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Bill Fishman

Bill Fishman & Affiliates

1 1650 lberia Place iwould become liable for all mistakes and San Diego, Ca. 92128 omissions of my franchisees. Too many obstacles to overcome said my friend who has a sign over his desk that reads "Nothing would ever be accomplished if all obstacles must first be overcome." So I took my concept and placed it in a folder I call "on the back burner, " for a new businessa franchise Well, I didn't follow up, but Art Bartorganization for remodelers. I described lett, the founder of the Century 2l franit to some friends and business associates chise, did. Last fall he organized his Mr. as an operation delivering benefits similar Build franchise company. He added a few fUnfe and a half years ago I had I what I believed was a great concept to the Century 2l Real Estate franchises. I would supply national advertising, ingredients too. Bonding of each job is the most important one. business formulas, decals for trucks and His previous franchising experience cars, uniforms for the sales people and a made it easier for him to develop a complete local advertising service. My marketing plan. First he would isolate conceptwouldhelplegitimateremodelers geographic areas as sub-franchises and overcome their image of suede shoe authorize the sub-franchisers to sell off operators. The public would feel more remodeling franchises based upon one confidentcontractingformajorremodel- for every 15,000 population. To date, ing from a company with nationwide of- Mr. Build active sub-franchise territories fices than from a local merchant. are in Orange County (also corporate

My friends in the industry said it headquarters) and San Diego County, wouldn't fly. It was pie in the sky, they Ca., and Northeastern Ohio. said. Too great a financial risk they said. I Last month I received two phone calls a few days apart. One was from my wife's relative, a building contractor in Ohio, the other was from a local San Diego building contractor who is hurting because of the depressed new construction market. Both wanted my opinion of the Mr. Build franchise. They supplied me with some of the printed material that they had received after attending an introductory meeting. I thought it was super. Why not? It contained all the ingredients I originally felt would make a good remodeling franchise. Their literature to sell franchises is some of the finest advertising I have recently seen. It was good enough for me to seek out an invitation to the next introductory meeting in San Diego.

After attending the Mr. Build meeting I have a mixed reaction. I still believe it's a great concept. I also believe that many of the franchisees will be better and more successful remodelers because of their association with Mr. Build.

Based upon the information dispensed at the meeting and by one-on-one phone conversations with the sales representative they've assigned to get my signature on the bottom linehere's what I liked and didn't like:

I liked: o The professionalism of the presentation by the sub-franchisers at the indoctrination meeting. e The red jackets for the Mr. Build (Pleasc turn to poge 38)

Hardwood Management Theory

A new forest management system, according to experts in the field, will be necessary if the United States is to meet industrial wood and fiber needs.

A fast growing tree such as red alder offers a possibility for short rotation growth. The yield, as determined by forest scientists, would be substantially greater than that of volunteer alder and would increase with genetic improvement.

Research is being initiated to learn the site requirements for growth and nitrogen fixation and to develop alder management technology.

The Successful Odd Gouple

They may never have lunch together but often the most successful partners are those who don't have alot in common. Partners with different business skills, backgrounds, personalities, and interests tend to complement each other professionally. Two individuals with vastly different experiences can combine their forces to create, appeal to or solve many situations that two closely related partners might not have the range to do.

t0 Ray Crane, was a well received incentive.

Let 'em Fill 'er Up

Boost employee moral by allowing them to gas up at cost using the company petroleum pump. It might aid an energy crisis in sluggish personnel.

HARRY MENDENHALL executive vice oresident

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I number of starts does not cause one to be excited over the state's proposed Residential Building Standards, we should be.

These standards proposed by the State Energy Commission will add a minimum of $3,000 to a single-family residence. The Federal Building Energy Performance Standards proposed three years ago were placed on a back burner because they increased the price of a home without improved economic benefits.

California is not a state to let anyone outdo her, even if it costs the taxpayers more. The State Legislature directed the Energy Commission to provide standards that would result in theoverall reduction in home energy uses. Economic impact apparently was of no concern. Nor was the cost of manufacturing the additional materials placed into the home to achieve desired standards.

The standards vary by region, but even San Francisco is required to have the same savings as Lake Tahoe region. The standards were to become effective on July l, 1982; however, there are several groups and agencies including LMA protesting and requesting a delay until more refined information can be obtained.

When the Los Angeles County Supervisors reviewed the proposed standards, they refused to endorse the standards and requested that they be delayed and rewritten.

There is no sensible reason to tack on another $3,000 to the cost of housing to achieve compliance with an unwarranted state regulation.

President Reagan has been a very determined man in his desire to hold down the cost of government. In mid-March, a president's Housing Commission was formed to review the housing crisis and to provide solutions. The commission provided a series of alternatives that would provide some relief.

Senator Lugar (ln.) and several other legislators have introduced legislation to provide funds for housing. The President, in his address to realtors in March, outlined several actions he supported which included the use of pension funds to provide mortgage money. But he would not sanction the expenditure of federal funds to boost housing.

We may complain that the President is not hearing our pleas, but he is and he is hearing the same pleas from hundreds of other special interest groups. He has been fair in that he makes exceptions for no one.

What Was That Again?

Listening and doing are two different things. Researchers have found that if one's training is not reinforced by putting it to use immediately, it is quickly forgotten. On the average 55 9o of what trainees learn is forgotten within an hour,659o is lost after a day, and after a week 7590 of the training isn't recalled.