How WWPA wofts with retailers

A lruoucu the wesrern Iwood Products Association (WWPA) is a trade association made up of lumber producers in the 12 western states, its scope of influence is not limited to tba* area. Working in cooperation wi{h other trade association and dealaorganizations, it serves the entire cowrtry from its Portland, Or., office,,',,.; program thes maintain in cooperation with the n Forest Products Association and staff in London, England. fhe m-a#facturers represented in WWPA are ,responsible for a typical annual prodnction of l8 billion board feet. This !&presents 6590 of the nation's softrilood output.

The umk. of the association ii divided innn ttrrree main divisions: marketing seqqies, technical services d economictroftrices. It also functions in resources, eafety and transportation actlvttres.

The markhtitre services division is divided into thmosepartments: product promotion, @ services and export. The functiofo{ product promotion is to increase fhs"acceptance and use of western lumbefptgrams. Con-

Field services has 13 men around the country, communi technical information to the marketplace, encouraging the acceptance of western lumber products and educating users of these products to their proper use.

In addition. field services conducts a series of seminars for people important to the lumber industry. By the end of the 1985-86 season. these seminars will have reached some 3,000 architects, 14,000 retailers and 2,500 builder-remodelers.

Export's function is to develop offshore market opportunities for western lumber products. As part of this

Story at a Glance

WWPA influence lelt nationally and abroad . . . 14,000 dealers participated in current seminar program cooperation with other associations promotes wood sales for retailers and wholesalers.

The quality lumber inspection division est andmaintains standard ber sizes an diviides research and wood engi economlc servlces lsa lumber tistics on ber. It reports and pri lces.

In addition to its indi responsibilities in the woodindusWood try, WWPA is a Products Promotion which also includes American Plywood ucts Associa-

(WPPC) the ion, the American Wood Forest Products theNational on and the Southern tion.

Technical serv two divisions. sumer and trade editorial promotions and literat category. o this lon was recovenng from t of the early 1980s, was-and is-to WP of efforts and action in activities for the of the entire industry. Each year the council identifies common markets and objectives. They also identify technical and building code activities needed by all the participating associations.

Formed

Using these match-ups, they organize programs for the year. At least two members must be involved in each program. Home repair and remodeling, residential construction markets and non-residential construction have been targeted with renovated homes, model homes and educational seminars undertaken by the group in the past few years.