Wholesalers' huge convention

ll ARKING one of the best lUl attended North American Wholesale Lumber Association conventions in decades, 758 registered wholesalers converged in the Arizona desert for NAWLA's 95th annual.

Business at the meeting included the passage of a resolution urging the placement of "a high priority on pro- viding raw material (from the National Forests) for lumber, panel and fiber products to meet the market demands of the future."

The action noted that current federal forest operating plans could lead to shortages equal to enough wood to build more than 400,000 single-family homes each year.

John Weston, Far West Fir Sales

Co., Huntington Beach, Ca., presided over the convention and became NAWLA's immediate past president as he handed over the gavel to newly-elected president Bill Sheathelm, president of Schultz, Snyder & Steele Lumber Co., Lansing, Mi.

Other elected officers are first v.p. Henry Poler, Lawrence R. McCoy &

Co.. Worcester, Ma.; second v.P. Larry Humphrey, HumPhreY Lumber Co.. Tacoma, Wa., and reelected treasurer Robert R. Scholl, Scholl Lumber Co.. Bethlehem, Pa.

New directors are Dwight Curran, DMK Pacihc Corp., Fremont, Ca.; Jim Epperson, Jr., Epperson Lumber Sales, Statesville, N.C.; ChiP Hess, The Forest Products GrouP, Columbus, Oh.; Peter Leon, Peter Angus Forest Products, Rexdale, Ontario. Canada: James M. O'Brien, Nutmeg Forest Products, Fairfield, Ct.; Steve Snavely, Snavely Forest

Products, Chandler, Az., and Tim Thompson, Slaughter Brothers Inc., Dallas, Tx.

The annual John J. MulrooneY Memorial Award, recognizing individuals for exemplary service to the forest products industrY and the community at large, was Presented to Lester E. Anderson, President of Random Lengths, Eugene, Or. Anderson's kaleidoscopic career has included graduating from the University of Oregon; serving in World War II in Europe, where he (Continued on next Page)

WHlt0Pll{G it up western style: lll Ted & Mvrna Pollard, Norma & Bill Sheathelm, the new NAWLA Dresident, Joan Banks. l2l Jack McCraken, John Weston, immediate past oresident, Jim Fenton. l3l Karen & Eric Canton, Larry Hood. l4l Larry & Natalie Humphrey, Jeff & Sherry Loth. l5l John & Jean Rae Gaskin. 16l Ginny & Ted Mathews, Bob & Judy Shannon. l7l Jo & Daryl Bond. l8l Terri, Chris & Peggy Snavely. 19l Barbara & Al Caldwell. ll0l Kathi & Mike Parli. llll Petter Svenkerud, Steve Snavely, Rich Bilby, Duncan Hossack. ll2l Dan Naughton, Carl Force. llSl Dennis & Sue Richardson, Dawn & Bob Walton. ll4l Tim & Susan Neff, Linda & Mike Couey. ll5l Mike Young, Bill & Laurie Herman. ll6lTom Ingham, Wayne Holm.

WHOLESALERS' MEETING

(Continued from previous page) received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart; mountaineering around the world; making endless contributions to his community, including Mayor of

Eugene for eight years, and running Random Lengths since 1964.

Speaker Sanford Mevorah followed the presentation with an address on negotiating. He stressed making each a prepared, personal exchange, avoiding reducing "the process or the concept of negotiation to an equation, a recipe or a formula."

Wayne Quasha, Merrifield Consulting Group, read the "white papers" he developed on valueadded services from wholesaler-distributors and improving marketing strategies.

The well attended manufacturer/ service supplier/wholesaler contact session featured 126 tables, a new record.

NAWLA, the oldest and largest organization of its kind in the forest products industry, has recently undergone remarkable growth. Its U.S. and Canadian membership now tops 600 and is comprised of 362 independent wholesale firms.

192 associate mill members and 55 service affiliates. These totals represent the largest membership since 1927.

Innisbrook Resort, Tarpon Springs, Fl., was selected as the site of the April 1988 convention. This year's meet was held at the Camelback Inn Resort & Golf Club, Scottsdale, Az., April 26-29.

