New markets in plywood developing

Development by the Arnerican Plywood Association of markets by-passed in boom years will provide dealers with a firmer base in the years ahead, according to James R. Turnbull, association president.

Discussing the slump of 1966, Turnbull said, "In cultivating military, industrial and foreign markets, as well as those on the fringe, the industry found enough business to set a record in one of the worst years it has experienced in modern times in terms of major markets. This provides us with an unprecedented base from which to operate in 1967."

Rural rehabilitation can well be a major new market and relocatable classrooms are another market he said.

"Housing starts declined 19 percent last year, but the demand for textured ply. wood sidings increased almost 30 percent,o' he said.

"Not all of the significant new markets are pretty, but a number of them have quite a bit to offer . coated plywoods to upgrade industrial floors used in con. tainers, truck trailers and warehouses are drawing increased attention. Taken together, they are a market for about 382 million sq. ft. of plywood."

Arizona Convention

(Continued lrom Page 1I) portant changes in the lumber business in tlie last ten years. Specialization, i.e., stores that sell only plywood, was called a trend that will probably expand in the near future.

They lelt dealers were lax on changing to new things, and must better figure costs and return on investment.

Closing up the morning session was a good talk by Masonite's Dick Braun. He said changes have been rapid in merchandising in the past few years and that our business must realize we compete against a// businesses for discretionary income. He felt too many dealers are too builder oriented.

James M. Shedden, president o{ the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association, spoke that afternoon on current activities of the national and its future role.

That evening the annual banquet follorued a pool side cocktail parti. After dinner came dancing and the wiapup of the convention.

Next year th" ARL & BSA convention will meet at the Franciscan Hotel. Casa Grande. See you there, May 9.11, 1968.

"But no matter how you figure it, hous. ing is still our major market, and wall sheathing is an important submarket. We hope to capture a better share by showing that one panel of plywood at the corner of a wall substantially improves the racking resistance of the entire wall, and eliminates corner bracing."

Turnbull said that other markets now showing increasing promise for plywood are roof decks under shingles and shakes, t$ second homes, apartments and pelile ,.r.;i homes, and public housing concepts in the ill ttnew-town.t'

Redwood Promolion Moteriols

The California Redwood Association's new remodeling promotion aids for deal. :, ers include an 8-page full color idea book. .il let, a new series of ad mats for use in ' regular advertising and a series of con- .l struction tip sheets to let the dealer work with his customer and figure costs right then and there.

Reprints of the consumer advertising will be available for dealer display.

Fred HolmesCorl ForceJim Buckner

Box 665Ft. Brogg, Cdlif. 95437 Phone l707l 9&4058 TWX: 707'573-8259

Moior Lqbor Supply Innovqtion Seen os Benefit to Industry

A unique new program to intelligently organize the tangled problem of coordinating supply and demand of skilled labor in the lumber industry has been revealed by the Matheny Rent-ASkill Service company.

Llnder their unusual plan, they will assume any or all of a firm's skilled employees, take over all the varied functions of payroll, and then rent the men back to the company for just that amount of time that they are really needed.

The program is of equal bene{it to both employer and employee, according to the company. The employer gets the obvious benefits of being freed from the problems and expense involved in filling his labor needs. The employee no longer has to worry about being laid off when business slows. The employee is assured o{ full time work. Under this program, they are assigned to where they are needed, then, instead o{ being laid off, Matheny moves them to another yard temporarily until they are needed at their home yard.

Charles H. Matheny, well known in the southern California area from his Matheny Car Unloading Service, heads the new rent-a-skill program. Matheny has been associated with the lumber industry {or nearly 25 years. The new program is in addition to the car unloading service which until now was the company's specialty.

A side benefit to the lumber industry as a whole is that the plan is expected to keep skilled men in the lumber industry. Each year all too many good men, laid ofi during a slack period, leave the industry for good.

The new program, now in the initial stages o{ operation in Los Angeles, covers the southern California area.

A United staff of veteran lumbermen experienced in handling the requirements of the retail dealer

United in their effort to provide prompt, efficient service on wholesale orders from our

United inventory of prime softwood lumber maintained with the retail dealer's needs in mind.