The winterfurniture market

lltAIT and see characterized tt the winter furniture markets, diminishing the buying, but making evaluation of market trends all the more important. Sooner or later the pent-up demand will loosen the consumer's purse strings as he yields to the urge to upgrade and embellish his home environment.

This sizeable surge in buying is predicted by some for later in 1981, and certainly by early 1982, depending on the degree of confidence in the new administration's efforts to find a formula for the economy.

Trends getting close scrutiny included: Would oak continue its domination? Would contemporarymodern be 5090 or more of the buying public demands? Would pine, showing signs of dropping, and its parallel trend of massive country or ranch styles, give way to more graceful, lighter scaled traditional offerings? Would the heavy distressing, which has been an integral part of many furniture styles, be undergoing a change to a clearer, more natural finish system?

The western concept of "let's try it" has introduced many market changes in furniture in past years. The showroom presentation often becomes a sounding board for eastern and nationally produced lines, so that a comprehensive study of occasional tables has assumed increasing importance, according to Dave McCullam of Northwest Hardwoods, Inc., Portland Or. His staffs tabulate and classify showroom offerings in five major furniture buildings in San Francisco, Ca., twice each year.

"We tabulate almost 1,000 different table groups (a style is offered in several different sizes and options) by wood, style category and finish. While changes may seem small from market to market, any change sustained for several markets will represent a trend in consumer buying preferences," he explains.

"With 15 market studies now compiled, we can almost predict in advance the direction the market is taking. We were able to detect the emergence of life style, ranch, oriental and more recently, country French with its flowing line and medium scaling, " continued McCullam.

In the study, oak continues to lead and contributes to every style category. It may have passed its peak (231 table groups in 1981, and 256 in 1980), but it still occupies 29.24s/o of the showroom spaces. There is also evidence that a more

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Sales Training Seminar

Salesmen from building materials, flooring, and laminates areas of BMD, Inc., Galt, Cenitos, and Sunnyvale, Ca., participated in sales training seminars at

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PonderosaPine Sugar Pine lncense Cedar Douglas Fir White Fir

CERTIFIGATE ot acc_omplishment for Xerox sales lraining seminar is p.resented to R. B. Dorman (lett), 17 year veteran at BMD, lnc., by Vern Miller, No. Ca. sales mgr., Salesmen attending semiiarS (center photo, front, lto r) "Speed" Wreden, Bruce Norton, Tim Tohlen-,-Joe Elia. (back) Feiix 0rtiz, Drew McAlister, Bill McKenzie, Dave Mjebach. (lower photo, front) Rick Johnke, R. B. Dorman Chuck Holman, Bob White. (back) Ltilyd Edwards, Jim Cunningham, Kevin Jenkins.

Our quality is great, Our service is good, This is the place You should buy Yourwood. .

Lemmie C. Morewood Consulting PhD*

(e16) 824-5427

*Phact Director