Forest Industries

has been involved since IFI was founded in 1916.

Tom Richards has been in charge since 1964, while his brother served as ceo of Potlatch Corp., a direct competitor with IFI for timber, until he retired in June 1999. Both cited health issues as contributing to their decision to sell.

According to Tom Richards, the key element in the transaction was the fit with Stimson and their willingness to employ substantially all of IFI's current employees.

As well, Stimson plans to continue running all three mills despite poor lumber market conditions. Richards has kept the mills running for 35 years with just two weeks of down time in 1981-due to low lumber prices and a boiler problem.

IFI recently completed $6 million worth of mill upgrades.

Prior to the sale, IFI had been considering building a larger, more efficient stud mill and selling its DeArmon Mill to nearby North Idaho College. President Jim English, who also is leaving IFI, predicts Stimson will continue those talks since the existing site has "no room for that type of expansion."

Window Maker Going Green

Andersen Corp. said it will no longer buy wood from "endangered" forests, and will give preference to Forest Stewardship Council or equivalent certified wood supplies in manufacturing its windows and patio door products.

The firm primarily uses ponderosa pine and has increased its use of biofiber composite Fibrex material, made from waste wood fiber.

Terms Of TheTrade Available

The updated fourth edition of Random Lengths' Terms of the Trade is now available.

The 426-p., illustrated book includes more than 10,000 definitions, abbreviations and terminologies used in the lumber, construction, futures trading, pulp and paper industries.

Terms of the Trade, edited by David S. Evans, associate editor of Random Lengths, is $49.95 from Random Lengths Publications, Inc., (800\ 874-7979.

There are a lot of good reasons for carrying L-P Solid Start' products: wide variety, a limited lifetime warranty and the fact that they build great homes.

Full line now available in stock: o LPI'20 and 32 series l-joists (solid sawn flanged)

. CTR'" 150 and 250 series l-joists (Gang-Lam" LVL flanged) o LPI 36 and 56 series l-joists (Gang-Lam LVL flanged) o Gang-Lam 2650 Fb and 2950 Fb beams in standard and billet thicknesses (1-314" to 7" thick)

. Solid Start rim board

For more information, including a copy of our warranty, contact Huff Lumber-

High Product lQ ls Key

A survey of 203 Ace Hardware retailers revealed the importance of having friendly and knowledgeable employees, particularly when it comes to retaining customers.

When asked, l07o of customers said a knowledgeable staff is the most important reason why they continue to shop at a particular store. Conversely, 16Vo listed product pricing as their incentive to return.

Easily accessible and centrally located stores also got the nod for repeat business, as did retailers that offered product variety and hard-to- find items. Friendly, approachable sales people was another favorite, along with employee familiarity.

"With a multitude of available shopping options, including those online, consumers are looking for stores that provide superior service," says Paula Erickson. an Ace consumer affairs manager. "That means store associates must be knowledgeable to answer customer questions, help find what they need and provide a positive shopping experience."

To boost business within the past year,737o of Ace retailers said they have incorporated new store layouts, while 62Vo have refined product variety and 37Vo have renovated.

For additional shopping convenience, 34Vo expanded store hours, 357o added Internet capability and 3lVo began offering free delivery.

- Bumper sticker

Huff To Sell Classic Glulams

Huff Lumber Co., Santa Fe Springs, Ca., has been named a wholesale distributor of Willamette Classic Glulams.

The 79-year-old firm, which serves yards in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nv., has been distributing glulams for "about 20 years," according to president Mark Huff.

"We' ve distributed Willamette glulams in the past and they've always done a goodjob for us," he said.

Boxes Big In Golden State

Already home to one Home Depot, the affluent Sacramento suburb of Roseville, Ca., soon will have a second Depot as well as two Lowe's Home Improvement Centers.

All within a four-mile area, Depot and Lowe's both have stores under construction, with Lowe's second unit in the planning stages.

Lowe's also has plans for as many as 20 other Northern and Central California sites, including Folsom, Union City, Elk Grove and Chico.

NLBMDA Allies With Canada

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and Lumber & Building Materials Association of Ontario, Canada, have formed an alliance to turn their similarities and synergies into mutual opportunities.

Opportunities could include creating cross-border support for e-commerce and joint government initiatives, sharing industry educational materials, increasing trade publications readership, and access to members'benefits.

Company Timber Town Sold

Simpson Timber Co., Seattle, Wa., has sold its company-owned town of Samoa, Ca., to an undisclosed buyer after a sealed-bid auction (see Aug., p.24).

The firm and the successful bidder will not divulge the buyer's identity until escrow closes, which should take about 60 days.

The prospective buyer has indicated that the town's historic identity will be preserved and that improvements will be made on many existing structures.

While devoid of stores, gas stations and a mayor, the 60-acre, 300-resident bayside hamlet does have 98 redwood-clad homes, an 11-room Victorian inn, 23,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and the popular Samoa Cookhouse, a two-story, 500-seat, logging camp-era dining hall.

Hammond Lumber operated the mills during the Depression and World War II, before selling the town to Georgia-Pacific, which then spun ir off to LouisianaPacific in 1973.

Simpson acquired Samoa two years ago as part of a large redwood timberlands purchase from LouisianaPacific.

Paperboard Supplier Sues G-P

Caraustar Industries, Austrell, Ga., has filed suit against Georgia-Pacific for breach of contract, claiming reduced purchases of gypsum-wallboard paper will decrease and force the paperboard and packaging products maker to close its Camden. N.J.. mill.

According to Caraustar, G-P violated a contract requiring it to use Caraustar's paper products in its wallboard manufacturing.

Caraustar said average sales to G-P, its largest customer, have fallen more than 807o since the first half of the year and are expected to drop further.

G-P has countersued, maintaining that Caraustar incorrectly characteized terms of the contract. G-P said the 10year contract, signed in 1996, requires it only to buy specific grades of paperboard-excluding products it makes itself.

Hardwood Plywood Panels

Rediscovered Timber* .