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Girl Killed In Twin Falls Depot

A 3-year-old girl died of head injuries following a May 28 accident at Home Depot, Twin Falls, Id.

Janessa Horner was struck by falling countertops that were being moved by a forklift from an overhead bin. She died the next day.

According to police, store employees had blocked off an aisle to move the countertops. Horner and her parents reportedly were outside of the barricade when the countertops slipped off the forklift, striking the little girl.

Police are awaiting results from a drug and alcohol blood test taken from the forklift operator, who, along with another employee, was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Home Depot, which is conducting its own inquiry, does not believe drugs and alcohol were a factor in the accident.

Jury States The Behr Facts

Wood finish products made by Behr Process Corp., Santa Ana, Ca., were responsible for mildew growth on several western Washington homes, according to an Aberdeen, Wa., jury.

The firm was ordered to pay $ 14,000 to $87.000 to each of the nine families who filed the suit, that alleged that Behr's Natural Seal Plus Nos. 80 and 92 and Super Liquid Rawhide Nos. 12 and 13 caused their wood surfaces and homes to blacken with mildew within 12 months.

The decision may lead to similar suits, according to lawyers for the homeowners, who said thousands of area residents could be eligible to collect damages.

A Behr Process spokesman said the company plans to appeal the decision.

Expo Countdown Has Begun

The Y2K version of the National Hardware Show & Building Products Exposition, held in conjunction with International Hardware Week, reportedly will bring together over 3,000 manufacturers in more than 1.3 million sq. ft. at McCormick Place in Chicago, Aug. 13-16.

Sponsored by the American Hardware Manufacturers Association, the event allows attendees to network with industry professionals, stay abreast of trends, view new products and services, participate in hands-on demonstrations and attend informative seminars.

Among the speakers are Elizabeth Dole, former president of the American Red Cross, who will present the keynote address, and Duke University men's basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, the featured speaker at the AHMA's annual meeting.

Attendance is expected to be similar to 1999, when 61 ,634 industry professionals attended. The Expo segment will feature over 300 building products manufacturers and suppliers, showcasing lumber/wood products, tools/hardware, doors, fencing, flooring, insulation, masonry, moulding, roofing and siding industries, and more.

Free educational seminars will be held Aug. 13-14 on such topics as recruitment and sales strategies, genderbased marketing considerations and e-commerce solutions.

Special areas returning this year include the New Product Center, the Packaging Exposition highlighting new concepts in packaging, the Retail Concepts Center and The Resource Center. Product/Exhibitor Locators and the International Visitors' and Business Center will also be operating.

And, be sure to visit The Merchant Magazine at booth # 41225.

And The D-l-Y Survey Says...

A survey of 3,000 American home improvement consumers to determine how, when, why and where they shop reported some interesting trends.

"Customer Focus 2000," performed by Customer Contact. Inc.. for TC Advertisins. revealed:

While Americans of all ages enjoy gardening, younger green thumbers are the ones with the buying power.

According to the study, 47Vo of Baby Boomers (age 36-54) intend to make gardening purchases within the next l2 months, followed by 4l%o of Gen-Xers (age 24-35), but just 277o of Seniors.

Home decorating is also fancied by Gen-Xers (41%) and Baby Boomers (387o), with nearly one in three Gen-Yers (18-23) also saying that they plan purchases in this seg(Please turn to next page)

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