Nontoxic Termite Pesticide

A wood additive which exterminates termites yet is said to be safe for people and animals may soon be available.

Being developed by the biotechnology company Agracetus, Middleton. Wi.. the chemical molybdenum has for years been safely used as a legume crop growth supplement.

Termites need the small amounts of molybdenum contained in wood to produce proteins. But when wood contains heavy amounts of the chemical, the termites become glutted and die for as yet unknown reasons.

Treated Wood Guidelines

Despite its durability, pressure treated lumber needs some care in handling.

Jeffrey L. Reith, southwest area supervisor for Timber Products Inspection, lists the following basic guidelines to be followed when dealing with treated wood.

The most obvious is to handle it with enough care to keep from breaking through the treated shell. The use of sharp or pointed tools such as cant hooks, pikes and picks should be avoided. When material is being banded, corner protectors should be used to keep the edges from crushing and exposing the untreated wood. Throwing and general rough handling can cause breaks and deep gouges that will break through the treated shell.

Treated wood stored for long periods should be covered for protection from sun and weather. Repeated exposure to wet and dry conditions will cause deep checking to occur and possible leaching of some preservatives. The ultraviolet light from the sun will also cause the weathering that changes the color of the wood, although the chromium containing preservatives reduce this effect.

With waterborne preservatives, material should be dried after treatment if it is to be used in an application where shrinkage is undesirable. This type of treatment puts large amounts of water into the wood and shrinkage will occur as drying takes place.

PGL Party Thanks Suppliers

Suppliers were guests of honor at a "Supplier Appreciation" evening hosted by product managers and executives from PGL Building Products, Auburn, Wa., at the Sea Tac Red Lion Inn.

Over a buffet of hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, suppliers had an opportunity to meet and visit with key employees from PGL Building Products. Special appreciation was expressed to nine of the suppliers represented at the April 3 event.

Trimac Paneling, Armstrong Ceilings and Tree Island Steel were recogni4ed for outstanding growth in sales and prohts. Sequentia, Inc., Simpson Strong Tie and Magic Seal Corp. were cited for outstanding promotional support. Schooner Sales, USG Industries, Inc. and Owens Corning received special thanks for outstanding field support and training.

lYhen sending in o change o/'address please include zip code on both old and new otldrisses and eithet the old label or the inlormation from il. Thanks!

June 1987

Tools For Panel Education a Panel Basic Correspondence Course, a 64-page booklet, explains product and performance standards, panel grade, span ratings, exposure durability classifications, installation recommendations and other key panel topics for employee training. Cost per package is $10 with orders of 25 or more cut to $7.50 each. o APA Dealer Reference Binder is an ideal singfe source reference tool to keep behind the counter or in the yard. Each binder costs $7.50 plus shipping. c Handy Plans covering more than 50 projects for do-it-yourselfers are listed in the Handy Plan Catalog, Form Y630. Catalog cost is 400 with plans ordered in quantity costing 300. o Handy Plan Project Book has 28 pages with nine best-selling plans for d-i-y projects such as tables and play equipment. lt may be ordered at $75 per 100. o APA Panel Selector Guide, awall poster including descriptions of the most commonly used construction and do-it-yourself panel grades with large facsimiles of panel trademarks and explanations of trademark terminology, is $l each. o APA field representatives are available to conduct seminars for large groups of employees or to provide intensive training for designated customer service specialists. The focus of the training may be tailored according to the needs ofthe dealer.

Dealers know that familiarity makes a product easier to sell. That axiom is especially true where structural wood panels are concerned.

Several programs to help dealers better sell structural panel products are available from the American Plywood Association.

. A 22 minute videotape covers panel manufacturing, trademark terminology, storage and handling and much more as a basic panel primer. The tape may be borrowed free for 14 days or purchased for $35.

. APA Build A Better Home portfolio is a collection of 20 stylish, costeffective, energy-efficient home plans with working drawings available by order for your do-it-yourself and contractor customers.

