!ille'll getyguhome safe in a tight game

Warehouse Retailer Expands

HomeClub Inc., the rapidly growing Fullerton, Ca.-based chain of six warehouse retail stores, has set its sights on becoming a nationwide chain.

Founded in 1983, HomeClub outlets are in Norwalk, Fountain Valley, San Jose and San Bernardino, Ca., and Las Vegas, Nv. The firm is expected to earn between $5 and $6 million for 1985 on sales of $250 million, according to Robert McNulty, pres., and c.e.o.

In his move toward the East, McNulty hopes to have at least 18 stores opened by year's end and, by 1986, he plans to have some 37 stores in ll Western states.

HomeClub's concept is to buy in bulk, storing and selling the merchandise in the same distribution centerlike building. Members pay a $15 annual fee, while non-members must pay a 50/o surcharge on all purchases.

HomeClub, Inc.'s growth is said to lie in its reported l99o markup margin, while such competitors as Builders Emporium and National Lumber reportedly mark up prices over 2590.

Competition in the fiercely competitive Southern California home im- provement market is expected to become even stronger with the arrival of The Home Depot, Inc., the Atlantabased discount warehouse set to make its debut this summer.

HomeClub, now privately owned, is planning a $40 million public offering to finance their expansion plans program.

West Takes Housing Lead

California outranks Texas and Florida as a home builder for the first time since 1979 with a total of 221,2N new units.

Florida, which was the top building state in 1980-81, claimed 202,000 units and Texas. leader in 1982-83. had 191,000 units.

Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, Ca., is expected to be the top new home building market for 1985 with 90,000 plus starts. The National Association of Home Builders predicts that Dallas-Fort Worth will be second with some 30,000 units less. In the top l0 nationally, Phoenix, Az., is fourth with 42,500 units; San Diego, fifth, 25,500 units, and San FranciscoOakland-San Jose, sixth, 34,500 units.

The Merchant Magazine

Regional data compiled by the NAHB lists the West. which has 2090 of the United States households, responsible for 27.8s/o of the private housing starts and 320/o of the building permits issued.

Hardware Week Program

New developments in Universal Product Code usage, insights on how to more profitably operate a home center, inventory management control methods for wholesalers and relief from unfair import competition are among the topics to be featured on the 1985 Hardware Industry Week/ National Hardware Show program, August ll-15 in Chicago, Il.

The program, a central component of the HIW/NHS education program, will include I I management information seminars and a keynote address to be delivered by Lawrence R. Gavin, president of Ace Hardware Corp. Gavin's address. to be delivered from 9:00-10:00 a.m., Monday, August 12, is entitled "A Step Ahead."

Hardware Industry Week/National Hardware Show is sponsored and conducted by the American Hardware Manufacturers Association.

SP0RTING a white oak body, this newly reslored three ton, Model E l91Z Packard truck required 4,000 hours ol work to be brouoht back to life after being discovered lrozen in a northern Minnesoti swamp. lt is traveling nationwide totell the history of the early days of trucking. The Wingfoot express, which it duplicates, was beguri nearty 70 years lgo by Goodyear and was a forerunner to interstate lrucking.-

Simpson Door Co.'s Open House

Builders, architects, designers, dealers and pre-hangers from the Portland, Or., area attended an open house at the Simpson Door Co.'s Columbia River Plant in Vancouver, Wa., on May l, 2, and3. The open house was co-sponsored by Lumber Products of Portland.

Cathy Miller and Greg Schmitt, Simpson Door Co. sales representatives, were on hand in a tent in front of the plant to introduce visitors to Simpson's full line of quality doors. The display, which included several new designs, was presented in the award-winning exhibit which Simpson took to the National Association of Home Builders convention and the National Sash and Door Jobbers Association convention.

Guests also took a tour through the door plant where they had an opportunity to see fusthand the manufacturing of flush doors.

Western Softwoods, Mouldings & Millwork Agfiurlturaf Wood Products, Pl5nuood, Particleboard

LIIMBER: Robert Glatt. division mgr.;Jim Haas, Bill Hanrahan Mills

MILLWORI(: Richard H.

We are also pleased to be a West Coast area distributor for CF&I steel products as well.

BERGER & COMPANY (aConagra cornpany) IS AI\t INTERNAflONAL COMMODITIPS TRADING ORGANIZIITION WITH OFFICES IN: i i,.

San Francisco, Ca. (headquarters); Chicago. Il.; Colfax, Wa.: Fargo, N.D.; Filer, Id.: Grand Cayman, British West Indies; Santiago, Chile; London, England: Geneva, Switzerlandt Nicosia, Cyprus; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Moose Jaw, Canada; and Taipei, Taiwan.

