Big changes at TIue Value

|f\OTTER

& Co. has instituted

\-zsweeping changes that introduce minimum dealer purchases and eliminate hundreds of members.

Cotter is trimming from its roster True Value stores which purchased less than $30,000 in 1994, a move expected to affect less than 5Vo of its more than 6,000 members. The minimum annual purchase requirement will be $50,000 for 1995.

TRUE VALUE members representing 270 store locations toured 210 exhibits during Cotter & Co.'s Jan. 15-18 winter lumber market at the San Antonio, Tx., Con' vention Center. (1) LBM div, mgr. Larry Wendling, Glen Jenkins, Mike Stich. (2) Lamar Sheilds, Linda Priddy, Bill Healy. (3) Jim Quinn, Sara Bills-Thwing, David Sackett. (4) Dave Rupp, Tim Kerrison. (5) Pat Shope, Traci Hyder. (6)Cindy & Dan Palmer, Sam Stone. (7) Alexandra Ross, Dan Meikle, Jim Krestensen, Deb Wilgenbusch. (8) Julie & Rollv Skifton. (9) Vic Anderson, Susan Vihlein, Chris Johnsioh. (10) Dick Miner, Don Jacobson. (11) Don Spiers, Mike Asbury, Vicky Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald. (12) Jim & Chris Snipe. (13) Don & Nancy Buescher, Elaine & Mike Vnuty. (14) Jim Navarre, Greg

Previously no minimum purchase was required, so members could shop around. "The tendency of some retailers to pick and choose manufacturers and distributors detracts significantly from the overall buying power and efficiency of the cooperative," said v.p. and c.o.o. Steve Porter. "Consequently, the loyal members end up subsidizing those who don't participate fully."

Danielson. (15) Craig Heaton, Roger Ward. (16) Glvnn Pittman, Frank Klasnick, Dan itas'ton.' (17) Bill Ramey, Tom Bailey, Jack Emmert. (18) Leon Nutt, Lloyd Wright, Jon Anderson. (19) Chuck Hotze, Duncan Dickey, Sam Sprague. (20) Joe & William Alexander, Alan & Angie Darnell. (21) David, Mary Jane & Ely Lindquist. (22) Mike Jacobs, E. J. Ouellette. (23) Dave Goodwin, Ray Dardis, Rollv Skifton. (24) Ann Simmons, Bret Dotson. (25i Harvev Parker, Jim Krestensen, David Wobos. (z's) John Churchill, John Welnick, Rick Lorenzen. (27) Roberla Alberl, Sam Bissinq. (28) Kenneth Stevens, John Brownfield. (ZS) Ric( Wilson, Derell Hudgeons, Chuck Gregory, Frank Kams. (30) Dwayne Jones, Preston Boyd, K.G. Melde. (31) Randy Bonanni, Lamar Sheilds, George Judd, Scott Jennings, Alex Tis, Nelda Edwards.

Other changes will occur in mrnimum monthly orders, monthly assessments and distribution schedules.

At the annual winter lumber market Jan. l5-18 in San Antonio, Tx., pres. Dan Cotter encouraged LBM (lumber & building materials) members to give Cotter all their business in the next six months. "This is a coop, folks. It's a two-way street," he said. "Let us do the buying and you concentrate on reselling and merchandising."

Cotter's LBM sales rose l2.5%o last year to $308 million.

A new retail co-op format, the "Strategy 21 Program," should be unveiled at the spring market to replace the Build America prototype.

Additionally, Cotter is abandoding the variety business, cutting loose over 800 V&S Variety stores to dedicate itself strictly to hardware and building materials.

Ben Franklin Retail Stores will purchase Cotter's $8.6 million variety merchandise inventory, and most V&S stores are being invited to sign on with Ben Franklin.

HomeBaSe will close its San Pablo, Ca., warehouse by the end of March, the l6th of 24 phnned clozures ... Ernct Home Cinters is searching for a site to build a 65,000 sq. ft, store in Yakima, Wa., as a long-planned replacement for its 30,ffi0 sq. ft. store in Union Gap, Wa.

Honte Depotopened stores last month in Boise, Id. (Eric Hagshom, mgr.); Olympia Wa- (John Brown, mgr.); Phoenix,'Az. (Gil Brown, mgr.), and Puytllap, Wa. (Mike Delucia, mgr.) ... Depot won appioval to build a 137,000 sq. ft. store in Sacramento, Ca., which it hopes to complete this year, and sold 4.8 acres of land in Orange, Ca., for $1.3 million to a truck leasing company

Stanton Cudahy Lumber Co., 'Hillsboro, Or., hopes to move this month into a newly rebuilt 51,200 sq. ft. warehouse/office building,. feplacing the one gutted by fire last summ€r ,,. Brookhardt's Building Centers, Colorado Springs, Co., has acquired Dale Nie & Son Lumber, Pueblo, Co., Mike Catalino, mgl., and is open- ing a 33,000 sq. ft. store this month in Monurnent, Co. ...

Krwll Lumber & Hahtware Co., TVoodinville, Wa., donated a house to Habita.t for Humanitv durins the Seattle Home Show, iis 9th luch gift to a community organization

Crown Paciftc Partners, L.P., Portland, Or., is selling 9.85 million common shares in its initial public offering American Pine Products, Prineville, Or., will relocate its Stockion, Ca.-based sales group to Prineville by June

Rayonier has agreed to acquire a P1ummer, Id., saw141tl and wood finishing facility fram Paci,fic Ciown Timber Prad.ncts Inc., Seattle, Wa., with an.option to buv 13,000 acres of North ldaho dmberland "..

Snow Mountain Pine, Ltd., Hines, Or., is closing its lumber and planing mills (see story p."34) ... Hanel Lumber Co.,, Hood River, Or., permanently laid off the swing shift, ar its big log mill, citing high log costs, low lumber pricgs and lack of federal timbCr supply