferred by 47Vo of the respondents in the South Central region (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas), leading bick (37Vo), stone (2lVo), and vinyl/alumi n um (20 Vo).

In the South Atlantic (Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina), 42Vo chose EIFS or stucco over brick (37Vo), wood (2l%o), or stone (l4Vo).

G-P Separating Timber Unit

Georgia-Pacific Plans to Put its lucrative timber business into a separately-traded company.

The timber group, which owns about 5.8 million acres of timberland and generates $547 million, will not be spun off, but will remain under Georgia-Pacifi c' s management.

If approved by shareholders, the timber group would be North Arrerica's third largest private timberland owner with a separate class of common stock called "letter stock." Georgia-Pacific's existing common stock will be reclassified to reflect the building products, paper and PulP businesses.

Blaze Destroys Texas Yard

An early morning arson fire consumed Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Co.'s Lampasas, Tx., building materials center and all of its inventory.

With losses exceeding $500,000, the company has not Yet decided whether it will rebuild. It acquired the yard from W.F. & J.F. Barnes

Lumber Co. in 1984.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information on the Aug.6 blaze.

Ten Team Up For Expo'98

Instead of holding separate fall buying shows, l0 member wholesalers have agreed to jointly sponsor Distribution America's Expo '98.

The members include Orgill, Inc., The Emery-Waterhouse Co./RKB Enterprises, L.G. Cook Distributor Inc., Frederick Trading Co., Jensen Distribution Services, Blish-Mize, The Kruse Co., California Hardware Co., United Hardware Distributing Co., and Amarillo Hardware Co.

Although several members are scheduled to have shows early in the year, the l0 members pledged not to hold competing shows from July I through Dec. 31.

"They agreed to make this show their show," said Ruth Hamburg, corporate communications mgr. at Distribution America.

The show is set for Aug.27-30 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Il.

Strawboard Has High Hopes

Given time to prove itself, "strawboard" could one day become a commonplace, commercially successful part ofthe particleboard industry, predicts Composite Panel Association spokesman Tom Julia

At least six plans in the U.S. are manufacturing or plan to manufacture agricultural residue into 4'x8' boards to sell to the cabinet and ready-toassemble furnitue industry.

The producers claim their producs eventually will replace wood-based particleboard because they are stronger, lighter, hold screws bctter and are more moisturc resistanl

Such claims, though, will take time to prove, says Julia, whosc group sup ports the strawboard industry.

New Homeownershlp Record

The U.S. homeownership rate reached 65.7% in 2nd quarter 1997, the highest level in nearly 17 years. More than 67 million American households, the highest total ever, now own their own homes.

Also:

Six st I inventory

TNACCURATE inventory counts is Ithe greatest problem in inventory management.

The vast majority of companies are nowhere near the minimum acceptable 95Vo level. While 95Vo accuracy is far better than the average company performance, 97 -987o accuracy is required to run a flrst-rate operation.

Here are easy-to-implement suggestions for getting your company down the path to inventory accuracy.

Cycle counting has two purposes: (1) to find inventory errors so that their causes, notjust the errors, can be fixed, and (2) to measure inventory record accuracy. Cycle counting can, and should, replace the annual count.

Story at a Glance

How to reduce costly inventory inaccuracy by phasing in cycle counting ... measuring your improvement.

il/ Baseline Measurement

Prior to initiating a cycle counting program, document and post the starting point. Establish a baseline for determining the existing inventory integrity. Select and count a random sample of 100 items. This sample should represent a good mix of items from your company's inventory.

Measure the accuracy of this baseline count by dividing the number of items that were IOOVo correct by the total number of items counted. If 85 items out of 100 were correct, then the present inventory accuracy is 857o. Post this level of accuracy for all employees to see. An inexpensive poster board can be displayed for month-by-month posting of accuracy.

w@ y?^-) Review Operating Procedures

The next phase is to analyze your operating procedures regarding inventory. A 'days-work-in-a-day' mode of operation must be in place for cycle counting to be accurate. Invoices, returns, purchase orders, receivers, adjustments must all be recorded the day they occur.

JilF. Control.Group Count

Cycle counting on a control group of inventory is critical to ensure that your operating procedures are in place and functioning well. Without sound operating procedures, you'll be no further ahead with cycle counting than with an annual count.

Select 20 to 30 fast-moving items from your inventory. Select a few items from various groups such as lumber, drywall, plumbing or nails, and add a special order item that has monthly activity, such as roofing. Count the items in this control group, and update the inventory with the correct quantities. If your inventory counts have not been very accurate up to this point, don't spend much time determining why the counts had variances. This will be the focus of the next phase.

rtRecheck Operating Procedures

Count the same 20-30 items a week later. The counts should equal the on-hand. If that's the case, congratulations! Your procedures are in place, and you can commence with full-scale cycle counting. If the counts are not all IOOVo accurate. which is very common when beginning to cycle count, investigate the reasons why. Perhaps a receipt of inventory occurred, yet the paperwork wasn't recorded yet. An inventory adjustment may have occurred (cutting, substitution), but not entered into the inventory system yet. This inves-

By Carol Ortiz Dimensions Salt Lake City, Ut.

tigation is important, because unless the reasons why the count went off are determined, similar situations will occur and soon frustration and abandonment of cycle counting will occur.

