New Portland hardware building

National Builders Hardware Co. has moved into a new officewarehouse at Southeast lOth and Taylor in Portland, Or. It occupies a full block near their old location.

The building is of pre-cast tilt-up construction. All glass is double mirror reflective silver. Like the office and the large display room, the warehouse is heated and well insulated. The building is a bright spot in the neighborhood; its exterior walls are concrete and painted a chrome yellow with blue accents taken from the company signature sign "NBH".

llEW office, display room and warehouse for National Builders Hardware Co., Southeast Portland, is 0f pre-cast tilt-up construction, occupies a full city block and provides 38,624 sq. lt. for the f irm.

Lee Kelly, one of the Pacific Northwest's popular outdoor sculptors, is working on a two-story metal piece for the entrance area. A lounge with kitchen accommodates 35 employees. An outdoor tiled terrace adioins it.

Studies show that there are definite buying habits associated with housewares.

Of particular significance for building supply retailers promoting one-stop shopping are those statistics relating to the selling of small electrical appliances and bathroom accessories.

During-the-week shopping is preferred by over two-thirds of the consumers surveyed. Over half buy small electrical appliances and bathroom accessories during the week. But, outdoor products and accessories are frequently purchased on weekends, and the husband is most often consulted about their purchase.

Just about half of those asked in recent studies preferred sales help when buying small appliances. Most shop in suburban areas.

People also mentioned that instore displays were important sources of information concerning what's available and new.

C0ilGnlTuLlTl0llS f rom J.E. Higgins Lumber Co. president Harry Anthony (right, at top) to Verlon McKinney for the national sales division's Million Dollar Club achievement.

In background: John Enright. Also celebrating the division's success at the January meeting, in Fremont, Ca., were members of other parts of the Higgins'organization.

Flont row: Larry Ryan, Jack Coats, Matt Enright, Verlon McKinney. ltliddle row: Steve Goldberg, Mike 0'Brien, Gene Williams, Jon Sligar, Pete Coronato. Back low: Joe Long, Jack 0uatman, Harry Anthony and John Enright. Established in 1883, the company has lacilities in Northern California and Nevada and sells throughout the West and the rest of the U.S.

(Continued from page 8) merchandise presentations according to the space they have available. They are essential when a chain retailer wants to coordinate and control rubber and plastic houseware departments throughout a number of outlets.

Obviously, whenever a new product category is added to any store, optimum return on investment is the obiective.

To a retailer long entrenched in lumber and building materials, it's natural to feel unfamiliar with a new product line such as housewares. But if the urge to add this category is too strong to resist, getting better informed is a smart first step. The manufacturer's field sales rep can help make this unfamiliar territory more manageable.