TTHtr SOUTHLAND

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

THIS being the annual Hardware- *. Houlgwqres issue, it seems logi- cal to talk about these items in rela- tion to the retail lumbermen of southern California.

_ During the past seven years there has been a great increase in the ?.mo-un! and types of hardware par- ticularly handled by the retaiiers. More and more frequenfly requests come in for a hardware specialist from lumber dealers. In this same vein, more talk is heard and action seen wherein the retail lumber dealer remodels and enlarges his operation, gets new display cases and lwitches hrs customer mix from an unbal_ anced contractor-consumer relation- ship to a balanced contractor-consumer relationship. In some instances the scales may actually tip in favor of the consumer.

This brings up the problem, for some, of how to handle the two different customer types. But it can and is being done, with a resulting increase in the profitability of the entire operation. Another problem new to many lumbetmen, incidentally, is that of shoplifting. To assist with this, the association will soon be offering for its members, the. services of a "loss prevention specialist."

Merchandise categories vary but basically all carry what would be construed as standard home improvement lines. Some stock builders hardware; others even stock fire arms and ammunition and sell huni,ing licenses. Not all items are applicable to each location. To determine the best bglance for your merchandise line through inventory control is one of the Eecrets of success.

(8) Thornas Batey, Arrerloen PlY. wood Agsociatlon

"Finiches for Plywood."

The wood promotion sommittee a.P" proved the lay-out of o wood brochure entitled "Beautilul Facts about Buil'ding il)ith Wood." It is now available.

Dealers should be aware of new qualiffcations for drivers of commercial vehicles that became efrective Jan. 1. Yotrr association ofrce is working on cla,riffcation of, these regulations and will be advising mernbers on compliance.

New membere recently signed are Mission Insurance Co., Phoenix, an associate member, and Wood Bros. Lumber Co., Tucson, Johnson-Manley Lumber Co., Tucson, and Border Building Supplies, Douglasr as regular members.

As housing prices go up due to increased land, labor and interest rates, more and more people will turn to improving and expanding their present homes. The retail lumber dealer, who is the building materials center for the area, is the logical place for these people to go for their needs. At one place they can obtain ideas for improving their home and get advice oR reputable contractors to do the work. If the project is beyond the capabilities or time limitation of the home owner, or, if they choose to do it themselves, all their needs cen be supplied by the lumber yard-ideas, material, tools and even financing.

For the retail lumbennan who has not been involved in this field, there are many classlc examples of well designed arrd vely functional building supply centers witlln the couthern Californla area.

The range of sizes of thcge op€ra' tions is quite broad. If You are thinking of expanding your preeent hardware line or adding hardware as a new feature in your storo 8nd stant ideas, check with us. interested parties can be furnished with loeations of the size and type most closelY aP plicable to their situation. Agaih, another service that can be rendered for members of the Lumber Associetion of Southern CaliforniE.

Two Promotions ot AFPC

American Forest Products Corp. vp. Jack Ford has announced two promotions in the building materials div.

to coordinate marketing activities for the division's rapidly expanding product line which is becoming more closely oriented to the end user type of customer.

Duart, a WW II veteran, joined American in 194? at the Stockton location after completing his education at University of California, Berkeley, where he received a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Forestry. In 1967 he was named regional manager for the northern California distribution yards.

James M. Duart has been moved to the newly created position of marketing manager; Seth J. Potter will take on expanded responsibili. ties as regional manager for all the company lumber and building products distribution centers in California and Arizona.

According to Ford, the marketing manager position was designed

Seth Potter, who since 1968 has been regional manager of the com. pany's Southern California distribution yards, will take on the additional responsibilities for nothern California previously handled by Duart and also that of the Phoenix. Arizona yard. Potter also joined AFPC at Stockton in 1947 after receiving his degree from the University of Pacific.

EDP System for Deolers

The need for an industry-wide EDP system for retail lumber and building material dealers who have annual sales of $500.000 or more has long been recognized.

C. W. Nortz of Management Advisors, Inc. has developed a program based on his Standardized Accounting System that has had industry.wide exposure.

Some of its important features are:

(l) All accounting done in the dealer's location by his employees. (2) System is based on his Standardized Accounting procedures. (3) Program includes computer made by Bur. roughs Corp., all programming included, forms and l0olo financing (leasing arrangements for up to five years to qualified dealers). (4) Cost of the complete system is less than $40 per month on a S-year lease.

