True Value Re-entering LBM

New merchandise and a new name dominated the talk at TruServ's fall market in October.

Most significantly, the co-op announced it is planning on re-entering the lumber and building materials business. While plans are still in the development stage, TruServ has already hired commodity traders and is currently searching for suppliers to drop-ship directly to members.

TruServ will also be re-evaluating its product categories and merchandise. The co-op has conducted line reviews of 25 different product categories representing more than $80 million in co-op purchases. The reviews and upcoming resets will result in more than $17 million in

Fairfield Yardbirds To Close

Yardbirds is shuttering its Fairfield, Ca., location after 13 years in business.

The store is scheduled to close Nov. 30, reducing its number of stores in Northern California from I I to 10.

The company will try to sell or lease the property.

cash and product cost savings for the co-op and members.

TruServ plans to review another 10 categories by year's end, 50 more in 2005 and complete a review in all categories by 2O07.

The company is looking to get more of its members to upgrade and modernize their stores, rather than just putting new products in old stores.

TruServ is also revamping its corporate identity by changing its name to True Value Company, effective Jan. l,2005.

"The True Value brand is readily recognized, understood and respected because it stands for quality and value and expertise," said c.e.o. Pamela Forbes Lieberman.

General manager Jim Headley said the closing is an isolated incident, and that the company as a whole has been successful. The Fairfield store failed to meet sales expectations.

"The store was holding us down a little bit, so we decided to cut the anchor and move on," Headley said.

Store owners are currentlv trvins to locate jobs for the 29 employees who will lose their jobs as a result of the closing.

This Yardbird's first closing since the chain was founded in 1975.

Residents Protest Sawmill

Residents of Dry Creek, Wa., have banded together to form a property development company in the hopes of buying a I l3-acre site that was to be the new home for a Washington Alder sawmill.

Washington Alder hopes to build a new $23 million alder sawmill.

According to Dry Creek Coalition spokesman Herman Laugallies, the proposed Dry Creek Development LLC would buy the Critchfield property for recreation and business purposes that would better serve area homeowners.

The coalition members are concerned that the sawmill would be too close to schools, and would cause traffic, pollution and noise.

Washington Alder reportedly is also currently in negotiations with another landowner for another site away from the homeowners and school.

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Stimson Buys Hauser Lake

Stimson Lumber Co.. Portland. Or.. is in final negotiations to buy Hauser Lake Lumber Operations, Post Falls, Id., which produces fingerjointed lumber and wood components.

According to Jeff Webber, v.p. of operations, Stimson plans to use the mill as an outlet for lumber culled from its other operations and for its shorter lengths of wood. It would be Stimson's third mill in Kootenai County.

Although efforts are currently underway to relocate Stimson's DeArmond Mill, Coeur d'Alene, Id., the purchase of the Hauser mill is unrelated.

The sale is expected to close this month.

lnjured Shopper Sues Depot

A man who was injured when a spool of wire fell on him while he was shopping at Home Depot, Park City, Ut., is suing the company for negligence.

David Ettin filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages for injuries he claims he suffered when shopping at Depot Sept. 4, 2003. The spool of wire reportedly knocked Ettin to the floor, causlng cuts, scrapes, contuslons, cracked ribs, a bruised leg bone, and torn ligaments in his knee.

Ettin said no one came to his aid and he remained pinned on the floor, bleeding for nearly a minute.

"In his bleeding, injured and disoriented state, and in shock, he struggled to the front of the store and was eventually helped by two managers at the Park City Home Depot," states Ettin's complaint.

Ettin claimed the employees looked at the wire spool and were surprised that it was left out in public and unattended. Ettin also claimed that the employees lifted the spool, and while they were dismantling the stand, which was not supposed to have been left on the store floor, a manager reportedly referred to the situation as an "accident waiting to happen."

Ettin is scheduled to have reconstructive knee surgery this month.

AHMA Cancels 2005 Show

The American Hardware Manufacturers Association's board unanimously voted to kill the 2005 AHMA Hardware Show in Chicago, I1.

AHMA had sponsored the National Hardware Show since 1974. but last year split with show owner/promoter Reed Exhibitions. Both had agreed to move the event from summer to spring, but Reed also wanted to relocate it to Las Vegas, Nv. AHMA, which is based in Chicago, instead decided to hold its own competing event. Its Chicago show in April, however, attracted far fewer exhibitors and attendees than did Reed's show in Las Vegas.

According to the association, it will now "proactively focus on creating alternative, optimally valuable and relevant events for its members and its industry."

"It's a tough decision because the Hardware Show has been such an important event to our members and our industry, and our association for such a long time, but that doesn't change the fact that it's the right decision," said Timothy S. Farrell, AHMA president and c.e.o. "We've always made decisions in the best interests of our members and our industry, and this is one more example. We're excited about pursuing what's most valuable to our members and our industry now and in the future, not holding on to something that was valuable to them in the past."

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