Lumberltd.

SRO For Housewares Show

More than 1,900 exhibitors have been assigned space in the 82nd National Housewares Manufacturers Association International Housewares Exposition, March A-28 at McCormick Place plus McCormick Place West, Chicago, Il.

"Our March show is the start of 'new directions for success' for America's still burgeoning housewares industry," Ronald A. Fippinger, httr- aging director, said. "It will indeed be the catalyst for our giant $45 billion' at-retail housewares business in this new year that promises an ever+hanging marketplace for manufacturers and resellers of home-use products.

"Both came off 1984 with record sales ahead of the previous year," he continued, "and dthough most economists expect a slowing recovery in the months ahead, their forecasts for an ongoing growth rate offer bot- tomline challenges for everyone in housewares. So enthusiasm and optimismare widespread for our March Show."

More Homes on the Move

Growth in the number of mobile homes in the nation's housing stock is important to building materials retailers because it indicates a growing potential market for their products.

In 1980 Qatest figures), according to the Census Bureau, there were 3.88 million occupied mobile homes, representing 5.390 of the total housing in the U.S.

The number of mobile homes varies from state to state. For example, Hawaii had only l/lfth of l9o of all mobile homes while in California 4.2s/o of the population lived in mobile dwellings.

All Work &No Play = A Boss

Chief executive officers prefer the office to the beach according to a survey of the leisure patterns of leaders of 60 large, successful firms done at Purdue University.

Highlights included: 6090 of those surveyed had not taken a vacation in the past three years; 4090 of those who did vacation came back to the office early; top managers average five to six hours of sleep per night; less than 3090 have read at least one book not related to business in the Past year.

Conclusion by Purdue Professor William Theobald: "By and large, their work is their leisure."