Correct the counts on those items that had discrepancies. Repeat the count of the control group the next week. Variances should be greatly reduced or eliminated. Do not jump ahead into counting other items until the control group is accurate.

^5F Full-Scale Cycle Counting

- Develop a plan to cycle count all items within the next six months. Generally, items should be counted an average of twice per year. Count items that have frequent adjustments, such as lumber, perhaps six times per year. Methods for selecting which items are counted and how often include by product category, ABC ranking, sales activity, dollars invested, location, or manager's selection.

To determine how many items should be counted each day, multiply the total number of products by 2 (average # of counts per year). Divide the result by 250 (50 weeks peryearx5days/week).

E.g., 10,000 products x2=20,W 20,000 | 250 = 80 items per day

This isjust an average. Obviously, some items take a few minutes to count, while others take much longer.

JFU Gauge & Publicize Performance

- Making rapid progress in the level of inventory accuracy is a result of measuring performance and then publicizing it to everyone. On a monthly basis, perform a cycle count of 100 random items and chart the number of items that are correct. In a perfect world, strive for looqo accuracy. In the real world, shoot for 97-98Vo. Posting results creates a renewed sense of urgency to increase accuracy.

NEW PRODUCTS

a;nd selected sales aids

Silent Exterminator

An attractive bug control device that functions as a yard light or bird feeder is available from McAuley's Inc.

Gauging Your Success

A home gauge from Armour Technologies is designed to measure. size and select common hardware.

Designed to quietly vacuum mosquitoes directly from the air, the Vac Attack Mosquito Control has a range ofup to 1.5 acres.

The device is reportedly quieter, cleaner and safer than electrical shock units.

Circle No. 201

Safety First

A new line of home safety products has been introduced by Kidde Safety.

Featured are five fire extinguishers, the Nighthawk carbon monoxide line in five models, smoke and fire alarms and two Kidde fire escape ladders.

The Gage-It hardware gauge includes screw and bolt size (English and metric); steel, brass and pvc pipe size and selectiont nail size (common and finish)l nut size and thread selection (English and metric); copper and cpvc tubing size and selection: drills, rod. tube and electrical wire size and selection; pilot drill and tap drill selection: inner and outer diameter measurement. and lumber sizes. conversions and angles.

The gauge may be customized with a company logo in a choice of colors.

Circle No. 203

Hooked On Anchors

A utility hook that mounts in fiberglass, paneling, wood, metal, concrete and hollow doors is now available from Mira Holdings Ltd.

Shutter At The Thought

Featuring a single-piece injectionmolded design, American Pride shutters from Cellwood offer the look of wood with the durability of vinyl. Designed not to rot, warp, chip, crack, peel or splinter, the shutters are available in a raised panel or open louvered design with a decorative cathedral top.

Available in l0 colors, the shutters can also be painted.

Circle No. 206

Single-molded nylon Mira Anchor Hangers have a preloaded driving pin and will hold in material from l/8" to solid in thickness.

Designed to be mounted into a predrilled 5/16" hole, the anchor can be removed by easing out the driving pin with pliers. To reuse, insert back in hole and press in driving pin.

The hooks reportedly have a high resistance to UV penetration, will withstand long-term weathering and coastal conditions, are non-conductive and suitable for use with electrical wiring. data cables and piping.

Capable of being colored by boiling them in a regular clothing dye, six styles are available: cupped hook, double robe hanger, picture & mirror hanger. utility hook, universal anchor, and wire & cable tie anchor.

Circle N0.204

Getting A Weave

Lattice featuring a criss-cross weave pattern for deeper shadow lines and a more authentic appearance is now available from Tuff-Bilt. Designed for decks, porches and pools, Tuff-Bilt Dimensions Weave Lattice is said to be stronger than other types of plastic lattice and comes in 4'x8' sheets.

The lattice reportedly can be nailed. screwed, or sawed without splitting or cracking, and the color goes all the way through the lanice so nicks or scratches won't show.

Circle N0.205

Twice As Alarmed

A combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm has been developed by First Alert.

The First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm incorporates a microprocessor that activates different horn and light patterns. When smoke is detected, the alarm sounds the

universal evacuation signal of

three consecutive long beeps

and a red colored flame indi-

cator flashes. For carbon

monoxide, a single, on-andoff tone sounds with a flashing red dot pattern.

A single silence/test button verifies the unit is operating properly and quiets both alarms. If the hazard persists, the unit will re-alarm.

When battery replacement is needed, an indicator light flashes and a low level battery warning chirp will sound. When it's time to replace the unit, a yellow service light and rapid chirp signal will activate.

Circle No. 207

Light Cap

A flashlight holder that fits most AA and AAA flashlights and clips to the bill of a cap is available from KollerCraft Plastic Products.

Reportedly easy to adjust, the Hands Free Light Holder is made of co-polymer resin and comes in black and white.

Circle No. 208

Painter's Delight

A tool from HomeRight strips excess paint off a roller cover, combs excess paint out of a paint brush and works as a putty knife.

The Handy Painter's Tool uses plastic teeth to comb excess paint out of the brushes and reportedly removes as much as 607o of the paint remaining on rollers.

The bright yellow tool reportedly won't rust.

Circle No. 209

Bottoms Up

A rolling gardening seat has been introduced by The Step2 Co.

