What's new at the housewares expo

ItRECORD total of 1,914 manu- Ifaslulsrs participated in ths. 80th International Housewares Exposition in Chicago, Il., April 8-12, the biggest show in the history of the association. More than 65,000 buyers and trade people attended the show which was the first of the new spring/fall schedule.

Good news for all attending was the announcement by Ronald A. Fippinger, managing director of the National Housewares Manufacturers Association, that sales of housewares manufacturers hit a record $22.4 billion in 1983 and were l29o higher than the previous year.

"This increase means a return to the annual grofih rate experienced by our industry in the late 1970s," he said. "With the recovery well under way and the best economic news in many years, housewares is indeed back on track with enthusiasm and optimism for the remainder of 1984 and beyond."

A plethora of new and improved home use products was unveiled for retailers and wholesalers who were anxious to find new items for their customers in this time of increased consumer confidence and spending.

Story at a Glance

items on display.

Here is just a sample of some of the newsmakers: o Desk Top makes a desk out of a single, two-drawer file cabinet, with two folding steel legs attached to a vinyl-covered surface board that rests on top of the cabinet. o Out-a Sight radio, the world's smallest self-contained radio, no larger than a thimble, has no wires or ear phones, fits securely in the ear and runs on an ordinary watch battery.

Bottle Buggy snaps onto a baby stroller and holds the bottle while baby feeds from its nipple; the unit is made of durable plastic and ends the fuss of dropped or broken bottles.

(Continued on next page)

Direct Mill Prices Contract Forest Products

LUMBER.

o An aluminum, multi-purpose folding step ladder, which weighs only 30 pounds but can withstand an 800-pound load, can be used straight, as a double-sided six-foot ladder, a scaffold or shaped in many other unusual ways.

o Hot Shot, the first non-electric serving tray that keeps hot foods hot and cold foods cold, is a tempered glass cutting board for slicing or carving that has three-layer construction to transmit through the glass to two insulation panels.

Autostat is an automatic home temperature control device that has a microprocessor-based and colorcoded pushbutton control panel to allow easy programming for up to eight different set-up/set-back temperature settings.

o Electronic Study Center combines an alarm clock, high-intensity lamp with an extendable and adjustable arm, and a calculator in less than six inches of desk space with a "snoozer" alarm and a well for pens and pencils.

o Kitchen Dimensions is a combination undercabinet toaster-ovenbroiler with an adjustable mount to fit various cabinet styles, an insulated top and a heat shield and deflector to protect cabinets, as well as a double-walled bottom and deflector to protect items stored on the counter beneath.

o The Coffee Butler, a highlystyled insulated carafe to keep coffee or other beverages hot, or juices cold, comes in six styles for home or office use, including classicallyshaped fluted or hexagonal-shaped white pitchers with domed tops.

. Spice Cube, a rotating, plastic spice cube that holds up to Z standard size spice tins, can be used either on a counter top or in a cabinet, as it is the same size as a dinner plate.

. Heater Helper, an all-steel cover for oil-filled electric radiators, improves the heat direction and adds humidity to the room.

Dennis Richardson, South Bay Forest Products, Orange, Ca,, was in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico, on a recent camping trip.

Rick Kavooras is now in sales at Moulding & Millwork, Inc., Fair Oaks, Ca.

Marshall Lauch and Mike Kleen are new at Publishers International, Lake Oswego, Or.

Thomas Armstrong is the new gen. mgr. at Edward Hines Lumber Co.'s wholesale distribution center, Albuquerque, N.M.

Bob Sullivan is now with Fourply, Inc', Grants Pass. Or.

Konrad Nonnenmacher is new at Prairie Wood Products, Prairie City, Or.

W. D. "Bill" Bean. Idaho Veneer Co., Post Falls, Id., is the new pres. of the Western Hardwood Plywood Producers. Larry Evans, ChamPion International, Seattle, Wa., is v.p.

Bill McElrath has joined sales in the Andersen Window div. of Carroll Moulding Co., Huntington Beach, Ca.

Doug Watchous is the new Personnel mgr. for 84 Lumber stores in Ca. and Nv.

Marshall J. Weigel has been named vice chairman of Pay 'n Pak Stores, Inc., Kent, Wa., according to David J. Heerensperger, chairman.

Leroy Pickens, a Barr Lumber Co. employee since 1959 and a member of the industry for over 30 years, retired on his 65th birthday.

Jim Pierce has been promoted to mgr. of the 84 Lumber store in Henderson, Nv. Abbie Hanlon is now a trader at Rolando Lumber Co., Inc., San Leandro, Ca., according to Helen D. Osborne, office mgr.