WE SPECIALIZE IN PRE-STAINING "YOUR MATERIAL" IN ALL OLYMPIC COLORS, COATING ALL 4 SIDES OF EXIERIOR SIDING AND DIMENSIONALTRIM. PLUS ,I COAT APPLICATION ON ALL SIZES OF PLYWOOD. ENCLOSED WAREHOUSE FACI LIry,

Plywood Paneling On TV

Retailers may expect an increased interest in pre-flrnished plywood wall paneling after it makes its debut in a vacation house on the public television series "This Old House" and in the July issue of l00l Home ldeas.

Plywood paneling, provided by the Plywood Paneling Council, was used extensively in the project. It is one of only two homes completely constructed from the foundation up on "This Old House." Previously, the program had focused only on remodeling projects in existing homes.

The remodeling experts from the program wanted to use sturdy, easy care wall treatments for this full construction job. Norm Abram, master carpenter for the series, noted that "since plywood wall paneling is durable and requires little attention, it is a perfect wall treatment for this type of home."

Five styles of real wood veneer and decorator patterned plywood paneling were used in the home. An unfinished beaded and grooved oak veneer paneling in the living room between exposed posts and beams and in the dining room as wainscotting tied in with the real wood used in the two-story space. A patterned plywood panel was used in the kitchen, a striped paneling in the master bedroom and an embossed floral paneling in a child's bedroom. Light woodgrained panels were used horizontally on an upstairs sitting room.

More than 8.5 million people are expected to view the segment on the "This Old House" series which reaches an audience larger than any other weekly public television show.

Merchandise On The Move

Traveling merchandisers which carry a store's products to the consumer were demonstrated at Euroshop '87, a February trade show in West Germany.

The self-contained "mobile shop" units are predicted to have a strong effect on the retail merchandising industry.

The Merchant Magazlne Built-in Appliance Sales Up

The high end segment of the built-in major appliance business is capturing an increasingly larger share of its volume and could account for more than 500/o of built-in sales by 1990.

Ed Smith of Modern Maid, forecasts that the built-in category will account for about l1-120lo of the total major appliance industry sales this year, up slightly from 1986.

More Conrpetition For Dealers

Retailers interested in expanding sales of power tools to contractor customers can pick up some new ideas from a contractor tool center recently opened in Santa Fe Springs, Ca.

Fas'N'Go, opened by Active Sales, showcases 120 different models of nailers, staplers and bradders as well as 1500 different fastener sizes and accessories. A tool repair center and a demonstration area where contractors can test equipment are part of the operation.

Hardwood Promotion Ghanges

Industrial and commercial consumers of hardwood products will be targets as the Hardwood Institute takes a new direction in its promotional efforts.

Approved by the National Hardwood Lumber Association, the new $200,000 program will focus on architects and interior designers who specify and recommend hardwoods for architectural interiors, flooring, paneling, doors and other millwork in commercial and residential construction. A budget of $125,000 per year has traditionally been allotted to promotion programs conducted by the Hardwood Institute.

The Daphne Furniture Award program will be phased out at the end of the current year.

Retail Concepts Show

Is the no-frills look of the home improvement warehouses waning inpopularity? Will the clean, upscale store environment continue to grow? What hardlines departments can benefit most from a remerchandising job?

Attendees can get the answers to these and other store layout and design questions at the Retail Concepts Center during this year's Hardware Industry Week, held in conjunction with the National Hardware Show Aug. 9-12 at the McCormick Place Exposition Complex, Chicago.

"Unlike most exhibits that display products, the Retail Concepts Center is filled with ideas. lt's a place where hardlines merchants can view tried and tested strategies and get assistance from industry store planning experts," said William P. Farrell, executive director of the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA).

The special exposition, now in its fourth year, was developed through the combined efforts of AHMA, the National Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and the Home Center Institute (HCI). Sponsored by AHMA, the Retail Concepts Center is staffed by NRHA and HCI store planning professionals.