Designed with a large wheelbase for stability, the Deluxe Grass Hopper has a lid under the seat and storage for tools and accessories.

Raised handles make getting up and down easier.

Circle No. 210

A Hole New Door Stop

A receiver that eliminates door knob damage is now available from KnobNest, Inc.

Designed to be fitted into the wall behind a door, KnobNest is reportedly easy to install and adds 2"-3" of doorway clearance.

Circle No. 211

What A Gel

A new latex-based, VOC-compliant gel contact cement has been developed by Macco.

Designed to be easier to apply than liquid contact cement, Liquid Nails Contact Cement has a 30-minute dry time and an instant bond, eliminating the need for clamping.

Recommended for bonding high-pressure plastic laminates to wood, canvas, metal, leather, plywood, hardwood, rubber, and particleboard, it reportedly has no unpleasant odor, has the strength, water- and heat-resistance of solvent-based contact cement, is freeze-thaw-stable, and oil and water-resistant.

It comes in pint, quart and gallon cans and can be applied with a brush.

Circle No. 212

Shedding Some Light

A coiled, single-tube fluorescent bulb is new from Spiralux.

Designed to appear cooler, brighter and more stimulating than the warm color of incandescent lighting, the Aurora VI comes in 9, 11, 15, 20 and 23 watts and will reportedly outlast l0-13 incandescent bulbs.

Circle No. 213

A Staple Crop

A tool for removing staples from lumber has been introduced by Summer Industries.

Made of steel with a high-impact polypropylene handle, the Lumberman's Apex enables users to remove chisel-style staples even when

A Good Tipper

Standard carbide-tipped panel raising cutters from Charles G.G. Schmidt & Co. are now manufactured with C-3 carbide. The tip ensures the cutting of more panels in between sharpenings in products like MDF. solid surface and fire treated materials.

Available in five profiles, it reportedly also works well with very hard natural woods, such as maple.

Circle N0.215

Hosing lt Down

A hand-held shower with a diverter valve and a connect/disconnect hose combination is new from Idea Factory, Inc.

The Rinse Ace diverter valve directs water flow from the existing shower to the system hose and trigger

the staples are rusted or partially imbedded in the lumber.

Designed to remove 30 plus staples per minute, the tool has a finger-tight tension knob that holds it in or out of position.

Circle No. 214

Longer OSB Warranty

Huber Engineered Woods has extended its warranty against delamination on its Huber Blue OSB structural flooring and structural sheathing panels from l0 to 25 years.

Circle N0.216

spray. The spray operates only when its trigger is squeezed, and the hosewith-sprayer plugs and locks into the diverter valve when needed and can be stored away when not in us€.

Circle No. 217

A lift truck that can maneuver in four directions is new from Teledyne Princeton.

The Piggy Back ZRTV has a standard lift height of 138" and mounts on the rear of delivery trucks and trailers. The truck features a hydraulic scissor reach that enables the operator to unload from one side of the truck.

Circle No, 218

Rain, Rain, Go Way

A self-adhering waterproofing membrane from Johns Manville protects vulnerable roof areas such as eaves, overhangs, ridges and valleys.

Enhanced with tackifiers and reinforced with a glass fiber mat, the Roof Defender reportedly prevents leaks and damage to the roof by blocking wind-blown rain and water backup caused by ice and snow or pine needles and leaves. It also serves as a concealed flashing on roof ridges, in valleys, around chimneys, dormers and skylights.

It is available in two exposed top surfaces: an embossed polyethylene face and a mineral granule face for maximum slip-resistance. The embossed face reportedly works best with metal roofs, while the mineral granule works well with all types of roofing. It has a 4" edge that helps in bonding when edges overlap.

Circle No. 219

Strangers In The Night

Glow-in-thedark wallcovering borders are new from Forbo Wallcoverings Inc.

Glo-To-Sleepborders are designed to glow up to 30 minutes.

Circle No. 220

May be corntined witt plaslicor$ed caps,

CAP

NAIIS

AvailaHe in Square

Convex Head or Round Heads

Ring shanks mly... ftorn 7l8 thru 5'lenghs. Hphest quality engineering.

BPA has tuV engineercd tte highest quality plastic bstener in the markeplace. Clean surface, stong assembly. wih excellent seal.

HIGHEST QUAUTY - YET PRICED TO. BEAT ALL COMPE]ITpN

cAtL r-800-253-4738

oR FAX r -516-s68-0327 F AMERICA CORP.

SAND.PEBBLE SEWER

Wrenched Tightly

A socket wrench for both square and hex heads is new from Elco Consumer Products.

Featuring expanding jaws that hold the bolt until the thumb lever is released, the 10" SocketWorks! fits a socket head range of 7116" to 3/4" and the 8" tool fits 5/16" to 17/32."

