Distribution Outlook

S. M. Van Kirk rvith NBN,IDA Irxccutive menrbr'ts lround vicr presidenl the cotllltrv. I think t cln slteNltional Building 11, stltc t[at tIcl\latcrial indLrsl ry. as wcll l)rstributors,\ssn. es tl)e coLlntrV us l rvlrole. is hlppl' to scc 1975 [rccorne history. 'l'he r-conornic nclvs ol'latc hls tlken r dccirlt'd tuln 1ir. the bct tct Not ail ol tlle strtisticul repolts ure lnvorable , not [-r1'anv nrL'rrns. bLrt tltcre is ceftliilrlV l rt.ruch bcttcr tonc to lltc ccolonrie ric*'s tllrn blck arotrrrd tlrc turn ol'1lrc vear \\'ltcrr lll tlrc ncrvs was so dishcarterring. .end irr rcccnt n'rontlrs nrcrnbcrs lltvc repot'1t'd sottte r.rptultl trt'nd in sltlt's.

l i ri c lire t o nr in inr izc oLt r clltnces of'nrislcadittg *'lrcrc *'e ls ln indttsltt' rvill be' r)ext yclf ut this limt'. u'c ltav.' to bcgirr our lirrcclsting cilorts rvillr lu eurclirl lnulvsis of bollr ottr goals Irrrrl tlrc problcnrs that stlncl irt ottr wlly -

Ol grert conccnr to NIll\ll)A iu thc vclr ahcld lvill be the inse nsate acliorts rrl the "Spcnd-O-Nlanircs" in Wrshington. and tlrc neccssitt,to hold dowrt torthconring constnlction union dernands lirr' lr igher lvlgcs. rvidell rc-qrldcd as u hig contributor to irtllation. llou'cver. tutuf c polit icll and ecorrorrrrc prcssurcs rvill dctcrrttine the rvlrolcsale distributors lbilitv to perlirlnr on a prol'itable blsis. Why bc obligcd tc'r cirnrnr it to incrcuse d invcrttoll'rvithoLrt tlre pronrisc ot ln lreccp t:rble, xppr opr iatc r otu r n'l

The indcpendcrrt building mlterial distribulor has in thr- past d()ne well dr.rring rccessionurl'pcriods. us tlte retail dr'uler uses tlle local rvatchrrttsc ior his dlr'-t o-da,r: needs.

Story at a Glance

Recent uptrends in sales, plus more heartening economic news generally augers well for '76 . caref ul analysis of goals and Droblems is essential to avoid misreading the news.