tbad.

At Willamette Industries, we've always believed long distance relationships were best suited for pen pals. Not customers.

When our salespeople visit -vou, don't be surprised if they bring along a mill superintendent. After all, one-on-one contact is stillthe best way to higlilight the quality and variety of our Southern and Western wood products.

Lumber and plywood orders are shipped directly from our mills, but for extra support, we rely on a network of strategically placed warehouses to further fill your neeos.

Either way, we've got the capabilities-and the peopleto meet your "just-on-time" reouirements.

So if you're ready for a closer working relationship, callWiliamette. And get used to hearing more from us. In person.

Willamette Industries, Inc.

Lumber & PlywoodDivisions

Western Lumber and Plywood

Albany, OR (503) 926-77n

Southern Lumber and Plywood

Ruston, LA (318) 255-6258

Atlantic Plywood

Rock Hill,SC (803) 328-3844

LMA/LASC Joint Ventures

Lumber Association of Southern California and the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California will initiate a program of joint venturing with LASC members invited to participate in the LMA convention in San Diego, Ca., May l720.

LASC has reciprocated by extending an invitation for LMA members to attend its annual management conference in November. Discussion of joint ventures was the agenda for a joint meeting of oflicers and management on April 5 in Bakersfield, Ca.

The two organizations have begun discussions about a possible merger. This cooperation between LMA and LASC is a possible precursor to merger according to some industry observers.

Industry Wood Promotion

The San Diego Lumber Association and the local Hoo-Hoo club are holding their 23rd annual Architectural Design Contest, held to pro- mote the use of wood and wood products among hopeful architects. Students from four community colleges participate, drawing plans to meet an assigned project. About 50 to 60 entries are judged each year, the winner receiving cash awards starting at $1,000.

The grading criteria centers on utilization of wood. Says association executive director John D. Sullivan, "Not only are the students, and hopefully future architects, getting good exposure to the products we sell, but our industry has built a lot of good will with the various schools and the many architects who have participated over the past23 years."

This year, schools received the project Jan.25 and are required to turn in completed drawings by May 17. A panel ofprofessional architects will judge them the next day. An awards dinner will be held Mav 30.

Kent, Wa. Retailer Clooes

Field Lumber, Kent, Wa., has closed, priced out of the booming area the 28-year-old firm helped build up.

Land costs in the Kent East Hill area have risen dramatically due to a building surge during the last five years. "You can't pay $8 or $9 a square foot for land you're using as a lumber storage yard," says owner Greg Field.

Although Field has sold the property and company name, he would like to reopen a building supplies business if he could finda siteon the Kent plateau.

National Lumber In The Red

National Lumber and Supply, a 20 store chain in Southern California,lost $4.6 million on sales of $152 million in 1988. Sales dropped 4%.

"We've had a number of warehouse stores over 100,000 sq. ft. such as Home Depot and Builder's Square open in Southern California." V. J. Carnevale. chief financial officer, said.

The loss has prompted "major administrative, personnel and marketing adjustments," noted president Melvin Jaffee.

Changes include a new computer system to improve inventory control and adjust employee hours to shopper demand. Advertising will stress more broadcast.