a symbol of quality forest products worlhuide

Walter Ralston Jr., Manager

P.O. Box 660459

Arcadia, CA 91066-0459

Phone: 626-294-9950

Fax. 626-294-0265

Web: www. coqstallumber. com

Keith Brown Scales Back

Since the Sept. I l attacks, Salem, Or.-based retailer Keith Brown Building Materials has decided to scale back its operations in the face of falling revenues.

With lumberyards in Washington, Oregon and California, Keith Brown saw its 2000-01 sales figures jump to $85 million, up from $20 million the previous year.

The increases in part were buoyed by the purchase of 25 lumberyards across the region from Portland, Or.based Copeland Lumber Yards.

Yet in the months since Sept. 11, Keith Brown's president and c.e.o., Jim Coon, said the company has had to close three stores (Lincoln City, Hollywood, and Burlington, Wa.), cut its workforce by 25Vo and stop all advertising spots and charitable contributions.

"If we could have (expanded) again, we may have picked a better time," said Coon. "But you get what you're dealt, and you deal with it."

Coon added that the expansions into California made sense initially, because the company needed a presence in warmer climates to help with the winter slowdown in the Northwest.

Since the cutback Keith Brown has been back to courting its mainstay, the professional contractor.

"The contractors don't have a lot of time." Coon said. "They aren't apt to go somewhere they have to wait."

Coon points to the recent success of the Salem store as proof that customer service is paramount.

"Our sales there are up 10% from last year and profits have increased by 200Vo." said Coon.

APA Certified By Japan

APA-The Engineered Wood Association has been granted official recognition as a Registered Foreign Certification Organization by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

RFCO recognition gives APA authority to certify that its members' products meet the recently revised Japanese Agricultural Standards. APA has been a Japanese-approved Foreign Testing Organization for more than a decade, but the FTO product approval system will be dissolved next year under the revised JAS standards.

Without RFCO recognition, APA mills would have had to incur substantially higher costs to gain Japanese market access. Recertification under the RFCO program also will permit member mills to take advantage of new manufacturing and labeling options under the revised JAS standards for plywood, OSB and glulams.

More than 40 APA member mills are currently certified by APA to meet JAS requirements. Recertification of those mills will commence immediately and should take several months to complete, said APA Quality Services Division director Alex Kuchar.

Net Cast For Fishermen

Redhill Forest Products, Hayden Lake, Id., and J&H Forest Products, Boise, Id., are looking for a few good men-fishermen, that is.

Each fall, the wholesalers co-sponsor a tuna fishing expedition for lumbermen and this year have a few open spots for the Sept. 8-13 trip aboard the Royal Star out of San Diego, Ca.

Previous trips have been attended by representatives of Crown Pacific, Universal Forest Products, Merritt Brothers, Western Timber, and other industry firms.

Prospective fishermen can call Dan Green. Q08\762-1010.