Circle No. 221

Hoo-Hoo International annual in Boston

FLAGS 0F FIVE member nations comprising Evert & Helga Lee Hermans, Dave Marteney. Hoo-Hoo International behind (1) new pres. (6)Bob Xavier, Betty Bock, Sylvia Cocks, Ava George Reneaud, past pres. Andy Blackwell at Grimason. (7) Dave & Cathy Mullen. (8) Bill annual convention. (2) Greg Antone, Kathy & Harley, Philip Cocks. (9) Bernice & Manny Stu Holtshouser. (3) Darrell & Karen Gibson, Litvin, Dorothy & Dave Blasen. (10) Pat Story. Bill & Joyce Bader. (4) Jim Cusack, Steve (11) Mary O'Meara Moynihan. (12) Brian Post, Charles Smith, Steve Jankins. (5) Jan- Brown, Maurice Hudon, Tom O'Meara, Rav

BurlorNc Pnooucrs Drcnsr Ocroeen 1997

Sanders. Larry Wells. (13) Marion & Archie Brown. ('14) Steve Allison, Richard Martin, Dick Wilson, Von Simpson. (15) Joe'Bear' Breeden. Jimmy & Betty Jones, Chris 'Tuffef Gotf. (16) Dave Marteney, Beth Thomas. (17) Shari Harper. (18) Guy Browning, Frank Aranza. (More Hoo-Hoo photos on next page)

HOO-HOO cap atop long-time member (1) Bernie Barber. (2) Jerry & Jackie Rivet, Darryl Kinsey. (3) Pamela & John Perez, Teeny Johnston, Glen & Pat Medbery. (4) Charles & Jan Eaton, Joan & Frank Richardson. (5) Lottie & Gerry Omand. (6) Jack Connors, Lee Roberts, Fred Frudd. (7) Sandra & Gerard Moynihan. (8) Bob & Maryhelen Carper, Matt Miller. (9) Brad Smith, Dick Mullen. (10) Marie

Adamowski. (11) Dave &Stacey Jones. (12) Beth & Tom O'Meara. (13) Joe Bock, Al Meier. (14) Jack Jacobson, Ron Garka. (15) Carolyn & Mike McLaughlin, Denise & Wayne Hood. (16) Tony Vecchiolla, Patti & Tom Stasiak. (17) June Walker, Shirley Story. During the 105th annual convention Sept.7-11 in Boston, Ma.. Georoe Reneaud was installed as oresident. Ron-Garka became 1st vice oresident:

Teeny Johnston, 2nd v.p.; Chris Goff, secretary-treasurer, and Andy Blackwell, board chairman. Membershio in the lumber lraternitv has been stablized and a strong expansion and development program put in place to prepare the 1O5-year-old international organization for the new century. Expanded member beneJits have been instituted, with more olanned.

Ocroeen 1997 Burr-ornc Pnooucrs

NEW LITERATURE

Distribution Evol ution

"Consolidation in Wholesale Distribution: Understanding Industry Change" is $110 from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, 1725 K St. N.W., Washingron, D.C. 20006; (202) 872-0885.

WMMA

Buyer's Guide

The 1998 woodworking "Buyer's Guide and Directory" is free from the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America, 1900 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103; (215) 5&-3484.

Southern Pine Flooring

A 20-p. southern pine flooring guide is $3 from the Southern Pine Council, Box 641700, Kenner, La.70064: (504) 443M@.

HR Survival Kit

"Our People Are the Difference: A Human Resources Survival Kit for Lumber and Building Material Retailers" is $249 from the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, 40 Ivy St. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003; (20D 547-2230.

With A Flip Of Your Wrist

A flip-chart insulation brochure is available from the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, 44 Canal Center Plaza, Ste. 310, Alexandria, Y a. 223 14: (703) 684-0084.

Exterior Hardwood Doors

A 2l-p. oak exterior door catalog is free from Simpson Door Co., Box 210, McCfeary, Wa. 98557; (360) 495-3291.

In Suspended Animation

A l2-panel suspended ceiling installation guide is free from Chicago Metallic Corp., 4849 S. Austin Ave., Chicago, Il. 60638r (800) 638-5192.

directly. Illcntionym sar it in the Digest!

Home Storage Projects

"The Family Handyman Home Storage Projects: A Room-by-Room Guide to Practical Storage Solutions" is $19.95 from Reader's Digest Books, Reader's Digest Rd., Pleasantville, N.Y. 10570; (800) 788-6262.

Retaining Retaining Walls

A specifier's reference for retaining wall systems is available from Vena-Lok, 6348 Hwy. 36, Ste. l, Oakdale, Mn. 55128: (800) 770-4525.

The Jolly Green Giant

"Unseasoned Framing Lumber" is 509 from the Western Wood Products Association, 522 S.W. Fifth Ave., Ste. 400, Portland, Or. 97 2M: (503\ 224-3930.

Tiimmmberrr!

"U.S. Timber Production. Trade. Consumption and Price Statistics 19651994" is available from the Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, Wi. 53705; (608)231-9249.

Picture Perfect Framing

A CD-based catalog and design tool for metal framing projects is available from Unistrut Corp., 35660 Clinton St., Wayne. Mi.48184; (313) 721-4040.

Shake, Shake, Shake

"Building in High Wind and Seismic Zones" is free from APA-The Engineered Wood Association, Box 11700, Tacoma, Wa. 9841l; (206) 565-6600.

CoolTools

A power tool and accessories catalog is available from DeWalt, Box 158, Hampstead, Md. 2loi 4; (800) 433-9258.

Making An lmpression

An 8-p. custom-imprinted decal and nameplate brochure is free from Marking Specialists/PTl, 3726 Ventura Dr., Arlington Heights, Il. 6fiXX; (847\ 7979300.

