Quality Control Starts at a Very Early Stage at Pacific DE w fft:ffitb It's time I

Southeast Forcst Products Whatever happened tb-. . ?

By Matt Moulder

Responsib/e lournalism? Recently I ran across an editorial in a major city newspaper that definitely should be considered either slanted or irresponsible. The editorial was entitled "WANTON VANDALTSM: tHf OfSfnUCTION OF AMERICA'S RAIN FORESTS." The writer of the editorial had sone hiking in Washington's Olympic Peninsula near an area that had recEntly been logged. Readers of this newspaper article were told that: (i) There are only 1.4 million acres remaining of the "original 31 million acres of temperate rain forests in the lower 48 states." This statement is grossly inaccurate. There are 2.7 million acres of federally owned old erowih in the State of Washingbn alone.5.3% of this is preserved and wifinever be cut.

The article went on to say that (2) Lumber industry claims that ten lumber mills have closed their doors recently due to environmental iniunctions are i'poppycoc.f l. ff'q real.c_ulprit is "old growth being shipped to ldpan at the rate of 3.5 billion board feet every year." Another not so true statement. The U.S. Forest Service regulations prohibit the export of federal timber in the lower 48 states. The timber that is being exported is from private and state owned lands and these logs are largely second growth and not old growth. Furthermore. inland millslind it uneconomical to export logs due to their obvious freight disadvantage. Many of the recently closed mills are inland mills.

A third allegation stated that "the U..5. Forest Service soonsored the destruction of the salmon and steelhead fishery on the South Fork of the Smith River in ldaho." ldaho may be different, although I doubt it, but in California a logger can hardly tiptoe across a stream w'ithout an C).K. from the Fish and Came Department. These folks have a lot of say so when it comes to logging around streams. I have yet to meet a Forest Service employee or a Fish and Came representative who was not fiercely protective of the environment. I find it hard to believe that the Forest Service "sponsored the. destruction of a fishery." The biggest problem with steelhead and salmon preservation in ldaho, I am told,'is.Uonneville Dam on the Columbia River. Many of the fish that go to the ocean can't get backl

The last item in the editorial is a real humdinser. lt informs us'that,,the Forest Service leases timber rights for a fraction of its market value, subsidizing an uneconomical industry." Even the most uninformed must have questioned this tidbit about Forest Service timber soinq for .t fraction <if its market value what with sawmills closing down right and left. An uneconomical industry? To quote the Washingti;n Newsietter by Kiplinger, 2/9/9O issue, "Tighter supplies of lumber and higher prices in the next few months due to restrictions on cutting trees from U.S. forests in Oregon and Washington comes at a time of surging demand for timber for exports and remodeling." On the contrary, the lumber industry is one that is vital to the economic well being_of this < ountry and, furthermore, Kiplinger's observation points to the need for more timber for this industry in order to aid the government's ongoing battle against inflation.

OW is the time to think ahead to summer. In a couple of months customers will be looking for gazebos, summer houses and garden swings. A little pre-planning will put your advertising on target and have demo models readv for display.

Experts advise aiming your merchandising and advertising at women. Position your ads in the sections of the newspaper read most by women. Sell the glamour and sociability of entertaining in handsome garden rooms. Stress the fun a family can have with the gazebo and the garden swing. Emphasize that a husband (or wife) can assemble the items easily.

Place a demo model of the gazebo in an area of the store shopped by women, not in the lumber yard. Add a garden swing. Decorate with plants and garden furniture. Make it easy for a woman shopper to imagine spending a leisurely, cool afternoon there or entertaining a group of friends in the twilight.

Ordering kits made from redwood is the easiest way to meet your customers' dreams and needs. Because they come pre-engineered with all wall segments pre-assembled, horizontal to vertical joints screwed together and roof panel frames nailed and glued, they can be put together successfully by a non-carpenter. Many kits are pre-stained and packaged with fasteners. These benefits almost sell themselves to do-it-yourselfers.

Generous margins on most kits are augmented by sales of tools, concrete, hardware, stain and accessories. Many kit manufacturers offer deck kits, steps, flooring, beverage bars and a variety of doors and windows for customizing structures.

Sell the convenience and sizzle and reap the profits ofeasy handling, add-on sales and ordering as needed from your distributor.