Dealers ready for battle

CTAYING competitive - and alive tJ- when the big chains come to town was the undedying concem for independent retailers at the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association's recent annual convention.

Frustrated dealers and innovative solutions surfaced during an opening

Story at a Glance

Independent dealers from across the country convene in Phoenix, Az. focus on surulval amld powerful warehouse chains.

panel discussion, moderated by Tom Joyner, and the next day's lineup of seminars.

To cope with the chains, presenter Jin Johnson suggested ffu51 raking a hard look at your own business. "Focus on youf operation and 807o of your problems will be solved," he said. Figure out your niche, devise a busines plan, get an image, finetune purchasing and carefully select and assign personnel, he advised.

Michigan lumberrran Jerry Olrich was installed as the new NLBMDA president, succeeding J. Howard "Jody" Luck, Manassas Lumber Corp., Manassas, Va., now chainnan of the board. President-elect is Ray Nunn, Simms-Moore Lumber &

Hardware, Frisco, Tx.; v.p. Joe Orem, Orem Lumber, Bellingham, Wa.; v.p. Roger Scherer, Scherer Bros., Brooklyn Park, Mn., and treas. Jim Wiswell, Barry County Lumber, Hastings, Mi.

Most members also got to meet for the first time NLBMDA's new lobby- ist, Allynn Howe, at the Past President's luncheon. Howe introduced political consultant David Doah whose liberal presentation met with a rather cool reception from the overwhelmingly Republican audience.

About 170 members and 100 spouses attended the 76th annual Oct. 1-4 at the Pointe on South Mountain Resort, Phoenix, Az. Next year's meeting is set for Oct. 28-31 at the Hyau Regency, San Antonio, Tx.

INCOMING National president (1) Jeny Oldch, with Jim Wswell. (2) Esther & Davij Still. (3) Sytuia & Don Johdson. (4) JoAnn & Weldbri Hunter, (5) Frank Powers, Jr., Mary Anna Powers, lke Parker. (6) Barbara & Dick Hawlhorne, Marge & Warren Wexler. (7) Lynda & Robed Adams. (8) Wayne & Kdti6 Gardner, Donna & GeorqaSwani. (g) Mark Balfour, John Laird. (10JLes Sandert,'Frank Solinslcy, Don Johnson. -

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80 Years And 3 Generations Later...

Lumber yards come and go in Northern Califomi4 but Mead Clark Lumber Co., Santa Rosa, just keeps on going.

This year marks the company's 80th anniversary. "We've helped build our community for 80 years," said Mead Clark vice president Randy Destruel.

It was 1912 when founder Mead Clark opened a new, modem lumber yard on four acres at Third and Wilson streets. He used motorized Eucks to deliver redwood that was shipped in by train from mills along the Russian River.

In 1920, Elie Destruel hired on as a clerk and worked his way up to right hand man. When Clark died in 1944, Destruel bought half the business from Clark's widow, and when she died in 1953, he bought the other half.

Jean "Dusty" Destruel became president in1979, and his sons Randy and Kevin help run the business today.

The Destruels moved their main yard from Third and Wilson to Hearn Avenue in 1987 and opened a second yard in Petaluma in 1990. Since the move to Hearn, the company's sales volume has doubled.

"Ever since we've been in business, we have been a contractor-oriented yard," said Randy. "That was Mead Clarks focus in 1912, and it's what we do today." Business is about 90Vo contractor. 107o homeowner.

The company offers a wide selection of lumber and hardware, both of the quality and type contractors and homeowners require. They have enough lumber on hand at any given time to build 150 o 200 homes.

With a staff of 105 and 25 delivery trucks, the company has an outstanding record of quality service to Northern California.

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Hem-Fir Hemlock Douglas Fir GREEN

IIYSTERIES of pressure treated wood were addressed by Henry Voorhe€s, J. H. Baxter & Co., and Jolin Snehd, California Cascade In' dusiries. at the Lumber Association of Southern Calilomias Second Growth meeling Sept.29 in Anaheim. Ca. (1)John Snead. Tirdd Pollard, Anaheim, (1)John Snead, Henry Voorhee's. (2) Kathy Kahler, Miguel Voorheei: (2) Hernlndez. (3)Mike Gadty, Don l9v.€.r1. (4) Joe McGuhe, Charlie Kenhedy, (5) Wayne Gardner. Pete Ganahl, Bob Barnard, Dvlan Gardner, Petb Barnhrd, Dylan Fast. (6) Dave Wulbrechl, Bob Bader. (7)Tim Stewah,'Gary Marotta. (8) Patti Coble-Mike Kemp,-Jaylee Fast. (9) Frank Peterson, Ed OCoble, Mike iank Peterson. OL Coniell.

Still More Western Mills Close

Mills closures and cutbacks in the West continue to mount, all blaming lack of timber.

Louisiana-Pacific delivered a 60 day notice for closing its Oroville, Ca., sawmill for an indefinite period of time, eliminating 80 jobs. The Oroville hardboard plant is unaffected.

"Our own timbedands in the area can only supply enough timber to run half of the Oroville mill for a single shift," said western div. gen. mgr. Bob Simpson.

Davidson Industries, Mapleton, Or., curtailed production 50Vo by permanently elininating its second shift and laying off a third of its workers.

Miller Redwood Co. eliminated the second shift at its Crescent City, Ca., sawmill and presented a 6Gday notification to its employees and state and federal authorities that it will likely close completely.

The fate of the remaining 75 jobs depends on the 30,000 acres of Millerowned timberland in the area, which is capable of producing enough logs to keep one shift at the mill operating on a sustained yield basis.

"Unfortunately, the Board of

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Sales - Bob Noilon

Phone: (503) 874-2236

FAX (503) 874-2123

P.O. Box 7

Riddle, Oregon 97469