Loaded Down

The "Load and Resistance Factor Design Manual for Engineered Wood Construction" is available from the American Wood Council, llll l9th St. N.W., Ste. 800, Washingon, D.C. 2fi)36; (8m) 890.7732.

Handle With Care

A l0-minute proper pallet handling training video is $29.95 from the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association. l8m N. Kent St., Ste. 9l l. Arlington, Va. 22209: (703) 521-7667.

Roofing Sales Support

A roofing contractor sales support brochure is free from CenainTeed Corp., Box 860, Valley Forge, Pa. 19482; (215) 34r-7000.

Slamming On The Brakes

A brochure on their oil-cooled lift truck is free from Daewoo Lift Truck, 4350 Renaissance Pkwy., Warrensville Hts.. Oh. 44128:. (2161595-1212.

Mosaic Masterpieces

A d-i-y guide to installing a ceramic floor is available from Cowles Creative Publishing, 5900 Green Oak Dr., Minnetonka. Mn. 55343: (6121 93647W.

Sunbelt designs, manufactures and erects rack supported warehouse buildings and freestanding building material storage racks nationally. Products and services include.

Rack supported drive-thru warehouses and T-sheds.

l-beam cantilever racks for lumber, LVLs, glulams and l-joist engineered products.

Pallet racks for sheet goods and palletized products.

Racks for moldings, boards, and millwork.

Complete yard and warehouse planning service. sroRtNG

ilktTfl*l(

by Glen Oak

Bent Out Of Shape Over Mismatched Mouldings?

Windows of all shapes and sizes are an increasingly popular design element in new home construction. This has naturally increased the demand for bentwood millwork options, while more discerning builders and home owners want and expect all their interior mouldings to match.

Window manufacturen sell some wood casings, butbuyers may be frustrated if the limited selection of architectural patterns offered doesn't exactly match the rest of the mouldings in the home. Today, many are willing to pay more for a good looking moulding package.

Meet their needs and yours by ordering bentwood casings from hardwood millwork manufacturer Glen Oak Lumber & Milling. With Glen Oak's Bentwood Millwork Program, you are guaranteed profile and finish match with the rest of our architectural mouldings, including our celebrated Prime Poplar.@ Manufactured in poplar or oak, in an apparently seamless fashion, our standard bentwood mouldings are available in just wo weeks. Choose from beautiful arches, halfcircles, quarter-circles, elliptical, gothic and oval casings as well as rosettes. Special orders are always welcome.

Glen Oak's Bentwood Millwork features excellent color and grain match, plus backout for stability and easier installation. In-house technology guarantees profile repeatability.

ALABAIIA

Brungart Eqlifnen1.............(8m) 22 Sal (20$ 5a)'2ffi)

Grayson Lumber Corp.....-.----.--.-.-........1?06,t. A2-@7

Gcat SMhem Wood P1€s4rvi8..................(m) dl$7539

Jsnkns Manulacturirp Co..............................(205) eI-7m

McEw€nLumborco .......(3,)132'Z3,2

PrudenUal Buildr{ Materiab..........................(8m) $09913

sonhsast wood TrBatiE...............................(800) t1{ 0109

Stdnglsllow Lurtsr Co., lnc..........................(mq 82t91d)

WdksFwliams Lmbet Co.........----,.,.-..($0) i27-m7

Weyerhasus€r Co................(800) 541-1825 (205) 381'3St0

ARKANSAS

Antrmy Forest Produds C0..........................(8frJ/l 21'2fi

Eean Ludet Co., Qirl .......(8m) 2A-2326 (800) 182'2352

Hoorer Treated Wood Prodrcb.....................(800) 8a'9663

King & C0.............................(800) 64$9s) (s01) 751{€0

McE*en Lumber Co .......(501) 1507180

US Timber Co.......... ......(800) 27G26@

Weyerhaeuser Co. .......(800) 01S1515

l/Vhile River Hadfmds .($0) 558{119

Wrenn Handling...... .......(800) 67&7200

FLORIDA

Bootet Fasten€r C0e...........(8m) 241-0790 (813) 54f'6667

Brungart Eqjipment.............(8(n) 827{1 53 (81 3} 62367m

Building Products ol tuEdca.........................(800) W-l51 I

Chamdon lnt€matidEl .($1) 731-{550

Fastening Specialisb Inc................................(104 88&9@9

Hoover TGated wood Prod,cls, Inc. .............(cX) 25&7818

McErven Lumber Co. (Ddray Beadl).............(561) 27$5155

McEryen Lumbor Co. (Ja*sonvills)...............(901) 783{170

McEwen Lumber Co. fiarnpa).......................(813) 218{11 1

sc|drom lfitof salos ..(919) gl7€qn SoilEm Sdral€ ToctndogyA Read..1$q rga.551g

Wsy€rtta$s€t (Otatle) ...(m) 532{829 ft(x) 375{547

Co. (Gtee$m) .-..-...---.(91 q 6 nml lfram t.trttor Co. d t{oltt Carcrra' rE ..(919) {12.215