Anthony F. Vuoto has been appointed director of financial planning and analysis for the retail group of W. R. Grace & Co.; Charles C. Jacobson is the new group v.p. of finance.

Carl Henoch is new to sales at Product Sales, Orange, Ca., according to Ted Gilbert.

Ed Bauer, 86, Atlas Lumber Co., Los Angeles, Ca,, is at home after a recent stroke.

Steven Morrison is now national sales mgr. for commercial and contract hardware sales at Pemko, Ventura, Ca., according to Don Tircker, v.p. marketing & sales.

Bob Park, the head redwood buyer, Georgia-Pacific distribution div., Fort Bragg, Ca., drew a big following playing in the PGA golf tournament in Monterey, Ca. But you'll have to ask him why.

John Adams is now plywood sales mgr. at the Crown Zellerbach mill in Omak. Wa.

William D. Atkins is now co-mgr. of 84 Lumber Co.'s San Bernardino, Ca., store. John 0athout is a new mgr. at the San Dimas, Ca., unit.

Bronson J. Lewis, executive v.p., American Plywood Association, will retire on Nov. I after 15 years as exec. v,p. and 25 years with APA. William T. Robison, v.p. and gen. mgr., suceeds him.

Mike Glenn, v.p. Southwest Div., Universal Forest Products, will be acting mgr. of operations for the new D.C. and mfg. facility in Windsor, Co.; Paul C. Brown, gen. mgr.; Judy Powell, buyer-trader, according to William G. Currie, pres.

Bob Chavez has been named Salesman of the Year and Jim Borland Most Improved Salesman of the Year by Virginia Hardwood Co., Monrovia, Ca.

Robin Wood has joined the sales team at Mariners Forest Products, Santa Ana, Ca., according to Clint Bower, pres.

Jim Ehle has been appointed marketing mgr. for States Industries, Inc., Eugene, Or., according to Pete Geertsen, v.p. of sales and marketing.

Bob Rupp is now at Tiee Source Inc., Portland, Or.

Cal Adkisson is gen. mgr. of the new Malheur Lumber Co. mill at John Day, Or. Ron Wilson is sales mgr.

May,1984

Paul Fossum hasjoined Rolando Lumber Co., Inc. as v.p. based in Arlington, Wa., according to Thomas J. McHugh, pres. of the firm which has offices in San Leandro and Cloverdale, Ca.

Robert P. Hogrefe has been appointed West Coast regional sales mgr. for Voltek.

Kent W, Colton, former executive v.p. of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., is now exec. v.p. of the National Association of Home Builders.

John S. Dumble has been elected pres. of the Glidden Coatings & Resins Div., SCM Corp., succeeding William D. Kinsell. Jr., who has retired.

Ray Licht has been named pres. of the Home Improvement Division of Mittelman Wynn & Pessin, according to Joseph Mittelman, pres. Larry Lyman will be v.p.; Mike Hillman, So. Ca. district mgr.; Ken Koodrich, No. Ca. district mgr.; Harry McCullough and Gail Page, sales, Az., and Allan April, sales, San Diego, Ca.

Stuart M. Sloan has been named executive v.p. and director of Pay 'n Save Corp., Seattle, Wa.

Jerry D Horn, pres. of Thousand Trails lnc., has been elected a director of Pay 'n Pak Stores Inc., Kent, Wa.

R. Steven Mason, former v.p., consumer products, Potlatch Corp., is the new pres. and c.o.o. of Pope & Talbot, Portland, Or.

Frank Bader, Sr., gen. mgr., Ed Fountain Lumber Co., Los Angeles, Ca., recently marked his 39th year with the firm.

Harry A. Cooper has been named v.p. for consumer products at Potlatch Corp., San Francisco, Ca., according to Richard B. Madden, chairman and c.e.o.

W. H. "Al" Shelden is now district engineer for the Rocky Mountain District of Manville's Roofing Systems Div.. Denver. Co.

Don Abel, Jr., pres., Don Abel Building Supplies, Inc., Juneau, Ak., is chairman of the University of Alaska board of regents.

Pete Briles is now mgr. of the Yakima, Wa., branch of Palmer G. Lewis Co., Inc.

We're interested in you. Let us know when you or one of your employees has changed jobs, been promoted, gone on vacation, had a baby, you name ir. Just mail in a card or letter to The Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660 or, if easier, call (714) 549-8393. There is, of course, no charge.

Ted Gilbert, Product Sales Co., Orange, Ca., and his wife, Rosemary, are back from a Maui. Hi.. vacation.

Joe Pacheco, a 36 year employee of Santa Cruz Lumber Co., Santa Cruz, Ca., has retired, according to Les Ley, pres.

