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The cost of receiving the wrong grade of lumber is hard to calculate. lf you go ahead and sell it, your profit can walk out the door. lf you paid for a better grade, you could make a claim and probably recover. But, what about the manpower to go through this exercise, and the lost time while the lumber is tied up? That's why our graders are on top of the totem pole. All of them are senior citizens in the business, with experience in over 100 species of hardwoods and softwoods, domestic and foreign. Their word sticks! lt's your guarantee that you get what you pay for the first time every time. Call us for the exotics shown or for any other species when you're on the spot. Over 7,000,000' to select from.

LUMBER COMPANY

5800 So. Boyle Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90058 (213) 583-451 1

HELMSMAN HA,WTHORNE CONCENTRATES ON CREDIT

Northridge yard keys on volunre: bry right, keep stock fresh, make it move

66\f/E CARE about the customer, are YY sympathetic with local delivery problems and have a d,amn good crew," emphasizes Dick Hawthorne, manager and minority stockholder of Northridge Lumber Co. in Northridge, Calif., summing up the spirit of the yard he and Leon G.

Gillaspie, the president and majority stockholder, lead.

Located on a two-and-a-half-acre site in the west end of L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, the prime feature of the yard is an 800 sq. ft.(ex 100') shed which holds three-and-a-half carloads of lumber. The shed, paved yard and 7,200 sq. ft., two story office and showroom were built when the city notified the yard that it planned to build an underpass on their location. The "most expensive piece of footage in the whole yard," Hawthorne said, was the lady's room. The four month move was completed December 1965.

Concerning the various types of business they do, "one is as important as the other to us," said Hawthorne. o'We need volume to buy right, to keep stock fresh and to make money."

Their business mix breaks down into approximately 15% retail, 22/e remodeling contractors with the balance made up by schools, homes and apartment builders. Items that don't sell well are power tools, corrugated plastic and filagree hardboard. Another item is plastic dividers which Hawthorne oohung outside, put a l/2 price sign on it and still took six months to get rid of." He got rid of plumbing because it "didn't pay for its floor space. Unless you have quite a lot," he said, "you don't have what people need."

Since Hawthorne feels close enough to his stock to feel how it's moving, his accounting is not broken down into lumber and non-lumber percentages. "It's not im. portant to us as long as the overall picture is good." Gross varies around $1.8 million. Their all-time high was g2.B million in 1963. Only 3/n of one percent of gross is spent on advertising. It is done in the local paper, with the rest for en. velope stufiers and entertainment.

'lhe yard employs 8 office and l0 yard men, and an outside salesman, A file of applications is kept for any possible vacancies that may occur. Haw. thorne also gets word out through salesmen "who hit other yards, and know who's unhappy," he stated.

Story dt d Glonce

Stressing service, delivery and a fine staff this yard turns $1.8 million . Retail & school contracts increase with industrial & small contractors ebbing. . features yard-built 800 sq. ft. lumber storage shed.

He regards everybody as competition and even gets delivery jobs from as far away as San Diego, more than 120 miles away. "Toughest competition on plywood are our own suppliers," Hawthorne avers. Their retail trade area covers a six mile radius. Retail business and school trade. which needs a separate inventory, have been increasing while industrial and one to three house builders have declined. From a 501 minimum to g9 per hour is charged to do-it-yoursel{ers for cutting lumber. Cutting charge is included on large orders. A $3 minimum delivery charge or $4.50 per 1,000 bf. is charged to large orders. Homeowners and small builders Pay a $5 per 1,000 bf. minimum.

Dick Hawthorne was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1952. When Northridge Lumber was incorporated in 1958, a partner died and Dick had the chance to buy stock. Northridge Lumber is a member of the Lumber Association of Southern California. Dick is president of the Northridge Rotary Club.

No prefab work and no remodeling packages are sold by the yard. Patio and roofing sales are influenced by the weather, while good weather normally brings an influx of all business.

The yard is located on a team track spur which is shared with a grocery warehouse and other businesses.

Northridge doesn't do business with coop buying because co-ops can't promise quality control and the yard would have to pick up their own shipments, Hawthorne explained.

Approximately "7/e of our business is done on creditr" he said.

The yard is open from 7:30 a.m.-S p.m., Mon.-Fri., B a,m,-S p.m., Saturday, with parking for 17 cars around the showroom plus spaces in the yard.