WBrn Hanftg.......--......(8m) $6.(112! ftlx) 58$tS

OKIA}IOIA

Ce&r Cnd( ttrhdesab (CIdaltnta Cf9....-(m) ir't6(P5

C€&r O€d( $rffialo, In fitAa).............(m) 299'$70

Van Keppel Ljtoirdr (orbtum Cfiy).......--(16) l$ffi

van Kepd titoid fidsa)............................(9181 8G8851

sourH cARouilA

Cd lvoo{t PGsetritg Co...............................(m) {7e{Ol lilc€ug| brlter Co. (c|tatb$.t).......-........(mq 7tS5383

ilcEsm Urb8r Co (Gto{t,lo) .-.-..-..-.-.(60 277{So

ttor Sdrh hc ....................(ml 316.s'75 (803) 3{7.1281 WGm Hanfig -..................(m) 85t6't66 (flB) 7S7Xn

TEN]IBSSEE

1 -800-242-827 2 ext. 27 9

Prudenthl Buildng Matodab

Prudenthl Buildng Matsdab

McEy€n Lumber Co. (orlando)......................(107) 299.|280 {p-2st7 (P-756 971-CBo

southeasram Metab Mlg. c0....... .................(s1) 757-1200

Sodh€m Wiro Cloh Co.......(8m) 9$6589 (S5) @2572

Tmftted Coalings & R€saadr, Inc...............(m) $98325

GEORGIA

Burt Lumbsr Co....... ......f/06) 6/&1531

Camerar Ashley..... .......(lbl) $$9219

Cotter & Co. (Tnr Value)..........-..-.--........(1{X) 717-5855

ceoda-Pacinc....... .......(20) 9$97m

Hkj$on CoD. Uolrnan) ................................(70) Sl {600

Hoot er Treatod Wood Ptoducb.....................(800) 832€661t

Langboard, Inc....... .......(912) 26+891i, Ma||co...................... ......(8m) 86s1111

osrn0ss..............'..' -....W01z,ffi191

Pacific Luriter Co... ......ftO) 99+SB9

Prudenthl Euildng Matethb..........................(800) 87Sl 101

Ray0nier.................. ......(912) $7'1 517

Sunbelt Matedal HandirE....(e,m) 353S92 [r/0) 587-5gts

UniveGal Forest Prcduds..............................(91 2) SS(E6

Weyerhaeuser C0................(8m) 282-3370 (101) 35$5971

Wrenn Hand|ing...................(8m) 851 {/66 fno)

Canhn Lumber Co. .............(80) 226S't (123) 6i}$5501 tlcEHr Lrftber Co (llsrpaisl...-...............($l) 79+1G0 Mc€sr Lln$er Co. (lh$t 3)....................(615) 79215 ori Dliy0............... ........(61$24!8788

WsFfiaqrsof Co................(8m) 512-5S8 (m) 238{Zl3 l!,lsdr Urtq Co.. ........($1) 2%{887 WoodraF q/sbflis hc.................................($1) 75(}3S9 wrorn thfift{f,d Sdlh..-.........................($1) 79tzm

TEXAS

Artvanbgo Brliross Ca|grhr $sns.......(800) 991.7u3 AMhdistirs.. ........(m)$o1855

&mrien Fole & Trtor Co..........-................fn0 gae?VF

Bor*x*ts+nn$ TrBdiE CoQ.................(ml 822{315

BrazG Uftter tlb. Co ......-.........................(817) 112{Xn

C{mnn Ad*y (A.Elh) ..............-...............(slQ ru-Zags

CanE m AS*y (Es) ...............................(m) 75'955

Cdnorur AdSy (Foil lvutt) ...........-...........(ml gm

Carbrut Asttby (lhlttgg )........-........-.....(m, 72tg5$

CanE Ur Ad*y (tlarsfr').....................-.....tmt ZZ+*4.

Carrp m Adtley Gtnbod}..................-........(m) 725.W

Carpm ACJey (odessa).........-........-........(91q 305-5(F

Canprm Adtby (Sd| Angslo)...................-..(m) 72S9688

CanE m Adfey (Snt Anb.a)......................(m) 725€766

CanprcnA$loy0yls) .(m)?25{F66

C€dar gpCy ltE.... ........(21{) 2426367

Dean L|Irter Co. ... ........(ml 5239957

Easbr Fo.€st Plod6 .......(8q)l 533€176 [t13) +191071

G€rdri S}sEns Sdmn..............................(800) 2536$3

Guhris Luibsr Sahs, hc...(8ml n-S26 1514 217-2m

Inilonalhal Pap€r. ........(211)931-(Kl

Jacfsm e lattg.qd ltthobs* 1lf||bor.........(800) 33]8118

Jonhn Ro(M (0&s)....(21{} 3tt-7317 (m) 1/|2-3So

Lcis&maPaifc Csp ....(1{B} 27}113.|

LlIIter Tag Spocjarios co. (8m) ZrlXSr 013) 16S3838

McErven LumbsrCo .......(501) 512'2655

Soutt|em Pino Coulcl ...(501) 113{161

Woy€fi aeusor Co................(800) 783-6806 (501) rc6800

Willarnens Ind.Ftries .....(318) 255{258

MlsslsslPPl

Andersm-Tulty Lumber Co. ...........................(601) 629328:l

Forestry SupplisG, Inc. ..................................(601) 35+3545

Hmd Intustries....... ......(601) 73t5071

Shuqualak Lumbet Co ...(601) 793-1528

Wrenn Hardling....... ......(800) 67&7200

NORTI{ CAROUNA

Camerm Ashley..... .......t101) g{i56

Chemical Specialties, Inc...............................ttu) 522{825

Crumder Plastic Pipe, Inc..............................(800) 334-5071

Mqrfitr & rm( hc..,(8@) 123fi68 (91$ 8845711

Sirponsrmgrn .....-(m)$95m

Snav€tyFoGsProd6 (210342{199 Spytr hc. ........(m) A1-5916

$eran & $8tr€rEm l|aHial Hatfit9........-(21{) 631{218

Srrpe*x Shakos d T€ilas..............................(4(B)

