LETITERS

TheJbllowing letter to U.S. Sprint is typical o/'the scores of letters and comments we've received regarding the Sprint and MCI anti forest industry campaigns. For the latest developments, please see page 25 qf rhis issue.editor.

Dropping Sprint

Mr. Ron LeMay President

U.S. Sprint

8140 Ward Parkway Kansas City, Mo. 641l4

Dear Mr. LeMay:

My two companies have been ap- proached by U.S. Sprint representatives. Coincidentally, we had been considering your company until I read David Cutler's editorial in The Merchant Magaztne.

I am assuming Cutler's information is correct, therefore, I am no longer considering using U.S. Sprint.

Sincerely,

John W. Wilton

California Forest Products. Inc. 6380 Chestnut Street

Gilroy, Ca. 95020

SPRINT WON'T TALK

Thank you for giving consideration to the long distance environmental marketing programs announced by MCI and U.S. Sprint. All of us in the forest products industry need to be aware of what's going on and your editorial 6ee The Merchant, May p. O will do a great deal of good in spreading the word.

At the time of this writing U.S. Sprint is still not talking to us. However, we have a meeting scheduled with MCI's

The vice president of public relations. There is a possibility that we may be able to include people-oriented forest foundations under their environmental marketing program. We'll keep you posted.

Ernest J. Stebbins Executive Manager National Hardwood

Lumber Association

P.O. Box 34518 Memphis, Tn. 38184-0518

Home Prices Falter

The median price of existing single family homes in the first quarter of l99l slipped to $95,400, 5oh below first quarter 1990's $95,900, reported the National Association of Realtors.

Thot's How lt Goes!

"lf you have to ask, you can't affbrd The

P-O-P Pays In Home Centers

Point of purchase has the potential to become the number one selling tool for home center retailers.

"lt's no surprise," said John M. Kawula, Point of Purchase Advertising Institute, "that with the vast size and high ceilings of a home improvement center, mobiles and banners are the number one preferred form of p-o-p with 73.5% usage. Counter and shelf units follow with 71.70/o, window and door signs 68.30/0, floorstands 63.30/o and shelf talkers and danglers 62.50/0."

A recent survey of home center managers found 94.90/o using the same or more p-o-p than two years ago with 90.90/o of the home center executives saying the same thing. "The potential for continued growth is especially promising," Kawula said, "with 980/o of the managers and 90.90lo of the executives planning to use the same amount or more in the future."

For introducing new products,65.70lo of the managers felt p-o-p was the most effective tool with 58.30/o of the executives sharing their views.

U.S. Super House In JaPan

Super House, a U.S. wood products market development program, is being coordinated in Japan by the American Plywood Association.

A 32,000 sq. ft., three story apartment building with 27 units will be erected in Yokohama. One of the largest modern residential wood buildings of its kind in Japan, it will serve as an educational model for construction professionals.

U.S. wood systems that are installed quickly and easily will be used to demonstrate the cost savings achieved when large structures are built with wood components. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service is supporting the program.

S0ME of the members of the Pacific Coast Wholesale Hardwood Distributors Associ- ati0n, wh0 held their 68th annual meetino recently in the California desert

68th Hardwood Meeting

The weakness of current hardwood business conditions were reflected by the somber tone of western area sectional reports that are a traditionalfeature of the Pacific Coast Wholesale Hardwood Distributors Association annual meeting.

Horror stories on the problems of collections across the 13 western states mirrored an unwelcome censensus among members. Collection techniques from proven to hopeful were voiced. Opinions ranged from late summer to early fall as to the time of a business turnaround in hardwood sales.

Henry Jones, Hardwood Market Report, reported on industry news and trends. The members of the 68 year old PCWHDA also undertook an extensive review of their bylaws. A report on industry financial data compiled by an outside auditing firm was reviewed.

Among senior members attending was Len Hall, Lumber Products, Tualatin, Or.. who made his first meeting of the PCWHDA in 1947.

Elected new president was Brent

Mullin, Southwest Hardwood; lst v.p. Shirley Reel, Reel Lumber Service; 2nd v.p. Lynn Monthaven, Lane Stanton Vance Lumber: sec.treas. Jim Frost, Frost Hardwood, and Joe Long, J.E. Higgins Lumber, sec.-treas-elect. Past president is Butch Pope, Weber Plywood.

About 60 members of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, meeting nearby, were hosted to a cocktail party by the approximately 20 members of the Pacific Coast group who were enthusiastically saluted by the NHLA for their hospitality.

Consumption of a Ramos Fizz or two, a decades old meeting tradition, was marred by a recipe for the drinks that was branded as "terrible" by a high ranking club official.

This year's meeting was held April 28-30, Hyatt Grand Champions, Indian Wells, Ca. Next year's gathering will be March l5- l7 on the island of Molokai, Hawaii.