I lll,:iitl ili tlrr lrl',Jrllt()ll (.rl!gi'!', ()l ( itlrir(lir '', \tr:tl ti' llt I:tr r'llc tl. t ilt l9lJ-1. lhc l)alirllcl -:trtttcl ltrttttrct ..tlicti i),ir.riiittri ,rtrtr Llrt. ;,, ,, 1,1,,.. lnc(llrl. I)r. ()tto Irrrgl,.'. \ll]'. rctrior \ i( (' Irr a\i(l('rtl o1' l ('\cir('lt lttltl clcr cl ()Jlncnr. .ltrtl lhlt! l)lrlrll:tttr is ottt' rt1 tll,-. ,rrr'i,1 . !r,.,\,r(,,!r ,,,\,r,i iIr..,'ri blrilclil-r 1r:ltal'illl, ";1. 11,'.i1'r1 \1ri-\\r'\ c\cced thosc ot' thc hi1r.itcrt \ll-tlcllltltl gradcs ol c()n\ cnli()nll lLrtttbcr nttrl tlt I r . .1. j- .1-.., -1' trcrl!llll! )tt!lrLllr !!!rl !\!.!!!1\ rrr((L ,/, glrrc lantinlrlt'il Irrrttlrct.

''['araliattt \ \ut)cllol \ltetlglll, l()tlg lcrrgths anil tlinrcnsir)rlal \labilil\ Nill nrakc it un attIaeli\c \tlbstltutc li)l high-urlrlc \tl ue I llllil ltttttbct lrnrl il |nay also ()l)elr ult Itctr tlLtt kct: itl * hich rr.'oocl is cttrt-ctttll It()1 ll l)l clcfred rrralcriul," hc said.

[)r. Irrrgacs c\plained llt:tt lltc l)arallarr ltroee:s i: cttt tctttlr irr tlre tlerclopn)cnl ltirit\c. \\ith pIotltteliott etlst

Vinyl Siding Market Growing

\':... r ;.1i..,, .,r., t,, ,1,,, I \ irr i\ 1,,,- f, i ,ttilli,tit ,\tii;lti'\ ill l()Si 1. 'rl' itrtlu.ir, '..]..' 11, g1riri,,,r,. ill. ;.i1-i.i tr.rrt it cri.t'irii'1r.,1,,, l')S-1. .t...,,,1,;;' Io ( crt:rin"l'cc(l ( ()l l).

Soir,,i r rrrr I 'itling is crntl1ttl 1,, ii!e()ultt ltrl -l,tt ', ol ltll sirlinu soltl lirr ll('\\ -(\ll\lrrr,1ir)rr '!llrl afil)'r 'il lll(' sitlirtg trscil itt tct.rttt' 1111d 11111rri1,'lrns ['hc filnr lt]\() rllltieitratr-. lltrtt :trlirl rinl'l siclinc rirll lrrairt ()ul\cll itlLII)tinunr [rV lr ] to I nrrrqilr, r'cllcf l ilrg il gro\\1h 1r'cntl tlrtt lrcgltn irt l9El lrrrcl ruccclcrirlrr(i tlranraticitlly in lt)81 lrrtrl 198-1. llr I981. i inl l e oulil ()tilr)ltcc alrrrrrirrrrnr ltr nrore thun J to I il tlrc e llr Ietll {tcprl et1]tir-t1e \. ille !()lllpllll\ sillrgcsl \.

,,1',.i,',i .lr'.i.,i:;,.i 1.. 1..

lll ttlr('l ( )r t\ t'\r'('l tl i\ (' Il( )\ll l( )ll\ ll lr i rl(1 lllr !lil:l!li'l I'l lllllllrll! .llt,..l't'l),ll',t, 1r)t .r \(l,ii l,rir,,rlr( r,riiil r,llil.li,tl. Rr)\itn() gLtrlrLtlr'tl lr()tlt \r\\ .1(l' .er lrrslillllc ()l Ii.;l111qrl1rg\ \\lllt l\\,r ('ll1-llllr'rlliii! (lr'!lr'f\ .lll(l l('rl'l\(rl lll\ \lll\ ;:, r;,i;1...1,i:i 'l tt'.".':: ll.ill i I]1\ri\il\. llc ts tlte lltllll,)l {)l \r'\('l,ll rnlil kciil)! ltt {telc: illl!l lllt\ l0liilttilttl llulllfl \)il\ i t ltitlttl! .('llllllill . ir,l i ll. ipltrrtltrijj,rp i\1 rrr'\\ l)r',)(1u\'l\ \l,rrl,rll:' \r'lr'. t.. ltt. .lr(, t,rit,/, iI rit,, ,'r'.1. L\l rrl;If,'ltitt' ril, 'ill 'il' i l :!1,'!!1- l.lrl t,ttt tlll r:r r lrl r, r l'l: r l l( )ll\ :t!tl !t'tt,'lrtl ( ()ll"lrllill! r() r'll('lll\ |l I r1lltttlr ilt llte c()tlsttttlr.'t llt0tlttrlt ttt1l11rlr \ J lr(' ( ()ltllrlill\ ll;ts iiitt'r'lcrl I ]tc \cnlillil Il()!r'liln\ lot lltc \ltltttlt;tl

I l,'1rr1 ( , trl, r \lt,rrt .ir.. t i' ll1.r'lr liort irt lr)l(r It al:tt.ltrcil: lllt'tlrltlril lionrrl l)r()rlrirtt\ lot llte Ilrriltirrlg

Sho',r rrrttl titc \\c.,lcrtt IIr'tttt ( ':tllr't rrnrl llrrrlrlirts Srrp;tlr' l)cltlcrs Slttl*.