Hardware

By Otto Grigg Managing Director Pacific Southwest Hardware Assn.

tTtHE general r attitude of the retail hardware industry is one of continued increases in sales.

Although inrunning close, I W due to the continued out o condition of distributors, a continued increase in sales will be attained by the retailer hunting more for stock items.

An increased loss of available labor and service will cause the

Story at a Glance

Retail hardware sales up 20% durlng next 15 month period . more d-i-y due to lack of available craftsmen plus improved packaging, store personnel to help homeowner.

homeowner to resort to more home repairs on a do-it-yourself basis, plus the ability of homeowners to do such jobs on a greater scale because of available instructional packaging.

Lumber and Building Materials

Such conditions will continue to push sales of retail hardware and home improvement centers to new heights in 1974.

Most hardware dealers expect a strong Christmas market with most consumers buying quickly what they want and not necessarily what they need.

The general expectation would be an increase in the overall industry of about20%o durins the next 15 month period.

General Economics

(Continued from page 13) long upward demand trend tor lumber as a basic commodity, combined with the relatively optimistic outlook for the economy for 1974 should provide a good basis for our industry in the coming year.

As always there will be variations between specific items and the successful lumber executive will be required to become even more astute at anticipating these shifts and planning accordingly.