DUAL IN THE SUN

Doing two things at once is part of the versatility of a San Antonio building. When our customers have special stor. ageneeds, we're ready to accommodate them.

The San Antonio building pictured is half enclosed and half open, just what the customer wanted. The 50'x110' xZI' structure is roughly divided in half, with one portion enclosed for plywood and hardwood storage, the other part open in the traditional umbrella storage manner. The single building concept with a dual func. tion illustrates the problem solving abilities San Antonio brings to space management in lumber and building material yards. Our experience is a valuable resource for our customers to tap when they need practical advice on solving storage prob. lems.

Let San Antonio help you resolve your building requirements.

Mike Esposito, mgr.

1280 Unit F-1

West Lirmbelt Rtl. Blerr. Ca. 92621

(273) 691-a367

(774) 529-7790

I'].O. Box 129 (l.r'imes. (la. 95950

(916) 137-2s0s

Down the road or across the world-Loth Lumber ships Western Red Cedar to your destinationl And, it orrives looking great. By truck or ship or rail-whatever the distance-the extro core that Loth puts into packaging assures your order a safe and uneventful trip.

Each order of Loth Lumber is prepared specificolly for its mode of shipment. Standard packaging may include any of the following features:

. end cops, corner protection, ond 7/e" banding to pollets o specially designed pollet withpull device for safe unlooding of piggyback vons polybagpollet coverings for ertra protection

. oirbog cushioning between lumber ond vanwalls

. waxed cardboord siding onpolybagsfor odded protection on oceon shipments

Mill locations: Gold Bar, Washington; Forks, Washington ; Port Angeles, Washington

For information contact: Don Dye, Ron Warren

Edltor-Publisher David Cutler

Senlor Edltor Juanita Lovret

Asslstant Edltor David Koenig

Contrlbutlng Editors Dwight Curran, Gage McKinney, Ken Thim

Art Director Marthf Emery

Staff Artist Eric Kruske

Circulation Lynnette A. Perkins

The Merchant Magazine (USPS 79656000) is published monthly dt 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660, phone (714) 852-1990, by The Merchant Magazine, Inc. Second-class postage rates paid at Newport Beach, Ca., and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, NewPort Beach, Ca. 92660.

Advertising Offices

Advertising rates uPon request. F'rom all states east of the Rocky Mountains: Contact Jean Waggoner Gogerty, national sales manaser. From Arizona, Nevada and California: fonnct David Cutler. Both may be reached at (714) 852-1990 or by writing 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca 92660.

I rom Washington State. Oregon. Idaho. Wvomins. Montana. I tah, Colorado. Norlhern Calilornia and Canada: Contacl Carole tfolm at (206) '/'74-3713 or 21819 77th Place West. Edmonds. Wa. 98020.

Change of Address-Send subscnption orders and address changes to Circulation

Dept., The Merchant Magazine, ,1500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach. Ca. b266o. lnclude address ldbel from recent issue ifpossible, new address and zip code.

Subscription Rates-U.S.: $l l-one year: $17-two years; $22-three years. Foreign: one year payable in advance in U.S. funds-Canada or Mexico: air-$35; surface-$30; South America: air-$55; surface$30; Asia: air-$68; surface-$30; Europe: air-$98; surface-$30. Single copies-$3; back copies-$4.50 when available plus shipping & handling.

The Merchant Magazine is an independently owned publication for the retail, wholesale and distribution levels ofthe lumber and home center markets in 13 western states.

Editorial

Today, No. Tomorrow, Yes.

11; HILE the current market for moulding has UU been described as ranging "from blah to stinking," there seems little doubt that the long term outlook is positive. For today, there are a number of excellent stories in this issue telling retailers, wholesalers, distributors and jobbers how to get their share of the present moulding and millwork market.

Favorable medium term factors include both new construction and remodeling. As interest rates continue to move lower, making houses more affordable, new home construction will provide an expanding market for moulding and millwork items.

The remodeling market is, if anything, an even greater present and potential market. A new report by the American Institute of Architects foresees the decade of the I 990s as one of rebuilding and remodeling, both in residential and non-residential areas. Sparking this activity will be increasing interest in preserving archi-

DAVID CUTLER editor- publisher

tectural landmarks and other older structures of all kinds, scarcity of good urban sites and the aging of America's stock of existing homes. Indeed, nearly one-third of all homes in this country were built before 1940.

Design and decor fads come and go. The trend has been away from the stark, spartan look in the sixties and early seventies to a more traditional, elaborate look in structures from high rises to small commercial strip shopping centers. All of whjch has raised the public's understanding of the marvels that can be created using mouldings and millwork. lt is likely to be many years before the pendulum of taste swings back to the basic, unadorned look, which augers well for this industry.

New products, new materials, new systems and techniques all will bolster additional use of mouldings and millwork , creating a sales environment that looks favorable indeed for these products.