OPERAIING OPPORTUNITIES

WALLY LYNCH Paid Associates PO. Box 741623 Dallas, Tx.75243

I USf FIVE motoring minutes nonhwesr lU of downtovn Dallas, Tx., sin one of the world's most unusual buildings. It is unique both in its architecture and in is operation.

A reproduction ofa Victorian England structure patterned from the Crystal Palace, built in 1851, and located in London's Hyde Park District, it has eight stories and 1.5 million square feet and is called The Infomart, with the clarifying phrase thc "World's First Information Processing Market Center."

Approximately fifty permanent tenants have names that read like a who's who in the information processing industry. Showrooms contain products presented in functional modes as well as classroom settings. The public is welcome with no charge, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Among is offerings are restaurants, cafeterias, a 500 seat auditorium, 300,000 square feet ofexhibit space, a computer and business oriented book store offering hundreds ofthe latest titles and Infomart's Resource Center.

For anyone now thinking about starting to use one, or wishing to expand their computer world, this is a mecca containing books, journals, magazines, newsletters, video courseware and market research reports. It is manned during the day and online data base searches are available. They have access to almost 300 main frame based systems.

For those unsure in the computer world, the Resource Center provides, at no charge, injust 15 minutes an individually tailored print out of the generic (non-brand specific) requirements for anyone interested in finding out what their computer needs are. They have several individual booths available with a TV screen and typewriter keyboard (no brand names showing). All one needs to do is be able to read and push buttons.

This old head, who operates neither a typewriter nor a computer, went through the drill with flying colors. For our trouble, a four page detailed print out was provided, at no charge, listing needs, uses, printer types and software which would handle one's business.

Armed with such information, one may ptu' ceed to the showroom floors and its kaleidoscope of data processing equipment able to know what he would like to see. There are main frames, micro main frames, personal and portable computers and software programs to enhance the computer's effectiveness and productivity from virtually every conceivable knowledge discipline. Printers which reproduce data processing from the simplest in black and white to full color and laser types are available to be seen in operation. Television screens for viewing what the computer is doing from a 9" diagonal size to flat screens, which cover walls, are reflecting activity wherever one goes. AJI this is an experience in itself, but the really unique thing about visiting the showrooms is that no one can sell you anything. All ofthis activiry is designed to convey information; there are no sales people in attendance.

Why is a building in Dallas the subject of this month's column? Inadequate decision making information is still the number one cause of business problems and fuilures. There are still thousands ofcompanies being operated without computers for various reasons. If, for you, one ofthose is not wanting to be high pressured, or a fear ofthe unknown, spend a few dollars and visit this unique and important activity going on in Dallas. You can get more information by calling l-800-367J100, or in Dallas 746-INFO.

Posner: Most For The Least?

Victor Posner, whose DWG empire includes Evans Products Co., parent of Grossman's, Lindsley and Moores home centers, placed first onthg Business Wek list of the 25 highest paid executives with an annual salary of 912.739 million including bonuses.

As the highest paid executive in the United States. he presides over companies with less than normal financial prestige. Sharon Steel has lost $209 million in the past two years. Evans Products Co. with a debt of $540 million has filed for Chapter ll bankruptcy protection. DWG Corp., which paid Posner his lavish salary, earned only $5.6 million.

Fosner's company gave its shareholders the least of any company in the United States with aloss of 4.3%, according to the Business Week pay-performance index. Posner is still awaiting trial for a 1982 federal tax evasion charse.

New Name For Crown Z Timber

The sawmills and other assets of Crown Zellerbach's timber, wood products and energy resources groups are now operating under the name Cavenham Forest Industries, as a result ofthe restructure of Crown Z and completion of a stock exchange with James River Corp. and a sawmill in Warrenton, Or. The firm will employ about 1,600.

Headquartered in Portland, Or., the newly formed company will operate and manage 1.9 million acres of timberland with associated wood products converting facilities and mineral rights in the Pacihc Northwest and South.

Operations include a plywood plant, sawmill and core stud mill in Omak. Wa..

