IES UwHoTBSALE I,,UMBDRCO. SPECIALIZINGINA

COMPLETE LINE OF THE FOLLOWING:

The same workmanship. The same energy efficienry. The same weathertightness you've come to expect from everyAndersen product, is now available in the highly attractive circle top window.

But while most window makers gle youbut one size and expectyou to make do, Andersen produces circle tops in two styles (one compatible with the Andersen Narroline' double-hung window, the other a perfect match with ttre Perma-Shield' casement or awning window), eleven sizes (including a new quarter round), and four glazing options (including High-Performance, High-Performance Sun, and a special glazingfor high altitudes). No one else gives you so many options.

There's so much more to tell. But then, that's why were here. Give us a call and we'll get you into the right circles.

Serving 13 Western Sfafes

Editor-Publisher David Cutler

Senior Editor Juanita Lovret

IAssistant Editor David Koenig

Contrlbuting Editors Dwight Curran, Gage McKinney, Ken Thim

Art Director Martha Emery

Strff Artist Carmen Wollerman

Circulation Lynnette A. Perkins

The Merchant Magazine (USPS 79656000) is published monthly at 4500 Campus Dr., Suite ,l8O 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. From all states east of the Rocky Mountains: Contact Jean waggoner Gogerly. national sales manager. I'rom Arizona. Nevada and California: Contact 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, ldaho, Wyoming, l\'lontana, Utah, Colorado, Northern California and Canada: Contact Carole Holm at (206) '7'74-3713 or 21819 77th Place West, Edmonds. Wa. 98020.

Change of Mdress-Send subscription orders and address changes to Circulation Dept., The Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660. Include address label from recent issue ifpossible, new address and zip code.

Subscription Rates-U.S.: $1 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.

DAVID CUTLER editor-publisher EDITORIAL

Wanna start a beef?

I F YOU enjoy arguments, a sure way to start I one is to bring up bar coding of lumber. From retailer to wholesaler to producer, the controversial subject is certain to raise some hackles somewhere.

While bar coding is old hat in grocery store packaging, it has had very limited application in the lumber business. A few major producers have put the codes on some packages of lumber, but not, to our knowledge, on the lumber itself. The impetus to bar code lumber apparently came from large retailers who wanted every product they sell to be so coded. Pricing and inventory control are believed to be the prime reasons behind their requests for this latest form of product/price identification.

The questions raised are many and varied. Not the least is who will pay? As one angry sawmiller told us, "if retailers want it so much, let them put it on." Much of the lumber produced in this country goes to markets that have no need for bar coding. Should mills code only parts of their production or is that impractical?

Will this lead to a few specialists bar coding and selling exclusively to retailers who need and want the codes? Will all mills eventually be forced into bar coding to compete?

Others are concerned about how the code will be applied to the lumber. Will it be stamped on or will a sticker be attached? If the bar coding can be made a part of the grade stamp will that confuse the marketplace; perhaps allowing the unscrupulous more room in which to operate. If added to grade stamps how will it be policed by the grading agencies and others concerned with maintaining industry standards? Should the cost of whatever method is chosen be shared between industry levels or passed on to the final customer?

Many knowledgeable people have come to feel that, like it or not, bar coding of lumber is inevitable. While that's probably true, we recall they said the same thing about metrics ten years ago.

Stay tuned, this one may just go into overtime.