Anothervariation of the warehouse home center

A NOTHER version of warehouse Fmembership marketing, the Price Savers Wholesale Club. has been launched as a sister operation to Ernst Home Centers and Von Tobel's home improvement centers bv pav 'n Save Corp., Seattle, Wa.

The warehouse outlets will merchandise a wide variety of items including housewares, haidware, paint, tools, plants, major appliancei and electronics. Although considered membership stores, they are available to a wide selection of the market in_ cluding owners of small businesses and employees of local, state and fed- cral governments, financial institu_ ttons, public utilities, hospitals and \clected employee credit unions. . Home center operators are watch_ rng this type of operation as it could navc pronounced influence on their nusrncsses. Both hard and soft goods arc purchased directly from manufac_ turcrs. Businesses pay an annual fee for shopping privileges. Individuals, or group members as they are called, pay about 590 above wholesale, but have no annual fee.

Story at a Glance

Warehouse membership chain carries home improvement products . .sister company of Ernst & Von Tobel's.. .first unit in Salt Lake City. .others scheduled for Northwest, Ha-waii.

The first 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse opened in Salt Lake City in the middle of March. A built to order, poured in place concrete structure, it features a "no frills" atmosphere of open beam ceiling and concrete floors with merchandise stacked on pallets. There is a staff of 100. The parking area accommodates 300 cars.

A second outlet is due to open this month in Fife, Wa. A third in Seattle, Wa., will debut in August. An Anchorage warehouse is expected to open early next year. Honolulu, Hi., is a potential site.

Headquarters for the chain is Salt Lake City. Thomas R. Grimm is president. Douglas J. Hansen is vice president of marketing; Trish Cook Van Ausdal, marketing manager; John Eagan, Mike Byrum, Ralph Smith and John Manzeck, merchandising managers. Several have had previous experience in the home center/building materials industry.