DATE Book

Llstlngs are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations wrfh sponsor before making plans to aftend.

Paint & Decorating Expo - Feb. 19-22, Planet Hollywood Hotel, Las Vegas, Nv. ; www.paintanddecoratingexpo.com.

True Value Co. - Feb. 20-22, spring market, Orlando, Fl.; (773) 69551 71 ; www.truevaluecompany.com.

Gafifomia Forestry Assn. - Feb.22-24, annual meeting, Sheraton Grand, Sacramento, Ca.; (916) 444-6592; www.foresthealth.org.

Western Wood Preservers Institute - Feb.23-24, winter meeting, Embassy Suites, Portland, 0r.; (800) 729-9663; www.wwpinstitute.com.

Oregon Logging Conference - Feb. 23-25, Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene, Or.; (800) 595-91 91 ; www.oregonloggingc0nterence.c0m.

Colorado Springs Home & Landscape Expo - Feb.24.26, NorrisPenrose Event Center, Colorado Springs, Co.; (800) 374-6463; www. homeshowcenter.com.

American Architectural Manufacturers Assn. - Feb.26.29, annual conference, Naples, Fl.; (8a7) 303-566a; www.aamanet.org.

WoodWorks - Feb. 29, Wood Solutions Fair, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, Ca; (866) 966-3448; woodworks.org.

National Frame Building Association - Feb. 29.ttlarch 2, frame building expo, America's Center, St. Louis, Mo.; (800) 557-6957; www.nfba.org.

Lumber Association of California & Nevada - March 1, 2nd Growth meeting, Knoft's Berry Farm Resort Hotel, Buena Park, Ca.; (800) 2664344', www.lumberassociation.org.

Panel & Engineered Lumber Gonference - March 1-2, Omni Hotel, Atlanta, Ga.; (334) 834-1 170; www.pelice-expo.com.

International Hardware Fair - March 3-7, Cologne, Germany; www.eisenwarenmesse.com.

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers AssociationMarch 5-7, legislative conference & spring meeting, Marriott, Washington, D.C. ; (800) 634-8645; www.dealer.org.

Window & Door Manufacturers Assn, - March 5.7, legislative conference, Washi n gton, D.C. ; (800) 223-2301, www.wdma. com.

Greenprints - March 7.8, conference & show, Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center, Atlanta, Ga.; (404) 8723549; ww.greenprints.org.

Pacific Northwest Association of Rail Shippers - March 7.8, conference, Doubletree, Portland, Or.; (503) 656-4282; www. railshippers.com.

Lumbermens Merchandising Corp. - March 7.9, annual meeting, Ft. Worth, Tx.; (610) 293-7|49;www.lmc.net.

Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club - March 8, golf tournament, El Prado Golf Course, Chino, Ca.; (626) 445-8556; www.lahlc.net.

Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Associ. ation - March 8'9, products expo, Denver Merchandise Mart, Denver, Co.; (800) 365-091 9; wuw.mslbmda.org.

Ace Hardware Corp. - March 8-10, spring market, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.; (630) 990-7662; www.acehardware.com.

Tacoma Remodeling Expo - ilarch 9.1'1 , Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, Tacoma, Wa.; (800) 374-6463; www.homeshowcenter.com.

International Home & Housewares Show - March 10.13, Chicago, ll.; (847) 2924200; www.housewares.org.

Western Wood Products Association - March 12, annual meeting, Embassy Suites Downtown, Portland, Or.; (503) 224-3930; www.wwpa.org.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association - March 12.15, Wood Management Course, Mississippi State University, Starksville, Ms.; (800) 527 -8258iwww.lumber.org.

WoodWorks - March 13, Wood Solutions Fairs, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Or.; March 15, Wood Solutions Fair, Washington State Conference Center, Seattle, Wa.; (866) 9663448; www.woodworks.org.

Redwood Region Logging Gonference - March 15.17, Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, Ukiah, Ca.; (707) 443-409'l; www.rrlc.net.

Remodeling & Decorating Show - March 17-18, Orange County Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, Ca.; (818) 557-2950; www.thehomeshow.com.

Moulding & Millwork Producers Association - March 19.24, winter meeting, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego, Ca.; (800) 550-7889; www.wmmpa.com.

Seattle Remodeling Expo - March 23.25, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Wa.; (800) 374-6463; www.homeshowcenter.com.

Remodeling & Decorating Show - March 24.25, Pechanga Casino, Temecula, Ca.; (818) 557-2950; thehomeshow.com.

International Wood Products Association - March 28.30, annual convention, Miramonte Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, Ca.; (703) 820-6696; www.iwpawood.org.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association - March 29, regional meeting, Embassy Suites, Portland, Or.; (800) 5278258; www.lumber.org.

American Institute of Timber Construction - April 2.3, annual meeting, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples, Fl.; (303) 7929559; www.aitc-glulam.org.

Lumber Association of California & Nevada - April 12, associates/dealers golf tournament, Black Gold Golf Club, Yorba Linda, Ca.; (800) 266-4344; www.lumberassociation.org.

BuiHhgrPtodu<lsonr

Filling the Void

When the local hardware store in Wilton. Ct.. closed last October, the city's sole remaining building supplier saw an opportunity to fill the gap.

Founded in 1902, Ring's End Lumber has traditionally served builders and architects throughout Connecticut. But after Keeler's True Value Hardware closed, the Wilton branch of Ring's End decided to let locals know that its neighborhood location offers more than just lumber and tools.

"When we opened here in 2005, there were two hardware stores within a mile of here. Now there's none," says general manager Mike Burkhart. The chain, which has its headquarters and flagship store in Darien, Ct., has a total of l0 retail locations in the state, plus a millwork division, an educational center, an estimating and design office, and a distribution center.

"We're trying to listen every day, to see what people are asking for. We'd like to get more seasonal things out there. In winter, have ice melt or wood brick fuel, and more consumer-friendly type things," he continues. "For instance, we just brought in bird seed-I don't think a lot of other lumber businesses stock bird seed. We started cutting keys, we started selling chains, water softener, salt, which we never had before, but a lot of people in Wilton have wells."

The store has also expanded its electrical aisle and is changing its overall look, to make it more consumerfriendly. "We're raising aisle shelving l8 inches so we can bring in more stuff," says Burkhart. "The shelves were low for an open feel, but we think it's important to get more inventory in here to meet the needs of people in town."

The store's layout is also being tweaked, to make homeowners feel more comfortable shopping there. "It's intimidating for a homeowner is to see power tools as the first thing," says assistant merchandise manager Corey Bates, who came to Ring's End after Keeler's closed. "We're going to change so lawn and garden is in the front of the store."

The store's merchandise manager, Christopher Quintal, says that he tries to do whatever he can to make consumers-not just builders and architectshappy.

"Especially the last couple of years, as the housing economy has not been doing so well, that's become more of a focus of ours," he says. "It's helped us to stay profitable and continue to grow."

Burkhart agrees. "The biggest thing has been listening to our customers, learning what people are asking for outside of the normal realm of a lumberyard," he says. "We're keeping a running list of things that customers ask for. If we don't stock it. we'll add it to the list to get it in. This is an evolving thing that we've taken on, and we want as best as we can to help meet the needs of homeowners."