OEsafd€ thrdrood Ptotu|s..................-(m) .{e8162 tloorer fnabd wood Prcdrcb.....................(m) 832-sdl Potomac Supply Co .--..18o4172'?5gj

Classified Advertising

PAN PACIFIC Forest Products, a growth company celebrating its l0th anniversary, is seeking professionals to join our sales force. Establish your exclusive customer base from one of our three offices in Oregon or one in Florida and enjoy one of the industry's best compensation packages. If you have professional sales experience and are interested in joining our respected team, send your resume to: Pan Pacific Forest Products, Inc., P.O. Box 1507, Bend, Or.97709, Attention: Sales Manager, or call Ron Hanson, (800) 776-8131.

IIARDWOOD PANEL BLIYER: Growth has created an opportunity to add this position to our purchasing staff. Qualified candidates must have 5 plus years of hardwood panel buying experience, self-motivated, hard-working, and seeking to be part of a growing business. This position is located in High Point, N.C., and offen a competitive salary and comprehensive benefit package including 401(k) and profit sharing. Submit resume to: McEwen Lumber Company, c/o Dick Schram, P.O. Box 950, High Point, N.C. 27261, or fax to 910-472t649.

Twenty-five (25) words for $23. Each additional word 709. Phone number counts as one word. Address counts as six words. Headlines and centered copy ea. line, $6. Box numbers and special borders, $6 ea. Col. inch rate: $45 camera-ready, $55 ifwe set the typ€. Names of advertisers using a box number cannot be released. Address replies to box number shown in ad in care of Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca.92660-1872. Make checks payable to Cutler Publishing, Inc. Mail copy to above address, FAX to 714-852-0231 or call (714) 852-1990. Deadline for copy is the 2fth of the month. PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY COPY unless vou have established credit with us.

MERANTI PLYWOOD, LFE gluc, waterstains on face, smoke on edges. $85/M for 2.8mm, $100/lv1 for 3.6mm. All 4x8. l0 T/Ls available. (904) 388-1501.

CLASSI FIED ADVERTISING Order Blank

$23.00 (25 word minimum).....

.70 each additional word ............

6.00 headline, centered copy, border or private

WANTED: Plywood/OSB strips, drops; sound, square, uniform, dry, thickness l/4 throtgh23132. Preferrcd width, 3-112, 5-ll2 or wider. Length 32 to 96 inches or longer. Mixed ortruckload. Send price and availability to FAX #901-682-8501, or mail to: Lumber Source, 4746 Spottswood, Memphis, Tn. 381 17. Phone (888) 576-8723 (LSOURCE).

VINTAGE DOUGLAS FIR DECKING.

3"x4" 3'to 20'T&G DFfloor deck. Grade is equivalent to D Clear. Stock is over 100 years old and is in excellent condition. Manufactured to lay up as 4" thick floor. Price is $375lm

F.O.B. Bend, Or. Deschutes Pine Sales. lnc.. (800) 547-s660.

($45 per column inch for camera ready copy; $55 if we set type) TO RUN:- TIMES _ TILL FORBIDDEN

Obituaries

Maurice G. Grothues, 73, chairman of the board of M.G. Building Materials, San Antonio, Tx., died Sept. 15, 1997.

A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, he was a partner in Guadalupe Lumber Co. until 1970. In 1972, he founded M.G. with his four sons, gradually expanding to six yards employing 200 people and sales of over $85 million.

LeRoy B. Roper, Sr., 77, chairman of Roper Brothers Lumber Co., Petersburg, Va., died Aug. l9 in Petersburg.

A native of Petersburg, he joined the company in 1946.

He served on every committee of the Virginia Building Material Association and was president in 1976. At the summer conference this year he was voted Honorary Membership.

Lillian Aitken, 72, administrative assistant for four c.e.o.s at the South-

ern Forest Products Association, Kenner, La., died of cancer Sept. 9 in New Orleans, La.

She joined the association in 1944 after business college and remained administrative assistant until her retirement in 1990. It was the only job she ever had.

Scott Jobes, 57, sales manager for Fox-Gal Wholesale, Dallas, Tx., died of Crohn's disease Aug.6 in Dallas.

Born in Warren, Oh., Mr. Jobes joined Georgia-Pacific in sales in 1963 and worked his way up to regional lumber manager. In 1971, he joined Block Wholesale Lumber Co., Dallas, as a trader. In 1990, he hired on as a trader for Crandall Wholesale Lumber. A year later, he joined Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Co.

Scotty's Lift Driver Killed

A forklift operator at Scotty's Busch Boulevard hardware store in Tampa, Fl., was killed, according to Tampa police, when his machine tipped and he was buried beneath his load.

