A REMARKABTE PRODUGT, A REMARKABLE PROFIT

ALL THIS AND TERMTTE AND DECAY RESISTANCE, TOO

Unmatched Sales Features

A specialty product with unique sales features commands an attractive price. Dricon@ fire retardant treated wood has such teatures: t Dricon FRT wood is the only lowhygroscopic fire relardant wood of its type that carries an FR-S designation from Underwriters Laboratories Inc., for all species listed.

. \,Vhen Dricon lumber and plywood are in contact with metal truss plates, hardware, plumbing and conduit, there is no greater corrosion than with ordinary untreated wood.

. lt's been granted a U.S. patent.

Growing Demand

The word is getting around. Architects, contractors and building owners are insisting more and more on Dricon lire retardant treated wood: r lt's being promoted lo your customers by full-page ads in national OKoppers Company, Inc.

On November 21,1984, EPA registered Dricon fire retardant as a pesticide. Tests at universities and Koppers Company have demonstrated its long-lasting resistance to termites and decay when used in weather-protected, above ground applications. This means that studs and other interior members will not rot or be attacked by termites. 'i) )

^Q \# ^Q sb

architectural, building and component publications.

. Nearly 40 sales development representatives are making presentations to designers, specifiers, owners and other purchasing influences.

Keep Tt In Stogk

Stocking Dricon FRT wood makes sense: r By stocking a quality specialty product, you can better serve existing customers and attract new ones.

. Because of its low moisture pickup, storage problems and yard loss are less than with conventional types of FRT wood.

. Promotional literature is available to stimulate sales.

Add To Your Profits

Dricon fire retardant treated wood has many applications: trusses, studs, beams, purlins, joists, decking, sheathing and other weatherprotected places where fire resistance is desirable.

For more inlormation conlact Koppers Company, lnc., P.O. Box 407, West Sacramento, Ca. 95691, (916) 372.6920.

The Merchant Magazine

Publisher Emeritus A.D. Bell, Jr.

Editor-Publisher David Cutler

Senior Editor Juanita Lovret

Assistsnt Editor Anita M. Mumm

Contributing Editors Dwight Curran, Gage McKinney, Ken Thim

Art Director Martha Emery

Staff Artist Carole Shinn

Circulation Dorothea Creegan

The Merchant Magazine (USPS 796-5ffi) is published monthly at 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92.660, phone (714) 852-t990, by The Merchant Magazine, Inc. Second-class postage rates paid at Newport Beach, Ca., and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660. Advertising rates upon request.

Advertising Offices

FROM WASHINGTON STATE & IDAHO: contad Crrole Holm,7033 82nd S.E., Mercer Island, Wa. 98(X0. Phone (206) 340-0580.

FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & OREGON; contact David Cuiler, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660. Call (1t4\ 852-1990.

FROM SOUTHDRN CALIFORNTA: contact Carl Vann, 205 Oceano Dr., Los Angeles, Ca. 90049. Phone (2131 472-3113 or (714) 8521990.

IROM THE NORTHDAST: Joseph A. Shea, 6l Maine Ave. F4, Rockville Centre, N.Y. 11570. Call (516) 678-1625.

Subscriptions

Change of Address-Send subscription orders and address changes to Circulation Dept., The Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 9266O. lnclude address label from recent issue if possible, plus new address and zip code.

Subscription Rates-

U.S.: $9-one year; $15-two years; $20-three years. Foreign: $20-one year; $35-two years. Single copies $2. Back copies $3 when available.

Forestex 5-16, from the Forestex family of sidings. For additional information, call or write:

Forest Fiber Products Co. a subsidiary of Stimson Lumber Company P.O. Box 68 Forest Grove, Oregon 97116

(503) 648-4194

You Can TellWhen

The Product ls Just Right!

Forest Fiber is as careful in developing its siding products as homeowners and builders are in selecting home sites. We work until the product is just right, which in the case of Forestex 5-16 is an additional four inches in a piece of siding. A third more means faster installation and less material waste. Only one additional nail required at each stud.

Forestex 5-16 also has the beauty and economy of our other sidings: the selfaligning features which speeds installation, the traditional look of lap siding in a smooth finish or a roughsawn cedar finish, and the durability of quality hardboard. lt withstands normal hammer blows and will not delaminate, check, crack or split, when properly installed.

IDAV ID CUTLER publishcr

Big tail wags small dog

WilH,Hi,"T.",llT,T:r::,1".-:?:#::i decades ago, sage observers ofthe scene said that, in time, the money and materials spent by home handyrnen might grow to a small, but appreciable percentage of the dollars spent on new housing. They were correct about the growth but very wrong about the small percentage part. In fact, the growth of the home improvement market continues to amaze everyone with its burgeoning increases. Today, more dollars are spent on home improvement than on the buying of new homes, a dramatic turnabout from even 15 years ago.

Industry attitudes toward the home improvement phenomenon have gone from a casual glance to ardent, no-holds-barred wooing. Manufacturers have completely revised products, packaging and sales to secure their share of this lucrative business. Industry associations at all levels have stepped up their efforts to further enlarge home improvement. In this issue, our annual home im- provement special issue, we present a number of stories on productive ways retailers, wholesalers and distributors have profited from serving this market. One tells how the Wood Products Promotion Council, an association umbrella group, is working with the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association in a series of seminars for remodeling contractors, the flip side to the d-i-yer home improvement coin.

Many reasons exist for home improvement's remarkable increases. Not the least of which is heightened public perception that home fix-up is a good financial investment as well as paying off in a better quality of life.

As home improvement has gone from small potatoes to a full banquet, we can't help but wonder if electronics and the entire high tech spectrum may well be outdistanced by the lowly hammer and nail in the affections of the consuming public.

Dimension lumben, studs, timber"s to 4O'.

Sawmills located at Molalla, Tillamook, Toledo and Clackamas, Onegon, with shipping via SP, truck, ocean barge and for export.

Kiln Dried llemlock

post & beams, plank, and papen wrapped.

Some of our Specialties: o Mixed specified loadings o Long dimension

. #1 & better cuttings

. cross & transmission arms