Copeland Lumber Yards Up For Sale

Copeland Lumber Yards, Portland, Or., reportedly has been placed on the sales block by owners Bill and Helen Jo Whitsell, who are contemplating retirement.

Helen Jo Whitsell took over the company frorr' her father, J.W Copeland, in 1973. Her grandfather, Joseph Copeland, founded the firm in 1913.

The business includes 68 yards in Oregon, Washington, California,

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Arizona and Nevada, plus a Portland area wholesale division, Copeland Wholesale Co.

Annually generating about $3 million in revenue apiece, the retail locations, on average, feature four acres of outside yard space with 5,000 sq. ft. of inside sales area.

Potlatch-ATCO Deal Folds

Potlatch Corp., Spokane, Wa., and Anderson-Tully Co., Memphis, Tn., have mutually terminated their February 1998 agreement to combine Potlatch's Arkansas timberlands and ATCO's timberlands into a real estate investment trust (REIT). The related purchase of ATCO logging, lumber and veneer operations by Potlatch also was terminated.

The deal was subject to several conditions including completion of a successful initial public offering of REIT Timberland Growth Corp.'s common stock. Due to a significant deterioration of REIT markets in mid-1998. the two companies suspended the initial offering and have been unable to reach a mutually beneficial alternative transaction.

In the meantime, ATCO and Potlatch will explore the possibility of ATCO's lands supplying hardwood pulpwood and logs to Potlatch's pulp and paperboard mill in Cypress Bend, Ar., and hardwood sawmill in Warren, Ar.

Potlatch expects to take a first quarter 1999 after-tax charge to earnings of $4.6 million for accumulated transaction expenses.

Dealer Goes On Offensive

Continuing to brace itself for the inevitable arrival of superstore competition, Baker Lumber, Kelso, Wa., (pop. 12,000) is remodeling and enlarging its retail showroom from 5,000 to 8,500 sq. ft.

Two years ago, the 6l-year-old, third-generation business added a 20,000-sq. ft. warehouse. As part of the current $350,000 project, the retail store will be expanded into the site of the old warehouse, making more room for hardware, plumbing, electrical and paint products.

"We've been preparing for the last couple of years-updating our store and remodeling," said owner Derek Baker. "We are prepared for a box store if it comes along."

Working Retail Gets Low Marks

With only nine retail companies making Fortune magazine's latest list of the "100 Best Places to Work." the industry appears to lag in promoting employee satisfaction, according to Mohr Learning Systems.

"Retail firms were seldom regarded as great employers, but the Fortune study shows that some can do it right," says Mohr ceo Herb Cohen.

Attracting and retaining good employees are pressing concerns for many retailers today. "Poor morale and high turnover have become acute problems," Cohen says. "There's more evidence that unhappy workers are bad for business and harm sales and customer loyalty. So the frequent indifference of retail companies is hard to fathom."

Retail is labor-intensive and service-oriented and associates have direct, personal contact with customers. "Nevertheless," he notes, "among senior management there's a prevailing attitude that associates are just hourly workers and are easily replaceable. They think: 'Why train them? They'll leave anyway."'

According to Cohen, Wal-Mart and the other ranked "retail companies do three things, and they're not gimmicks:" o By company policy, employee retention is a top priority and layoffs are avoided. o A major commitment is made to employee education.

Compensation is generally highly competitive and may include stock options, which provide employees with a tangible stake in the company's success.

Depot Looks At Gertified Wood

Recently the target of a spate of environmental protests, Home Depot has joined the Certified Forest Products Council, which entails working toward independent third party certification of all wood products stocked at their stores.

The chain has set no targets or timetables, only the goal "to increase the amount of certified wood products in our mix as supply becomes available." In addition, Home Depot said it will actively support suppliers committed to "scientifically based forestry practices that are environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable."

Venture Aims At Super Seedlings

Fletcher Challenge Forests, International Paper, Monsanto Co. and Westvaco Corp. are contributing a combined $60 million over the next five years to form a joint venture to produce and market bio-engineered tree seedlings.

Hoping to improve forest health and productivity, the venture is contracting with and buying the forestry intellectual property of biotechnology research firm Genesis Research & Development Corp., Auckland, New Zealand.

Species focused on represent a majority of the seedlings now planted worldwide, initially including various eucalyptus and poplar species, radiata pine, loblolly pine and sweetgum. Targeted genetic improvements include herbicide-tolerant planting stock, higher growth rate, and improved fiber quality and uniformity.

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