&

HARRY MENDENHATT executiYe vice president

Lumber Merchonls Associqtion of Northern Coliforniq

45,16 El Conino tst, Suitc O lo3 Altos, Callt, 91022 (4r5) 9,ar-r6r7 fT is once again time for the Annual ^ LMA Top Management Seminar. This seminar has become as much a tradition of the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California as the annual convention. This year will mark our sixth annual Top Management Seminar. The response to each has been outstanding, however, I wonder if the members take full advantage of the opportunity.

This year'S seminar will be held at the Asilomar, Pacific Grove, Calif., Feb. 28, Mar, 1-2. Owners, managers and top executives of retail lumber yards will gather for three basic purposes, The first is to listen to and question experts on the subjects of economic evaluation of the housing industry with particular emphasis on California, the 1971 outlook for the building materials industry, the 1971 forecast of the state's housing trends, merchandising and marketing and computerized inventories.

Secondly, dealers will compare their past yeafs activities, expansion, marketing and future plans with one another to determine if they can improve their businesses and objectives. In general, compare notes. EVen though they are competitors of the first line, this type of meeting seems to unify the spirit and goals of the association.

Thirdly, the social gatherings are of great importance to the members. Not only does it provide an opportunity for the owners to meet on a social basis, it is an excellent opportunity for the manag'ers and executives of firms to meet and chat on a personal basis.

Attendance last year numbered 80, which represents a good turnout, however, memhrs should take greater advantage of this type of meeting and send assistants who are well motivated and have the qualities of becoming key members of firms. The seminar provides them with the latest first-hand information and offers them the opportunity to join in the discussion along with the managers and owners.

First call Hobbs Wall for wholesale Redwood and Redwood split products, Douglas Fir and White Fir, Ponderosa and Sugar Pine, Hemlock and Cedar lumber. Depend on us to follow through with the right grades at the right prices!

Chester Koller, grange mgr. in Harrington, Wash., has been recently working to keep open the Standard Lumber Co. in Harringtoh.

Joe Pepetone has been the recepient of blood donations by the Oakland Hoo-Hoo Club. A former club president, he has been in the Valley Memorial llospital in Livermore, Dee Essley, Harvey Koll and LeRoy Stanton, veteran Los Angeles lumbermen, are scheduled to be honored with a plaque in the HooHoo Redwood Grove.

Craig Coleman, the son of Ken Coleman, Eckstrom Plywood, L.A., is now on Army duty in Ethiopia, after completing a stint in Vietnam.

Mark Seldner, Summit Lumber Co., Long Beach, Calif., and his new bride, Ritq have set up housekeeping in lVlarina Del Rey.

Scotty Celli is the area sales mgr. fol Edwards Power Door's new far westera warehouse in Salt Lake City.

Morris Tropp, L,A. lumber wholesaler, is spending part of this month in Hawaii with nephews Lt. Tom

Tropp, USN and Capt. Jim Tropp, coming in from Vietnnm. Joining the group is Morris' brother Dr, G. Tropp from Elmira, N.Y.

Fred Morrow has assumed the presidency of the Montana Hardware and Implement Assn. after the sudden death of Bill Hustad, who died three days after his election.

Robert E. Baird has been named vp. and gen mgr. of Masonite Land Corp., Samuel S. Greeley, president, has announced.

Stan Foster is the new manager of Diamond National's Lodi, Calif., yard. Williams mgr. Ron Hinds has been promoted to mgr. of the Oakdale yard.

\{ilbur R. Smith is now natl. molddings product mgr., Evans Products, according to Donald L, Gardner, exec. vp. and gen. group mgr.

Bob Shannon has been named sales mgr., redwood, by Gordon J. King, Boise Cascade mgr. of lumber and plywood sales. Other appointments: Ted Anderson to acct. spe- cialist for Relesform and Bob Linderman, sales asst. of redwood.

Al Kerper, Paul Bunyan Lumber Co., Anderson, Calif., recently ealled on the trade in southern Calif,

David R. Elwing now heads the educational services dept. of the Gypsum Assn.; T. Donald MaeQueen is now promotion mgr.

Pat Reiten, Simpson Timber Co., is back in Seattle after a two week field trip.

John Braun is U.S. Plywood's new export div. sales mgr. in Eugene, Ore.

Jim Strait has completed a successful Honolulu sales trip for The Bellwood Co., Orange, Calif.

Pete Lane, president of WisconsinCalifornia Forest Products, has been in Africa on a big game safari.