Shawn Stacey Mcleandon, 24, had

unloaded two 3,00G1b. bundles of 20ft. steel reinforcement bars from a flatbed ruck Aug. 12. As he fully exended the forks in the air to clear a tall, chainlink fence, the lift tipped over, ejected him and spilled part of the load on top of him, police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Weather Lowers llower Sales

Outdoor power equipment sales during the last year lagged behind projections due to a cool, rainy spring followed by a summer drought, according to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.

For the 1997 model year ending Aug. 31, walk-behind mower shipments rcached 5,416,(X)0 units, a l% increase over 1996.

Front engine lawn tractor shipments rose 3% to I,155,000 units, while riding garden tractors fell about l0?o to 173,528 units. Rear engine riders dropped 22% to just over 101,000 unis.

Walk-behind tillers slipped 4% to 303,789 units.

YOUR FIRST CHOICE IN FENCING

Women More At Home With D-l-Y

Sixty-five percent of women are more involved in home improvement than ever before, while 55Vo are performing more actual improvement or repair work, according to a recent survey by Owens Corning.

"We've seen a remarkable shift in the role women play in the home buying and home improvement process," said Karen Strauss, director-global marketing, Owens Corning. "Fifteen years ago, the industry assumed that men made the major decisions when it came to home improvement and women only selected colors and styles. Today, many women play the lead role in the entire project, from identifying the needs to collecting information, hiring and managing a contractor, and purchasing and installing materials. "

Nearly 90Vo of married women are involved in perceiving and gathering information on the idea, while l27o of their husbands came up with the idea on their own. About 43Vo handled finding and hiring a contactor, while 6S%ohelpd manage the confractor.

Women influenced nearly 807o of all purchasing decisions and were in-

volved in 63Vo of all materials installation, with l3%o installing materials by themselves.

Young women are entering home improvement faster than any other audience. Among women under 45, 80Vo say their role in home improvement has increased in recent years; 72Vo are doing more actual work, 37Vo are more involved in initiating projects, 4OVo are more involved in shopping for products, and 36Vo are more involved in installation.

The top projects for women over the past five years are painting and wallpapering (7IVo), remodeling a bath/kitchen (30Vo), adding insulation (l1%o), replacing a roof (32Vo), and replacing windows (25Vo).

While 33Vo ranked painting/wallpapering the most enjoyable project, 2lVo ranked it the least enjoyable.

Nearly 75Vo of women say they are just as good or better than men at home improvement. Thirty-three percent say they are as or more skilled than their husbands, particularly young women (37Vo), and 32Vo say they do it themselves because they can't get their husbands to do it.

When it comes to home improvement, women say they are more detail oriented (82Vo), research projects more carefully (69Vo), more fiscally conservative (62Vo), more willing to ask for directions or professional help (94Vo), and have more patience (84Vo) than their male counterparts.

For home improvement information, women turn to friends (64Vo), past experience (56Vo), books (497o), contractors or builders (48Vo), magazines (44Vo), and home improvement retailers (34Vo).

Gypsum, Plastics Rising

North American demand for gypsum products is forecast to increase 2.2Vo annually to a value of $3.7 billion in the year 2001, while foamed plastics will grow 3Vo yearly to over $16 billion.

Improved infrastructure spending will increase the use of gypsum in cement, although less residential construction will restrict growth for gypsum board, the primary outlet for crude gypsum.

The biggest gowth among foamed plastics will be foamed urethane due to its insulation and cushioning applications.

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Building Products Digest - October 1997

Name (Please print)

Company

Address City State _ Zip $$

Phone FAX

For more information on products or companies (see list at right), circle the appropriate Reader Service FAX Response number(s):

Ad Index

For more information from advertisers, use FAX Response numbers in brackets.

All American Wood R€gister [f0].-....7

American Pole & Timbcr tfmj...----5

Anderson-Tully Lumber Co. ll2ll *.24

Bowie Sims Prange [lf9l .-..-*----A

Building Products Digcst.-..--Cover III

Buifding Products of Aoerica UZ/}.-I)

Burt Lumber Co. [f f4 -.*-..---J2

Coming Issues

Cox Wood hesening Co. [10].----t

Crumpler Plastic Pipc, Inc- [f251...-..29

Dean Lumber Co. [f f5]---.--.---..19

Dodge, F.W. [f06]

FCP, Inc. If 301...-..-.*.-*.Cover fV

Glen Oak Lumber & Miling Unl.-g

Grayson Lumber Corp. [Zl]--.-.--n

106 107 108 116 tt7 ll8 t26 127 r28

103 l@ 105 ll3 ll4 115 123 124 125 206 2U 208 2W 210 216 2t7 2t8 219 220 226 227 228 229 230

,l r09 ll0 ll9 120 t29 130

Haase Industries (Mapetic hrsh Broom) U23l -..-.------*.-..--2t

Eood Industries F121...-*----..-.-..1t

Hoover Treated Wood hoducts trrrl......-..-..

Jordan Redwood Lumbcr Co., Lee Roy F04l

Landry Lumber Saleg Inc-, Richard [f f51...---..-..-.-..-.----ZZ

Lumber Tag Specialties [f05l..-....*4

McEwen Lumber Co. [103] .-..-..-.-..J

Mercbant Magezine, The lf02l -..-.-.- Cover II

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Rayonier If 291...---..-..-----*--..-J7

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