Producers see another good year

E OLLOWING four straight recI ord years for U.S. lumber consumption, the Western Wood Products Association had the largest registration of this decade for their annual spring meeting, held in San Francisco. Ca.. at the St. Francis Hotel.

Optimism prevailed among those attending, regarding business conditions for first half '88, with notes of caution and even trepidation creeping in as guesstimates for second half '88 were voiced. The lobby throng, the largest in several years, was generally bullish on industry prospects for this year.

For the first time in memory, the program included a panel of four retailers to address members, reflecting heightened marketing awareness among the manufacturers

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CELEBRATII{G the 25th anniversary of his Cal State Lumber Sales, lll Victor & Lupe

Acevedo entertain lda & Red Emmerson in their St. Francis Hotel suite. l2l L-P's John Schick and Manuel Acevedo. l3l Bohemia's Keith Wright, Benjamin Acevedo. l4l Sierra Pacific's Ron Hoppe, Bicardo Acevedo. l5l

David Duncan, Gene Skrivan. 16l Terry Burkholder, Phil Dodson. l7l John Cole, Bud Goudge. l8l Don Hossack, Sherry Gaylor, Duncan Hossack. (91 Jelf Ohm, Jovce & Dave Gambee. (t0l Carotyn & Bob Schutte. (lll David Weinstein, Lee Nobmann, Rich Bonfig- West. lio. ll2l Matt & Andrea Kolar, Kathy & Lance

Hubener. ll3l Chris Palmer, Allan Hoblitt, Philip W. Griese. ll4l Ron Enyeart, Steven Hill. llSl Jeff Richmond, Kim Cutsforth. ll6l Sig Thoma, Larry Grothues. llTl Lyn & Pat Reagan. llSl Mike Young, Delia & Robert

LuftlBEBIllEt{ ll I John Helela, Jim Ramsey, Jack Powell. l2l John Souza. Steve Little. Tom Knippen, Karl Drexel. l3l Marianne & Les Legaux. l4l Jerry Ensworth. l5l John Cavers, Ray Mc0ay, Peter Ganahl, Tom Malarkey. 16l Kitty & Will Riegel, Claudia Jennings, Cam Barnes. l7l Paul Euphrat, Jim Taft. l8l Sam Sanregret, Sabine Noble. l9l Chuck Harris, John Samuels. ll0l Steve Ahl and son Vincent,3. llll Mel, Ron and Ronda Lewman. ll2l Jeff Winn, Carol & Steve Sabbeth. ll3l Bob Reid, Jim Stroupe. ll4l Bill Stevens, Bob & Judy Shannon. llSl Ray Bergman, Ray Flynn. llEl Steve Hadley, Chris Lynch. llTl Jefl Howard, Mike Herbert. llSl Jeff & Cam Sarnes, Denise & Don Ruddy. (l9l Bill Jacobson, Betty Foster. l20l Mike Allen, Bob McFarland.

Wwpa Convention

(Conttnued Jront page 18) who comprise the WWPA.

Leadoff panelist Frank Denny, president of the 118-unit Builders Square home center chain, traced retailing changes, pointing up dramatic dilferences produced by electronics in ordering and inventory control. l:ounded four years ago, the $1.7 billion in annual sales firm was described by l)enny as merchandise driven. FIe drew audible groans from some mill men with his assertion that bar coding of lumber is inevitable.

The next panelist. Peter Ganahl, president of Ganahl Lumber, Anaheim, Ca., described their market surveys to discover why customers buy what they do. "We're market driven." he said. He chided the mills for not always being sensitive to what retailers need, adding that faceto-face mill/retailer communication had been verv heloful for them.

Story at a Glance

Optimism widespread at WWPA convention despite forecasts of slight lumber consumption declines. Lee Simpson elected new chairman...fall meeting:

Coeur d'Alene, ld., Sept. 10-1 3.

Richard Russell, president of Millard Lumber, Omaha, Ne., stressed the need for wood products with good appearance, straight studs and more specialty products. He said high yield mills should find new markets where appearance is not the important factor that it is to the dealer. "We must focus on quality, educate our customers and convince them that the value of their investment will be there for them."

Wrapup panelist Harold Cohen, co-chairman, Somerville Lumber, Waltham. Ma.. accused the manufacturers of being weak in aiding dealers in employee training. He said he wanted his suppliers to work harder in understanding his customers. Cohen told the mill owners that dealers need consistent suppliers, more custom packages for

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