Home Center Merchant

BILL FISHMAN

Bill Fishman & Afliliates

11650 lberia Place

San Oieso, Ca. 92128 shelfand not enough rod space for hang- ' ing clothes (let's lace it, when your fr lOSefS! Suddenly there are big Y bucks in closet remodeling. It's a relatively new business and it appears dominated by independently owned installers. Oops! "Closet Consultants."

Although the concept ofcloset organizing has evidently been around long enough for there to be I I listings of installers in my Yellow Pages, it wasn't until recently that I took special note of their existence. Within the past few months, our local Shoppers have been stuffed with fliers from these companies with catchy names such as "Closet Expressions," "The Closet Factory" and "Custom Kloset Company." I have yet to see one named "Closets'R 'Us," but I'm sure that somewhere in America there is one.

Our bedroom walk-in closet is a mess. It's probably pretty typical. There is much wasted space above the closet weight ranges from 214 lbs. to 254 lbs., you need a wardrobe that includes size 46-48-50 and 52 athletic long). Together with the old shoe boxes filled with whoremembers-what and a collection of shoes, sneakers, slippers and other footwear that should have been thrown out years ago, there is hardly room for the other important stuff such as the photograph albums, 4,0fi) pennies, keys to the old cars and souvenir cowboy hat. That describes only my side of the closet.

I was quick to say, "Do-it," when Donna suggested that we call one of the closet companies for an estimate to redo our closet arrangement. I was not prepared for the ticket shock. Their plan was excellent. Their price was almost as long as their telephone number. Total installed price exceeded one thousand dollars. I have that project on hold.

It is evident that closet remodeling is a growing business. I make that judg- ment from the increasing number of companies entering the closet installation business. I wonder, if those of us who cater to the d-i-yer are doing a good enough job of marketing plans and materials for closet improvement. I am a big believer in promoting "packages." Over the years I have seen ads for remodeling packages sell a lot of sticks, boards and wall materials. That's the way the closet remodeling packages should be advertised. Some of the major chains are promoting pre-finished clos€t materials in modular systems. Some are treating them as specialty furniture items. That approach is too limited.

There is a constant search by home centers and building material dealers for fresh concepts for merchandising and promotion. Closet remodeling is ripe. Dealers should be featuring plans for modular sections in finished and unfinished materials.

Advertising should be hiehlighting closet layouts of different configurations and different sizes. With the computer programs at the fingertips of most retailers. it would not be diflicult to design and price-out closet packages in an array of designs and materials.

There is money hidden in closets. Not yours. Theirs. Your customers are ready to spend some of that moneY, if you can show them how to put their closet in shape as a do-it-yourself package.

Are You Absolutely Sure You Are Buying Your Building Materials Right?

If you have ever asked yourself - Am I Competitive? or Am I absolutely sure I buy my Building Materials and Hardware right? Then you need C.B.S.-Central Builders Supplies Company.

C.B.S. can take the guesswork out of buying. Since 1937, C.B.S. has been helping independent building material dealers remain competitive with mammoth corporation chains. Because C.B.S. is a dealer owned non-profit corporation, all discounts, rebates, datings and advertising funds are all passed directly to the participating members.

C.B.S. Offers You These Advantages

*C.B.S. has been nationally recognized as "The * C.B.S. is dealer owned Place To Go To Buy Low"* r C.B.S. has a state-of-the-art internal commun-

* As you buy more the cost to belong goes down- ication system with participating members -nol up

* C.B.S. has an in-house Lumber Department i C.B.S. has a program with the Blue Grass Tool Company

* C.B.S. has a Ceneral Building Materials Dept.

Central Builders Supplies Company

215 Broadus Street Sturgis, Michigan 49091

Phone: (616) 651-1455

* C.B.S. Rebates are paid to the members in cash

* C.B.S. has an in-house Building Specialties Dept.

* C.B.S. operates as a non-profit company

* C.B.S. members share in the cost to operate

Heodquarters for the Allied Building Centers

'C.B.S. was featured in the February, 1987 edition of Building Products Digest

Oklahoma Dealer Honored Blakley Lumber & Carpets, Inc., Davenport, Ok., has received a Decade of Excellence award from the Home Owners Warranty Corp. This award recognizes the commitment of owner Bud Blakley and the company to quality construction standards, professional competence and responsible customer service for the past l0 years.

L-P Acquires 7 Midwest DCs

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. has agreed to purchase seven Midwest distribution centers from Rounds & Porter Lumber Co., Inc.

Inventories and receivables will be included in the sale. Purchase price and other details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Rounds & Porter, a long-established building material distributor with operations in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, recently filed for reorganization under Chapter I I of the Bankruptcy Act.

Grack Down On Drivers

Drivers of commercial vehicles involved in interstate commerce can legally have only one driver's license, according to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. In addition, drivers are required to notify their employers if convicted of a moving traffic violation or if their license is suspended, revoked or cancelled.

The act states commercial motor vehicle operators applying for employment must provide a history of all related employment within the last l0 years.

Pfastic House By Year 2OOO?

Home building, especially remodeling, is expected to continue as the second largest market for plastics through the year 2000, consuming almost l5 billion pounds annually by the turn of the century.

Currently the building industry accounts for some 200/o of the volume of all plastic resin produced.

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