Coming in April PRESS D )D SPE IsSUE

Our always informative annual on pressure treated wood will again present special features on how manufacturers help dealers sell, a proftle story on a pressure treater, updates on news affecting the industry plus helpful tips for you on marketing and selling profitable pressure treated products.

ADVERTISERS: Be certain your message is part of this important industrgr issue. Call or write today. The deadline for space resewations is

March ll, 19E5. For information or space resenrations, just urite the address below or call (7r4r 852-r99O.

Oak Holds Lead In Tables

The bellwether Western Furniture Market confirms the Carolina trends to softer appearances, less dominant grain character and more fluid lines.

Oak was still the leading wood although it dropped from 34.590 in January, 1983, to 28.6V0 in January,

Home Center Show SPeakers Set

Stanley Marcus, former chairman of Neiman-Marcus, Dallas,'ix., and star basketball coach John Wooden will be featured speakers at the third annual Western Home Center & Building Supply Dealers Show, Sept. 19-21, 1985, at the Anaheim, Ca., Convention Center.

Marcus, generally recognized as the founder of quality retailing, will speak at the opening general session, Sept. 19. He will address the show's general theme, "Competing Successfully in the West'"

Wooden, former head basketball coach at UCLA and considered one of the game's greatest coaching innovators, will speak Sept. 20. He will describe how his successful motivational theories can be taken from the basketball court into the marketPlace.

1985. More white oak, often with a quarter figure, characterized the table selection. The result was a more restrained,comfortable look to complement smaller sized rooms.

The close-grain cherry, maple, birch and western alder were slightly ahead of January 1983, but the major change was in wider use of mahoganY and walnut as well as yew, rosewood, teak and ramin. Burls at 890 remained a favored treatment with the inviting "touch me" look, according to Dave McCullam whose Northwest Hardwood staff made the surveY of over ll33 different occasional table presentations.

Another major change was in the painted (enameled or polyester) category. The jump from 5.590 to 13.890 in two years does not include the numerous table groups in which only a portion was painted for. contrast with natural wood finish. Some were painted on woodbase boards or PIYwood, but others used solid lumber such as alder, maple, gumwood or poplar. The embossed or Printed grain tables have dropped substantially, while the all plastic units showed a minor drop from 4.3v/o to 3.30/0. Both categories have been replaced with more glass, metal and marble tables. more wicker, rattan and bamboo units and more fabric and leather treatments. In total, the "other than wood" tables accounted for 250/o of all tables surveyed.

The comparison with the Carolina casegoods study conducted twice yearly by the Fine Hardwoods/American Walnut Association showed many similarities, though oak accounted for only 22.90/o of the total showroom presentations. Cherry, and hickory-pecan were more widely used in casegoods. Conversely, burls dominated more tables than they did in the larger casegoods suites.