We buy it right You can sell it right

. Sounds simple but you know it takes persistance, knowledge, talent. lt's a full time job for Mel Montierth and 7 buyers. Each working day they scout the market to find the right product, at the righi price, at the right time.

This is why 35,000 items or more are always in stock and your order is filled prompily, accurately. This is why- you can be most competitive without sicrificing prof its.

_ And, it's one more reason why Mallco is the -S-ogth.wgst's largest distributor of Lumber, Building Materials and Sporting Goods. Call for a Mallco man now.

Distributors

Housewares Future Strong

Sales of America's housewares manufacturers went up 15.6Vo in 1979. to a record total of $15.6 billion that outpaced the nation's ll.37o inflation rate for the vear.

Ronald A. Fippiirger, managing director of the National Housewares Manufacturers Assn., emPhasizes "This underscores the sustained overall strength of housewares as a bellwether business for the nation's economy. It shows the industrY's standout record of running well ahead of both the Gross National Product and the Personal Income Index."

More than half the manufacturers reported 1979 sales totaling $2.5 million or more, and one-third said their sales topped $5 million. Moreover, 57Vo iniiiiated their sales in 1980 will go over the $2.5 million mark.

Prices of housewares, along with everything else these days, are still on their way up. With 857o of manufacturers reporting they raised prices an average of lD.37o last year, almost all expect to raise prices in 1980, for an average increase of ll%o. Con' cern over costs and inflation is offset by optimism for the industry due to a greater likelihood of home-related orientation.

Increased demand for value/quality. and a greater amount of time sPent at home are seen as likely to increase demand for housewares products.

Retail outlets reached a record level of 74Vo of the industry's total $15.6 billion volume last year, with 29Vo accounted for by mass merchandisers.

Department stores ranked second, catalog showrooms, third.

In the ongoing color sweePstakes of housewares product categories, almond is out front. It was the most popular color for kitchen appliances

Efficient Warehouse Design

Advance planning can help assure an efficient warehouse design. Consider the shape. Experts suggest the square since it minimizes exterior wall space, is energy efficient, and increases a supervisor's efficiency by limiting interior distances and walking time.

The most efficient warehouses are designed around pallet dimensions and stacking limitations. Columns should be spaced for pallet size, storage, proper aisle width and the location of conveyers. Doors should be aligned with aisles since turns often cause accidents resulting in product damage and increased handling time. Aisles should be as wide as possible

The Merchant Magazine and accessories last year and climbed in sales for bath and closet accessories. White and brown were number one and two. Blue was third. to increase handling efficiency and reduce accidents. r the winging, to scoreboard. tractors. line-up includes reserye inventory most complete extra clout and a run plays. Our desi Thin Panel, is a ve versatile bonus baby i mu ftii;d;;' d-rilJ'-d ru " lfieetern red.cedar, se ceder and tlr. We s with a balanced run two of the West's mills to gire ybu delivery on:llit anO in kiln with re how to Call cedar and pine ; Let us show you play work.

Brown, white and almond, in that order, were top colors for serving and buffet products and accessories. Green, brown and yellow were the most popular colors for outdoor products and accessories. TheY are expected to rank the same in 1980.

Location of ducts, pipes, and electrical conduits should permit optimum vertical clearance near handling and loading areas. Permanent equipment such as utilities and cooler sPace should be located to allow future expansion without costly expense. Security for the building also should be considered in the planning. Adequate illumination is a must since a lbaded warehouse requires more light than an empty one. Shipping/receiving offices should be located so that no outsiders have direct access to the warehouse. Visitor parking areas also should be located away from the loading docks and fenced to prohibit entry into the warehouse.

, cA.92667'-5350

., Healdsburg, CA. 95448

Put Cash To Work Fast

Take advantage of every concession you can get from your suppliers to conserve your cash and stay liquid during these recessionary times. Make sure you put whaf ever cash you have to work for you immediately-.

Selwin E. Price, Chicago-based international certified public accountant firm executive, advises businessmen to use every tool available to enhance their cash oosition. including controlling accounts receivable, slashing inventories, paring overhead and maximizing tax advantages.

Here's what he recommends to get ahe most oui of vendors:

(l) Take cash discounts when offered. even if it means borrowing from your bank. A cash discount of 2Vo in l0 days is equivalent to 36Vo a year. Even if you have to bonow at 20Vo, you're making l6vo annually.

(2)_ If no discounts are granted, take 30 days to pay or stretch yoyr vendor's terms as far as he'll ailow. if you start to fall behind in your payments, contact your vendor and let him know in advance. "He'll appreciate the notice and you'll become a more valued cuitbmer." Price says.

(3) If possible, get your vendors to warehouse your purchases and bill you for goods when shipped, to minimize your inventory. -

(4) When buying goods, try ro ger price protection trom your vendors over an extended period of time.

Price also recommends that you put your cash to work for you immediately. These are some of his suggestions:

Deposit all payments instantly. Don't hold them for bookkeeping purposes. Either keep ttre remittance ad- vice attached to the check on make a copy of the check for your bookkeeping needs.

(2) Even if you get a partial payment, deposit it ingt3-ntl-y unless the. endorsement indicates payment in full. Some companies hold on to a partial pdyrirent until they can find out the reason for the shortage. It's better to put the partial payment to work immediately and investigate the shortage later.

(3) For a high-volume business, consider a lock-box. fa1m9ns sent to a post office lock box go directly to your bank in 24 hours or less, meaning that you have use of the money almost immediately.

(4) Keep on hand only whatever cash is needed fo the daily requirements of the business. Put the rest in Treasury bills, certificates of deposit, commercial paper or money market funds. Select these instruments so that they come due when you need the cash.

(5) Play the float, the time required for your check to clear the bank. Some businessmen on one c6ast will write checks on banks on the opposite coast, knowing it will take several days for the check to clear. Meanwhile they retain use of the money, depositing it in their accouht at the last minute.

Caution is necessary when playing the float, because laws are tough on this subject.^fiiniig has to be precise, or the check could bounce and endanger the company's credit worthiness.

(6) Although this last point doesn't relate to cash receipts or payments, Price advises businessmen who have life insurance on key executiveS to borrow on the cash value of ttrose policies and invest the money at higher rates to generate cash for the company.

RYAN General Manager

SEC0l{D Gn0Wil'S weekend seminar at Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego, Ca., was attended by 80 "35 and under" lumber men and women of the Lumber Association of Southern California. Trainino sessions and socializing were included ai the meeting. lll Tim Gaffney, Allen Fikse, Greg Moktei, Drew Sasser, Seth Potter, Dant & Russell pres. and c.e.o., Portland, 0r., one of the speakers, and Blaine Smith. l2l John Newquist, Paige Pastusak, Nancy Newquist, Joe Pastusak, Shervl and Dick McArthur. l3l Vicki Sasser, LASC exec. v.p. Wavne Gardner, Donna 0rlando, Betty Fikse.-l{l Bill and Meredith Jones. l5l Lauri Gaffney,

Nancy Smith, Linda Mokler, Chibbi Cords. 16l Greg Arnds, Pete Ganahl. l7l Phil and Margo Dodson, Joanie and Dwight Hayes. l8l Rick Cunningham, Lindsay 0lson, Steve Garrison. l9l Linda Mackin, Rick Learned. Michele Alexander, Mike Mackin. ll0l Rick 0rlando, Steve White. Pete Nevins.