New"$1 million+"store opens

only regret is that we didn't start a year sooner."

Now all of this improvement isn't aimed alone at providing a plush atmosphere.

"The traditional type of building materials operation required a clerk to take one customer at a time through all of his purbhases," explained Hunt.

"Even if you could find that many clerks, the costs would be prohibitive. So there were delays and high costs even at the best.

"We are departmentalizing with an expert in charge of each. The customer moves around, the sales people stay put."

Heart of the new concept is an information center in the main lobby, where knowledgeable staffers direct customers to the assistance they need.

The departments range from paint, car- pet and wallpaper through hardware, plumbing and tools to built-in houselold appliances and fixtures and complete kitchens, baths and storage roonls.

What became of the old lumber yard?

It is divided into two departments: One for the general public and the other for contraciors and ot}er volume buyers.

For the general public, the lumber area takes only a small portion of the new Ja- cility. Instead of carloads of 2x4s and other dimension lumber in sheds. there are vertical racks that hold a few boards each of all common sizes, every one price-marked.

The customer may pick from the racks or get a board with the help of a clerk. It is about like buying a piece of meat in a supermarket. If what you want isn't there, you get help.

For the contractor who buys in large volume, there is a section with its own entry. A special stafi handles the work in technical terms of board feet and dimensions without t}e distractions of do-it-yourselfers wanting a board or two for Fido's kennel.

The lumber yard proper, with its series of six shelters for stacked lumber, occupies the rear of the 6r/z acres. Conventional methods are being replaced by forklift stacking and other power handling.

Customer trucks move directly to the storage areas for loading.

A nursery is being added to the general consumer lines. The facility, at the west side of the new building, will be an outdoor area for plants and equipment for landscaping and care of lawns and other plantings.

In addition to the retail and contractor building materials business, the facility includes offices of the O'Malley companies retail division and iis stafi of 20 persons.

The store and building materials complex will have 50 employees under Verdun Parker, who managed the original O'Malley store at the site.

Training of the store employees to handle the new merchandising plan is a major undertaking, Hunt said. The job is being done initially by the executives in charge ' of each departrnent. As rapidly as possible, factory and product.representatives will be

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