Rocky Mt. market heating up

The national chain merchandisers of building materials have big plans for Denver within the next two years and regional lumber dealers can expect increased competition, according to a recent Rochy Mountain News story quoting Edward C. Cerny Jr., vp. and national accounts manager for Johns-Manville's residential products division. Cerny was a guest speaker at the recent 80th annual convention of the Mountain States Lumber Dealers Assn.

He named three building supply giants which have plans for Denver: "The 84 Lumber Co., an Eastern concern, has 79 yards and is planning 14 more this year including one in Denver this June and one in Lafayette, also this summer." He said Wickes had "already made its move into the Rocky Mountain area with the purchase of the Hogsett Lumber Co., which has yards in Boulder, Longmont and Greeley." Wickes, based in Saginaw, Mich., had over $400 million in building materials sales last year at its 240 yards.

Another lumber firm eyeing the area according to Cerny is Evans Products. Its retail division already has outlets in the Northeast, Southeast, North Central U.S., and in California.

Prominent among smaller merchandisers mentioned were the Handy Dan chain, which expects to open three yards in the Denver area this year, and Payless Cashways, which proposes to add to the two yards it has in Denver. Forest City Lumber and Knox Lumber Co. are two other Midwest firms said to be considering sites in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas.

Cerny urged area lumbermen to be alert to these companies because "even if they are not in the periphery towns of the main marketing areas, their influence and competition will be profoundly felt everywhere."

Cerny also warned his audience that another competitive threat exists.

'oThe home center will become as familiar on the American scene as the supermarket. While consumeroriented, it still caters to builders and remodeling contractors, and brings together all factors of the industry."

NBC Buys Cooper's

Sun Lumber Co. of Los Angeles has announced the acquisition of Cooper's, a retail operation with a store in Los Angeles and one in Montrose (Glendale). Cooper's, formerly the old W. E. Cooper Lumber Co.o a pioneer West Coast lumber firm, joins Sun as a member of the western division of National Building Centers, a subsidiary of Lone Star Industries of Greenwich, Conn.

No price was revealed in the sale of Cooper's, which has gained widespread attention in recent years for innovative merchandising techniques. Mike Hynes remains the head of Cooper's operation.

Sun also revealed that it has started operation of Sun Truss Co., Ventura, Co., and plans to sell throughout So. Ca. James DeGroff is the manager of the truss manufacturing facility.