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ULK is out. Quality is overtaking quantity in the builder's hardware market. as dealers more and more stock their shelves with individually blister- and skin-packaged rather than bulk-displayed products.

On the surface, packaged items can provide a better appearance than bulk hardware. Colorful, coordinated packages can create attractive runs across a display. And many home centers are transforming once drab nuts and bolts sections into dazzling builder's hardware departments.

Packaged products can also be better organized in a display. Loose items are easily mixed up in their bins. And clean, smooth packages are definitely easier to handle than individual, oddshaped metal objects.

Packages also provide a service, carrying detailed instructions and precise dimensions. Consumers usually need the instructions and the specs help ensure they get the right part the first time, lowering returns.

Lawrence Bros., Inc., Sterling, Il., a national manufacturer of cabinet. closet, door, window, gate and security hardware, has significantly increased its packaged product mix in the last two years to resPond to the trend.

The manufacturer's merchandiser Mark Lauritzen finds the prepackaged hardware allows retailers to keep the size of inventories lower. "Dealers can buy 10 of something rather than 50," he says. "Turns make the difference."

Packaged goods more easilY accept bar codes, improving inventory tracking and alleviating pricing headaches. One home center shoPPer recalls holding up a long checkout line as her clerk ran back to check on the price of an inexpensive loose hardware item.

Most importantly, decorative packaging implies greater value, translating into higher prices and higher profits. "Naturally, the price is higher, but it doesn't matter to the consumer," Lauritzen says. "The do-it-yourselfer doesn't shop builder's hardware items. If he needs a coat and hat hook or sees one and likes it, he's going to buy it."

Story at a Glance

Packaged items rePlacing bulk displays in many builder's hardware departments Packaging improves appearanoe, tightens inventories, increases Profits, though bulk packaging still has a role.

Still, some items may be best suited to bulk merchandising. "Heavy straps, t's, corner braces, some things because of their size will always be sold bulk," he explains. "And dealers wanting to cater to contractors who buy in large quantities will also maintain bulk inventories."

Bulk displays fit in well with the bare bones warehouse style and low cost image. And with bulk merchandising, greater quantity can usually be stocked on less shelf space.

But as long as repair, remodeling and doing-it-yourself remain on the upswing, so should the move toward packaged builder's hardware.

l-joist Sales Increasing

With overall costs of housing at record levels, the proportionate cost of lumber seems less, encouraging many builders to spend more for engineered products such as l-joists.

The high cost fabricated wood joist assembled with solid or laminated veneer lumber flanges, usually with a plywood web, is making inroads into the traditional solid lumber joist markets. Frank Stewart, Western Wood Products Association's field manager in Southern California, reports steadily increasing Ijoist sales and a doubling of builder inquiries over the past year.

Although the trend is for building with fabricated joists, contractor yards prefer to handle solid lumber joist material, according to Stewart. He believes the time is right for dimension producers to think about protecting their market with dry lumber.

"Retailers in this historically green framing lumber market have been reluctant to stock S-dry wide dimension because of the high costs associated both with the dry product and maintenance of both green and dry inventories," he notes, but this reluctance is waning.

"lf builders now can afford Ijoists, they now can afford dry wide dimension," Stewart says. "That suggests a window of opportunity exists now for mills willing to try a dry, solid lumber joist product. The economics just might be there."

L-P's 50O Millionth Tree

Commemorating the 500 millionth tree grown by the company since its formation in 1973, Louisiana-Pacific chairman and president Harry Merlo planted a redwood seedling at Crannell, Ca.

He was joined by General Chuck

Yeager, a member of the L-P board of directors, in the ceremony at the Clotilde Merlo Forest Research Center and Tree Nursery. This facility, built shortly after L-P was formed, is named in honor of Merlo's mother.

"This is quite a milestone for us," Merlo said. "l'm especially proud to have it take place at this nursery named after my mother, the person who most influenced my life. Our future as a company and a nation depends on the care we give our resources today. At Louisiana-Pacific, we're proud of the job we do and of the milestones we've achieved."

"Nothing is as completely usable and renewable as a tree." he said, "and since we average six trees planted for every one we harvest, we can be sure all the forestland under our stewardship will serve generations and generations to come."

L-P Adds MiTek Wood Prodtcts

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. is acquiring MiTek Wood Products, Inc., a producer of laminated veneer lumber and I-beams marketed under the names of Cang-Lam and GNIBeam.

Manufacturing facilities in Wilmington, N.C., and administrative ofl'ices in Miami, Fl., are included in the transaction.

L-P chairman and president HarrY Merlo, emphasized, "We look forward to participating in the continued growth of this fine business. Their products will be an excellent complement to our expanding line of engineered wood products. I want to assure MiTek Wood Products' customers of our continued aggressive support. "

Louisiana-Pacific has an exten- sive line of engineered products, including Inner-Seal structural panels, siding, and I-Beams. TheY are scheduled to begin production this summer of Inner-Seal l-Beams at a plant in Red Blufl Ca.

Bell Forest History Grant

The Alfred D. Bell, Jr. visiting scholars program has been established by the Forest History Society. Those wishing to make use of the Forest History Society library and archives in Durham, N.C., may apply for a travel grant ofup to $750.

Records of the American Forest Council, American Forestry Association, National Forest Products Association, Society of American Foresters, Western Timber Association and many smaller collections are available for research on twentieth century American topics.

Bell was a San Francisco lumberman who also had a financial interest in The Merchant Magazine from 1963-1974 and served as publisher.

The Merchant Magazine

Portable lroning Center

Hook-N-lron from Uni-Cepts offers apartment dwellers and other renters the convenience of an ironing center they can take with them, without leaving holes in the walls.