The Retail Concepts Center is one of three major industry expositions featured as part of the programs, activities and events that comprise the Hardware Industry Week service program. The new product exposition and the packaging exposition are the two other showcase displays conducted.

Hardware Industry Week, held in conjunction with the National Hardware Show, is sponsored and conducted by AHMA.

Boat builders, furniture makers, cabinet makers, etc. have found it the one sure answer to correcting wood defects, filling wood cracks, gouges, covering countersunk nails and screws.

Can be used under Fiber Glass!

Ready to use right out of the can, Famowood applies like putty-sticks like glue; dries quickly; won't shrink; a'nd will not gum up sander. Waterproof and weatherproof when properly applied,

Housing Starts Ott 3o/o In 1st Ouarter

Total residential building eased 3olo in the first quarter of 1987 as apartment construction continued its retreat from the 1985/86 "tax shelter" boom, according to F. W. Dodge.

"Strong demand for single family homes supported a generally high level of total housing starts through 1987's first quarter, even though the rental building market softened," said George A. Christie, chief economist for Dodge.

He cautioned, however, that "the recent surge of mortgage rates could reduce this year's potential for owner-occupied housing by as many as 100,000 units. With apartment building already inhibited by tax reform, April's surge of flrxed rate mortgages back into the l0 to I I percent range requires a lowering of our total housing start forecast for 1987 to 1.65 million units. a decline of nearly 100/o from last year."

Los Angeles/Long Beach and Washington DC led the nation in housing starts. Los Angeles, with l3,l7l housing units, declined 60lo from the year-ago period. Residential building in Washington totaled 11,398 units, an increase of 9o/0.

The rest of the nation's top ten hogsing areas in the first quarter were: Atlanta, 11,203 units, down 2lo/o; Riverside/San Bernardino, 10,971 units, down 4olo; San Diego, 7,810 units, up l2o/o; Phoenix, 7,202 units, down 560/o; Detroit, 6,730 units, up 420/o; Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, 6,684 units, down 36%; Chicago,6,537 units, up 230lo; and West Palm Beach/Boca Raton/ Delray Beach, 5,622 units, up l4o/0.

FUll mixed liberally with product information kept over 200 customers happy at the Fresno, Ca., Weyerhaeuser Customer Service Center's 4th annual vendors fair May 7. lll Mel Hurst, Doug Lundy. l2l TV winner Harry McNerney (left), Max

Ways To Gut Claims

(Continued from page l3) and ridge vents. Bath and kitchen exhaust fans should be vented through the roof to outside air.

Improper, and usually insufficient, fastening of panels sometimes causes claims. Panels should be nailed every 6 inches at all support edges, and l2 inches at all intermediate supports for roofand wall sheathing, siding and subflooring. Where

Hoo-Hoo Meetlng In Seattle

Hoo-Hoo International, the lumberman's fraternity, will hold its international convention at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Seattle, Wa., Sept. l3-17, with the Seattle club as host.

The Centennial Convention of the organization will be held in Hot Springs National Park, Ar., in Sept. 1992.

Details for these two meetings plus additional business including landscaping plans for the Hoo-Hoo supports are 48" o.c., panels should be nailed 6" apart at all supports.

Thin underlayment recommended under vinyl and other sheet goods must be nailed differently, just as it must be spaced differently. Panels should be nailed 6" o.c. along panel edges and 8" o.c. each way throughout the remainder of the panel. Staples should be spaced 3" o.c. at panel edges and 6" o.c. each way.

Underlayment panels should be

International and Forestry Museum in Gurdon, Ar., policy changes and revisions of the operations manual were reviewed at a mid-year board of directors meeting in G_urdon.

Among those attending were:Al Meier, Tacoma, Wa., chairman of the board; Bill Patterson, Klamath Falls, Or.; Jimmy Jones, Vallejo, Ca.: Phil Cocks. Orlando. Fl.: Bernard B. Barber Jr., Fresno, Ca.; Brent Crosby, Walnut Creek, Ca.; Eddie Z. Hunt, Dallas, Tx., and Frank Gray, Ocoee, Fla.