Outstanding redwood use by retailer

The resulting building was a barnlike desigr, bathed inside and out with the russet color of redwood. The exterior is a board and batten construction made of clear all heart lxl2 redwood lumber and 1x3 redwood battens, which Sullwold hand-picked from a Simpson Timber Co. mill in Arcata, C-a. Each piece was dipped in Woodlife to preserve the cinnamon color. The wood windows are painted with an orange stain to blend with the redwood and a metal roof has rusted to match.

Story at a Glance

Old fashioned home center in Carpenteria, Ca., uses redwood for warmth and drama two-story building with loft is a showcase of products homelike atmosphere with wood stove.

A fence, fashioned of redwood and pipe, defines the landscaped grounds. Redwood 6x8s are used like railroad ties to make planters for flowers and othelplants. A redwood deck accents the entryway. The deck is made of 2xl2 rough redwood treated with Woodlife.

"The new store has been a drawing card," according to Sullwold, as well as a showcase of the products the firm sells. The store, said Sullwold, has especially atttracted women with its homelike exterior. When he and others bought the firm in 1976, the sales volume was $% million. "Now it's pushing $2 million," he said. "We've quadrupled sales, and the new store has been an important part of that."

Inside, the two-floor structure is open in the center, loft-style. The second floor is equipped with a dumbwaiter to carry stock to and from the sales and display area below. Redwood plywood panels the walls and lx8 tongue and groove redwood paneling finishes the ceilings. Beams are of Douglas fir to provide a lighter color contrast.

Directly opposite the door and some 40 feet away stands a wood stove which heats the entire building. It is flred by scrap lumber from pieces cut in the yeard. "We have to watch the stove," said Sullwold, "so it doesn't boil us to death!"

DISTINCTIVE in architecture, the Carpinteria Valley Lumber building blends into the design of the highly residential community. Fenced-in garden area is an inviting entrance. Custom-made lolding doors slide ooen on one-of-a-kind hardware to reveal the rental equipment repair shop which is connected to the main building.

Pictures depicting various stages of wood products manufacturing line the walls near the stove so that people who buy there can get an idea of where their building products came from and how they are made.

If it's used in building or maintaining a home, they have it. The firm carries a little bit of everything in the 5,000 sq. ft. building and 31,000 sq. ft. yard. The store has

Douglas fir and redwood lumber, both flush and stile and rail doors, a full builders' hardware selection, power and hand tools, plumbing

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Contest attracts d{-yerc and boosts rcdwood sales

llllANY LUMBER yards and building supply

IUlcenters have found they can soften the effect of the building slump by expanding their d-i-y trade. The next problem is-how do you expand the d-i-y trade? Advertising? How-to clinics? Promotional events?

Last year, Sierra Redwood Sales in Sacramento, Ca., used all of these to boost their redwood sales which had been mainly supported by professional customers.

With a small well stocked yard literally sunounded by competition, they decided to do something to attract a bigger slice of the d-iy market and separate themselves from the crowd. Using advertising on radio and television and in newspapers, they announced their first redwood deck building clinic and details of a build-your-own deck contest-first pt'1ze. a trip to the Bahamas.

Over 300 interested d-i-yers showed up for the clinic which was conducted by a local deck builder. They built a display showing three different types of deck understructures. Literature from the California Redwood Association and their Design-A-Deck Plans Kit were made available. Sales staff, deck contractors and representatives of the association answered qugstions on specific problems after the presentation.

Quite satisfied with the results of the redwood dirck clinic and contest, Mark Hart, hgr., commented "Many of the people at the clinic may not build a deck this year or next year, but when they do, you can be sure they will think of us." And that, of course, is the solution to the problem.

Story at a Glance

D-i-y trade can help sotten the buildlng slump for lumber yards and bulldlng supply centers . . . adyertising, seminars, promo. tions build trade... tips on making the most of your efforts . . . sales aids.