Riggs Thayer is now co-mgr. of the 84 Lumber store in Yakima, Wa. Douglas Shone is the new co-mgr. at San Leandro, Ca.

Morris L. Sarachek is now assistanl v.p.. sales, at Handyman Home Hardware Stores, supervising 42 stores in San Diego, Ca., No. Ca. and Or.

John Ganahl. Jr.. controller for Ganahl Lumber Co., Anaheim, Ca., married Marilyn Devlin on March 14.

Les Rinden has retired after 29 years at Ganahl Lumber Co., Anaheim, Ca.

Francis M. Christiansen has retired after 55 years at the Modesto Lumber Co., Modesto, Ca.

Jim Tweedie is now at Wood International Corp., Portland, Or.;Mike Lamont is staffing the United Kingdom office.

William E. "Bill" Moore is the new director of sales and marketing at Denver Reserve Supply Co., Denver, Co.

Kaj Lauridson is now gen. mgr. of Alpine Lumber. Denver. Co.

Vern Thompson is new at Lumber Distributors, Inc., Denver, Co.

(Continued on next page)

Personals

(Continued from page 47)

Phil Harris, sales mgr., Palmer G. Lewis Co., Auburn, Wa., has retired after 32 years with the company.

Debbie Good has joined Specialty Forest Products, Portland, Or., as a trader.

William lbll Thomas, v.p.-marketing, Kwikset Div., Emhart Hardware Group, Anaheim, Ca., won an Innovator Award at the recent National Home Center Show in Chicago, Il.

Kaye C. Leonard, former government relations rep for Potlatch Corp., San Francisco, Ca., has been named mgr., government relations, according to Hubert D. Tiavaille, v.p., government relations.

Guy Chick has joined sales at Redwood Coast Lumber Co., Ukiah, Ca., according to Cordes Langley, pres.

Rich "Scotty" Scott has joined Weber Plywood, Tustin, Ca., as a product mgr.

Clint Bower, Mariners Forest Products, Santa Ana, Ca., and his wife, Linda, are on a three week ocean fishing trip off the West Coast of Mexico.

Theo "Rhett" Ickly has been named director of future planning at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., by Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

Kent Tlrter is the new assistant mgr. at Yuba City Millwork, Inc., Chico, Ca.

Grover Hubbard is now mgr. at Georgia-Pacific's plywood mill, Toledo, Or.; Robert Chittenden succeeds him as mgr. at the green veneer mill, Eugene, Or.

Steve Petermen is now lumber sales mgr. at D. R.Johnson Lumber Co., Riddle, Or.

Vic Hadley is now in sales at P & M Cedar, Redding, Ca.

John Campbell, pres., Spenard Builders Supply, Inc., Anchorage, Ak., is the new chairman of the Alaska Fisheries Commission.

TIMBER SIZER PRE.NABRICATION

The Merchant Magazine

Duane A. Wolfe, Comprehensive Tlaffic Management, Lake Oswego, Or., was in So. Ca. on a r@ent business trip.

Ibm Cowart has joined Bend Millwork Co., Bend, Or., as regional mgr., Western div.

Richard E. Hemer, senior v.p. of Payless Cashways, Inc., has been named a director succeeding Vern W. Futrow who has retired.

Paul Dahlson has retired from Dixieline Lumber Co., National City, Ca., after 29 years. Among recognition and various tributes was a chrome plated posthole digger honoring his role in the fence business.

D.F. GRAPE STAKES REDWOOD

&

D.F. LATH

Timbers

From cutting a wedge to pre-fab'd crane pads or mine shafts. Angle cut, cross cut, drilling, dapping-We'll do them all to customer specification.

Hardware Sales Volume Increases

How many hardware stores in the U.S.? The answer, according to the Census Bureau's 1982 Census of Retail Thade, is 19,6ll, with 1982 sales of $8.4 billion. Sales averaged $427,000 per store cornpared with $295,000 in 1977.

Nevada's stores had the highest average, $l million, followed by Alaska's $858,000 and Washington's $783,000. Mississippi's average was lowest at $259,000.

Housing Paces Lumber Price

Lumber prices in 1984-85 will respond positively to the strength of U.S. housing starts, but the rate of increase will slow as higher interest rates begin to reduce the pace of residential construction later this year, according to the Bank of America.

They also expect world commodity prices to increase by an annual average of 4s/o during this period. Industrial commodity prices are expected to rise by an average of 790 while overall commodity prices will rise by only l9o.

New Household Figures Up

New household formation has revived to a 1.2 million per year rate after dropping from an average 1.6 million during the'70s to 319,000at the bottom of the 198l-1982 recession. The growth surge is powered by the economic r@overy, analysts report, with the under-3O generation establishing their own homes. Many had moved back in with parents during the economic downturn.