LDTTBRS

HAPPYRETT]RNS

We recently resubscribed to The Merchant Magazine after an absence of several years. I can't tell you why we ever stopped our subscription. I didn't realize how much information your publication really provides. From the very first issue we received, we have been able to utilize several contacts and one in particular helped us to solve a source problem for a product we use all the time. Needless to say, we are happy with the results.

Keep up the good work.

Woodland

1480 E. Grand Ave. Pomona, Ca.91766

Service Tops Survey

Customer service is the most important topic for training in wholesale distribution, according to a Distribution Research & Education Foundation studv.

BAD DEBT can be costly to offset. In a dillicult market, this loss must be kept under control to ensure profitabilily. The above chart illustrales lhe additional sales that must be generated to recoup bad debt losses.

Training in customer service was rated "very important" or "important" by 9lVo of respondents, followed by training in hiring and keeping quality people (80Vo), providing value-added services (78Vo), pricing strategies to build profits (77Vo), and increasing productivity to lower costs (7780).

THE TREATED AI{SWER

Lumber, phldood, round stock stokes, poles, & pilings

Agency stomped, ground contocf fire retordont oressure-treoted wood products

ACZA tr CCA D CREOSOTE I PENTA tr FIRE RETARDANTS

Chorles Thompson o Shown Kelley