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Lanoga Acquires Utah's Butterfield

Lanoga Corp., Redmond, Wa., an 18-state, 193-unit chain, has acquired Butterfield Lumber Co., Midvale, Ut., a l9-year-old business.

"We feel that by becoming part of a strong, reputable company such as Lanoga, Butterfield Lumber's employees will receive great benefits, opportunity for advancement and strong buying power in the industry," said co-founder Ed Butterfield.

Butterfield and his brother Jerry plan to retire sometime after the transition, although the firm will continue to operate under the family name and all employees will be offered jobs with the new owner.

Two Northwest Mills Sue Big W

Weyerhaeuser Co. is being sued by two Northwest sawmills that allege the forest products giant is violating federal anti-trust laws.

Smokey Point Hardwoods, Inc. and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians of Oregon are seeking $30 million in damages and divestiture of the timber and paper giant's seven alder sawmills.

The plaintiffs claim Weyerhaeuser has illegally monopolized the Northwest's alder industry for the past decade, and that its takeover of Willamette Industries, if approved, would give Big W access to most of the remaining suppliers of alder wood.

Weyerhaeuser officials called the suit "a thinly disguised attempt at extortion," and said the company previously rejected a $10 million settlement demand from both mills.

Last month, Willamette's board unanimously recommended that shareholders refuse Weyerhaeuser's $48 per share tender offer, claimins the firm is not for sale and that the price is inadequate.

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The Merchant Magafine welcomes Letters to the Editor. Please send to Editor, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660; Fax 949-8520231, or by e-mail to dkoenig@ioc.ner.

Shop Talk

I agree with your editorial on p. 6 of The Merchant Magafine, December edition. The computer folks should use greater clarity to help everyone understand what they have to offer. And, all things considered, people in our low-tech industry have done a remarkable job at keeping up.

But I think there is another point to be made from all of this. In the same way that the high-tech jargon confuses us in the low{ech world, I can attest from 25 or so years in the retail end of the lumber industry, that our own jargon is a bit daunting to the layman. We get busy quoting "four quarter," "face and better," "manufactured shop," "rift cut," and other industry terms, along with initials like OSB, MDF and the like. The pro customers kind of understand. But who can blame our retail customers for beine a bit befuddled by all of this?

With good signage and by standardizing sizes, the big box guys have cut through some of this mystery. The lesson for the rest of us, the independents who are clinging to our part of the lumber market: we must work to relate better to our customers and prospects, not just to our old-timers who roll lumberese off the tongue like their mother language. The less mysterious we can make our products and services, the more we'll see satisfied and returning customers.

Jack Welty 1207 Via Visalia San Clemente. Ca.92672

To Serve And To Protect

Read with interest and some laughter the article in the September issue, "Big Boxes Warn Shoppers."

I wonder if Carol Schumacher advises guests invited to her home to beware they are entering a "danger zone" (p. 38).

Perhaps she has not been properly schooled in the concept of customers actually being "guests," invited to shop in a particular establishment.

By having our doors open for business, that is exactly what we all do, invite people in, and as such, assume the responsibility for their safety. There should be no risks, and if there are, it is that company's responsibility to protect all involved.

I'm sure her statement gives much consolation to the parents of the young girl reportedly killed in Idaho, or the man in Roseville, Ca., who received a concussion.

Her statement must also make the employees of Home Depot feel secure for their well-being.

Jim Baly Colonial Lumber Co.

3975 Pacific Blvd. San Mateo, Ca.94403

Enid Alice Ambrosini. 64. wife of Lowell Ambrosini, retired general manager, Georgia-Pacific's California lumber operations, died Sept. 17 in Whitehall, Mt.

A native of Great Falls, Mt., and a graduate of Humboldt State University, she married Lowell Ambrosini in Reno. Nv.. in 1960.

The couple spent many years in Ft. Bragg. Ca.. before retiring to Whitehall in 1996.