EDITIORIAL

The battle moyes to the countryside

Home Depot's re@nt aclnowledgement that it plans to open stores in rural markets has significant implications for small town independents who have always felt their isolation protected them from the Big Boxes. No more.

Wal-Mart proved big stores could work in small towns; McDonald's likewise discovered a limited population base was no bar to fast food sucoess.

Depot seems to agree. They've hired two WalMart officials and are developing a "rural market prototype," according to company spokesman Lonnie Fogel. No other details were available at press time, but speculation has been brisk.

Some feel the home improvement giant needs to convince Wall Street that its stock is still a gmd buy after a recent price slump following disappointing earnings. Without stock appreciation, observers hold that stock owning employees will lack the commiunent that has powered Depot to industry leadenhip. Visions of riches from stock profits have driven many employees to tolerate long hours and sometimes stressful working conditions. Expansion out of metro markets could be seen by management as a way to bolster and lift the prioe of Home Depot stock.

DAVID CUTLER editor-publisher

More than one small chain and several independents have told us that they will survive and prosper even if the Big Boxes invade their economic islands. Some believe personal service, reliationships and small town loyalty will carry the day for them. Others just hoot at this, pointing out the death of thousands of local businesses trying to compete with the likes of Wd-Mart and McDonald's.

Some conjecture that rural Home Depots will be far smaller than existing units in large markets. Others say such an assumption is wrong because of the bulky nature of many of the produc[s carried, such as lumber and plywood.

We suspoct rural units will be close in size to curent metro stores. Small town Wal-Marts are large, so there's no intrinsic reason to believe Home Depot would seriously downsize barring exceptional circumstances.

When they will open outside the cities is anyone's guess at this point But it seems certain they will invade Small Town America It is no death sentence for the smalls. The best of them have proven many times that Life with Depot can be both profitable and exciting.

BOB OSBORNE'S CUSTOMERS ARE THE PICKIEST BUNCH about White Lightning's lull line ot caulks dnd sealants, give us a call.

OF BUILDERS AND PAINTERS IN THE NORTHEAST. HE KNOWS pRtcE ts tMPoRTANT, BUT QUALITY lS WHAT COUNTS. AND HE KNOWS HE'D BETTER KEEP PLENTY OF WHITE LIGHTNING IN STOCK.

"The builders and painters around here work on homes costing up to d million dolldrs. Ot course they're picky," says Bob Osborne ot Ridgetield Supply in Ridgefield, Connecticut. "When we started carrying While Lightning, these guys were skeptical. But we got it into their hands at our Pro Show and they saw the smoolh flow and whiter tinish. lt was the most popular product line out ol over d hundred.

A Douqlas fir cleckis practical, €ffiy to build, economical and long lasting.

Now add beautiful!

-[ ltcr-c lurs ulu lr-r s hccn sor]tcthing spccilrl lrltotrt l)otrgllLs fr r tlceliing. \\'hcn 1'rlopcllr tt'cirtc(l to pr'olcct il lrorn insce ttlurnugc lrntl rlccur. it llrsts 1ol' t'cltt's lrttrl -r e lrrs lrnrl r clLrs...lrnrl it jLrst gcts l)cttcr' r.r. illr lruc.

IJLrt cr cn tlrc bcst Prorlrrcl cln l'rc ntirclc bclte r'. So u hcn u c rlise or crcrl thlt oul' nc\\, A('(]' u orlcl tt'cittinr l)r'occ\\ r'oul11 1.,,',r,"e t l)oLtgllrs I'ir lrnel still kcep its rlrtrrlal lrcuutr.'. rlc kncu u c hutl lL u inncr'. [-ct us givc I'ou the l'Lrll rlctlrils ol' ltou to pnrpcllr lrrcser\c I)or-rLtli.rs lir ancl lrchicrc inrlustr'\' itccelltlrbIc plcsclr lLtivc l-re'rrctl'lrLion lrncl rctcn tion. u'ilhor-r( lrrscnic unrl ch ront i urtr. CItccki ng uncl tri isting iLrc rninintrl antl thc colol r.rgcs trl u rlirlk brori n inste url ol'enry. ('ull tocluv.