Nolen Mills, president of Allied Veneer Co., L.A., has named Bryan G. Smillie as vp. and gen. mgr.

Merv Kjer, K/D Cedar Supply, Hayward, Calif., took a recent business and pleasure trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Carl Alfreldt, Koppers Co., was a recent business visitor in Sacramento.

Harold J. Rogers, American Forest Products, Newark, Calif., got a hole-in-one recently on the Thunderbird Golf Course; 15th hole, 167 yards with a 6 iron.

Sam' Fineman, president of the BelAir Door Co., Alhambra, Calif., was an exhibitor at the recent NAHB homebuilders' show in Houston, Tex.

Walter Yranesh is the new western regional sales mgr. for MasseyFerguson.

Harold M. Frodshanr" chairman of the board, South Bay Redwood Co., Orange, Calif., has returned from

FlltuAlY, l97l

a round-the-world trip, with special visits to Southeast Asia, the Near East and the Scandinavian countries.

Kathy Cook is the new sales-service secretary for Vit-Co in Brea, Calif.

Lovey McCarthy has joined the office staff of Pine Ridge Lumber, Industry, Calif.

Bill Dugal, Bearn Industries, Industry, Calif., recently visited the home office on Long Island, New York. James Richards is the new plywood sales mgr. for Southwest Forest Industries, according to Ken Thompson, lumber and plywood sales mgr.

William F. Repack is Masonite's new mgt.-sales training in the bldg. products div., A. B. Coo\ the div. vp.-sales reveals,

Jim Green has joined Pope & Talbot's sales staff at their Portland office. Sy Rodakowski is mgr. of lumber sales.

Chuck Chappell notes that the Missouri River Lumber Co. in Ft. Benton, Mont,, that he manages wiII celebrate its 60th birthday this year.

Herbert Hougham, Salinas, and Frank Duncan, Fresno, are two Calif. G-P salesmen honored by regional "Salesmen of the Quarter" awards from Stanley S. Dennison, vp., distribution div.

E. W. Hughes, vp.-operations, Boise Cascade announced that Robert M. Harris is the gen, mgr. of west coast operations. Harold S. Eastman is the new gen. mgr. of intermountain and eastern operations; and Peter S. O'Neill is g'en. mg'r. of marketing.

Herman Obrikat has replaced Doug Gendron as Inland Lumber's rep. in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara and Ventura area. Ray Rounds is now on the sales desk at their Tustin office.

Tom Hufiord, Schlage Lockts new marketing mgr., is back to his S.F. office after a number of field trips.

Hale Greenman, Sun Studs, Inc., Roseburg, Ore., has been elected pres, of the newly formed Independent Veneer Operators.

Jim Rossman. Twin Harbors' man in Santa Ana, Calif., spent a recent weekend with the family at Lake Arrowhead.

Joe Il'enshaw is the new mgr. at Palmer G. Lewis Co's. Everett, Wash., branch. He succeeds Robert Rose, now mgr. of the firm's central Wash, distribution center in Wenatchee.

Scotty Maclntyre, "The Flying Lumberman" of Rialto Lumber Co., Rialto, Calif., and Ron lVilson of Jamb Dandy Lumber Co., Whittier, recently flew to Lake Hava- su to see Scotty's bosr, Bert IIoldren.

A.L. White is the new controller for American Forest Products; Tom Mann is now the S.F. office mgr. and \Yillard Robertson has been named to the new post of director of corporate development,

Jim Petersen has joined Clear Fir Sales' in L.A, as a sales rep.

George Eubank, L.I{. Eubank & Son, Inglewood, Calif., spent the holidays on his ranch in Wyoming.

Flake Wi[is has succeeded retiring S. E. Mounes as vp. and gen. traffic mgr. of Southwest Forest Industries, according to prexy Gene C. Brewer.

Glenn Chapman has been promoted to sawmill superintendent at the Klamath Lumber Co., a DiGiorgio subsidiary, J. G. Ilannigan, president, has announced.

Forest W. "Frosty" Foster, Foster Forest Products, San Marino, Calif., is the new president of the 550-mernber San Marino City Club.

Frank E. Budwill bas been promoted to asst. traffic mgr. at Los Angeles for the Union Pacific RR. Fred L. Morgan is the traffic mgr, Willard and Ruth Wells second honeymooned last month in northern Calif., celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. IIe is the mgr. at Foothill Lumber. Glendora.