CALL FOUNTAIN F'RSI FOR LAMINATED TIMBERS!

Just one number to dial and you have a team of specialists who can give you immediate answers on price, delivery, building codes, certifications and dozens of other technical questions that can affect your quote on laminated timbers. lf you need quick service, we can deliver the highest quality timbers from our local manufacturing plant in a few days. Where the quote is tight and you have a longer delivery time, we can get you the best combination of price and delivery from northern American Institute of Timber Construction laminators who work with us regularly' Once your order is placed, it becomes our problem to follow-up on shipping dates, handle transportation and assure proper certification. We can also arrange for on-site erection equipment and installation of the timbers if your customer desires. For the fastest, most economical way to sell laminated timbers, call Fountain first!

The $13 Billion Morket ond You

nNE of our favorite rites of Spring is our anV nual urging of all concerned to get with it and get all you can out of the May is National Home Improvement Month promotion. It is one of t h e best of its type in this or any other industry. Anyone who doesn't take part is paying for his folly out of his own pocket.

In our February Hard,ware/Housewares: 1970 issue we had a feature telling of the sales portfolios and advertising program files available, what they cost and where to get them. We took the time and energy to compile and present this information not because we make a dime off it, we don't, but because we are so strongly convinced that anyone in our industry should be an enthusiastic partner in the National Home Improvement Month programs.

Impetus for the whole program comes from an organization called the National Home Improvement Council. It was formed a number of years ago by representatives of all segments of industry that could benefit from increased home modernization, dealers, builders, contractors, manufacturers and associations,

Funding the NHIC are such giants as Abitibi, Alcoa, American Gas Association, Bird & Son, Certain-teed, Edison Electric Institute, Flintkote, Georgia - Pacific, IDS Credit, Johns Manville, Kaiser, Masonite, Owens-Corning, Sears, Roebuck, U.S. Plywood, Westinghouse and many others.

NHIC is active in many areas, meeting with FHA, congressional committees and industry leaders to stimulate home improvement. It holds man- agement clinics for local businessmen, publishes remodeling training manuals, reports industry trends with a news-letter and distributes remodeling training programs by the thousands through the mails. Its comprehensive public relations efforts push home fix-up in national magazines antl countless newspapers.

In cooperation with you, NHIC will set up a program in your area. They will give aid and counsel on creating home improvement schools, special newspaper sections, and the like. By displaying their emblem at your business, you tie in with the entire program.

Sources indicate that about $13 billion was spent on home modernization last year. A $69 bil. lion backlog of modernization exists now, with an additional $15 billion expected to develop each year. We think the program should be one of your rites of Spring too.

A New Column for The Merchont

We are very pleased this month to present the first in a regular series of columns by Wayne Gardner, executive vice president of the Lumber Association of Southern California.

Wayne's extensive background in the industry and his knowledge of it insures readers of his column of an incisive, intelligent appraisal of what's happening in the West's biggest market. The first column is on page 30 of this issue.

It is an important addition to The Merchant and one we know you will enjoy reading.