A.J. Dunlap has been named Cavenham president and chief executive officer. Russell A. Carson will serve as vice president, Northwest timber and wood products; H.E. "Gene" Turner, vice president, energy operations, and Lee T. Alford, vice president, Southern timber.

Responding to ttre green light given when the Califonua Energy Commission approved use of the perimeter-insulated raised floor (PIM) last Rbruary, builders are making iurzlngemenLs to incorporate the wood "crawl space" foundation into more new homes' Kaufrnan and Broad and Golden West Developers have plans to use PIRF foundations in homes which they will have under construction by "early summer," according to Mike O'Brien of the Western Wood Products Association in Fortland, Or'

The system which will eliminate the need for under-floor insulation, saving some $400 per house, received high mark in a study conducted by ConSol, a Stockton, Ca., engineering firm, in Califomia's cental ralley. Use of PIRF is expected to recor'er some of tlre 2,000 bf of lumber per house lost when builden install a slab floor.

CoMPLETED recently two months ahead ol schedule' 0le's $4'6 million western reoional headtuarters in Diamond Bar' Ca., is a two-story glass and steei OuitOi-no encompdssing 92,760 sq. tt. and featuring reflective. gray gtzino. sitver pre-tinisndO aluniinum panels and a recessed' black glass entrywiv. bie'iwli iormerty part of 'Grace Home Centers West. Grace has anriounceO olans to sellihese retail units to the Wickes Cos.

Housewares H istorY U Pdate

Vendor

superioritv was recognized by the Califomia Hardware Cols Vendor ot ttie Viiiiitaqui dvmrded to (eft) Sam Pearce, v.p. marketing and salesfor iustomei tiuilding products, ind'John McMullen' national sales manager ;oduftaproaudti, custoir

Wickes Buying Grace Units

Grace Retail Corp., a subsidiary of W. R. Grace & Co., has signed a contract with Wickes Companies for the sale to Wckes of Grace Home Centers West and Orchard Supply Hardware divisions of the retail group. No terms on the agreement were disclosed.

Negotiations for the sale of the remaining portion ofthe retail group including the rest of the home centers is proceeding, according to Charles H. Erhart Jr. , vice chairman and chief administrative officer for Grace. No explanation was made for the apparent change in previously announced negotiations with GMR Inc. to purchase Grace's retail businesses including all 319 home center stores.

Wickes earlier made an unsuccessful offer of $1.4 billion for National Gypsum Co. Sanford C. Sigoloff, chairman of Wickes Cos., has continued to state that "We intend to make a major acquisition this year."

Big Tucson, Az., Bankruptcy

The largest lumber supplier in Southern Arizona, Tucson-based Lumber Country, filed Chapter l1 bankruptcy May 6, 1986. Under Chapter ll, businesses file for court protection from their creditors while they seek reorganization oftheir affairs.

Charles E. Roberts, who with his wife, Joyce A. Roberts, bought out the firm's other partner, Joseph Friedman,in October, 1985, stated that the companv would remain open.

Lumber Country said it had debts of $7.5 million and assets of fi million. Assets are said to include $2.1 million in inventory and $3 million in accounts receivable. The firm had 199 emolovees last October.

No time has been stated for a possible emergence from bankruptcy court protectron.

EHS New Phoenix Wholesaler

EHS Contractors Supply, Inc. is a new wholesale firm, based in Phoenix, Az., that has been founded by Ed Holderness Supplies, Inc., a 52year old Tucson, Az., frrm. EHS will also maintain a branch in Tucson.

The former Ready Made Truss plant has been acquired by EHS which is operating it as the EHS Division. The three companies are functioning as separate entities.

President of EHS is Doug McCullough. Others in management and sales are Scott Sievert, Phil Guyot and Peggy Foster.

Softwood Use Seen Rising

U.S. softwood lumber consumption is predicted to rise 3% this year to 46.3 billion board feet, according to Resource Information Systems, Inc. They also forecast lumber consumption to climb above 4 BBF per month in May and stay at that level for six months, peaking at 4.2 BBF in August.

They also see dealers, wholesalers and builders buying in advance of summer contract expirations for forest industry unions in the western states and British Columbia as a hedge against strikes.