Successful teaching tool: the daily walk

(Continued.lrom page 39) an opportunity to prove that it can be effective for both.

After two months of reworking the aisles, we started to train using the daily walk. Two of the three managers had no management training, but their progress at the end of five months was remarkable. Each acquired confidence through the walk with his employees. A better management/employee relationship developed and employees began to have pride in the appearance of the store as well as more confidence and better skills.

My 1970s experience was repeated in the '90s with the same success. The daily walk worked. Better communication, fairer evaluation, pride, self-confidence and employee growth developed.

You, too, can ensure a healthy future for your store by beginning each day with a walk.

PINE FIR REDWOOD. OAK. RADIATA. MIRANTI SOLID. FINGERJOINT. VENEER. EDGE-GLUE. PRIME DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED WOODS

Lineal; Cut-to-Length; Mitering; Special Machining; Special Packaging, Unitizing and Bundling; HIGHLY MIXED TRUCKS AND PART TRUCKS

MAIL:

PLANT:

P.O. Box 28352 6934 Florin Perkins Rd.

Sacramento, CA 95828

(800) 365-5424 . 916-386-1314

Fax (916) 386-1329

INDUSTRNI HARDWOODS & SOFTWOODS

414 & THICKER SHOP & BETTER GRADES OF CALIFORNIA SUGAR PINE O WHITE FIR PONDEROSA PINE ' INCENSE CEDAR

The Finest in 414 & Thicker Northern Red Oak

COMPLETE MILLING FACILITIES

October 1991

Canada Drops Softwood Tax

As of Oct. 4, Canada stopped collecting its self-imposed tax on softwood lumberexports to the U.S. Put into effect in Dec. 1986, the tax followed U.S. threats to impose a countervailing duty as a result of investigations finding timber supplied to Canadian mills was in effect being subsidized, giving them an unfair advantage over U.S. mills.

Mike Apsey, president of the Council of Forest Industries of British Columbia, said that since the agreement was signed, "timber costs and other charges have increased &amatically for

Gnatcatcher Now Endangered

ConsEuction within the Califomia gnatcatcher habitat area has been halted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Interior Department preliminary ruling to add the bird to the federal endangered species list. (See The Merchant, July 1991, p.23 for background story.)

Protection had been refused under the Endangered Species Act of California by the California Fish and our producers." Canada's share of the U.S. lumber market has dropped from a highof 33Vo in 1985 to26Eo. lncreased lumber prices could not be directly linked to the announcement. Futures were selling well, but with the consnucdon season ending no big buys were being made. Lorenzo Menill, forest products analyst fol Lehman Brothers, expects that by late fall lumber will be trading at the $150$160 range.

The U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports and U.S. trade officials are potesting the move by Canada, but no offrcial action has taken place.

Game Commission despite a recommendation to do so by the California Fish and Game Department. A 12 month study will precede a permanent decision about the federal listing.

Building indusury officials hope the final decision will be affected by a model habitat pilot program proposed by the Pete Wilson administration. The habitat could possibly be complete by next summer, a spokesperson said.

Canada To Sustained Yield

In an effort to enhance its most important export, Canada has begun a long term progam in eight forests to move to sustained yield.

Under the $88 million plan, Canada will attempt to balance planting and cutting so that a continued and permanent supply of forest products is produced from the nation's forests. Onetenth of the world's forests are in Canada.

Ernst Wins Television Award

Ernst Home and Nursery Center, Seattle, Wa., was named first place winner in vendor video participation by the lnstore Satellite Network division of Broadcast International.

The home center chain uses the system to maintain communications with individual stores throughout the western United States and for providing shoppers with environmental music and point ofpurchase advertising.