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Many companies also admitted that they have had to redefine their "bottom line" of profitability many times throughout the year. In summary, in the wholesaler's portion of the industry, it seems that there is enough business for everyone to maintain some "acceptable" degree of market share, but they wish that the days of cheaP lumber would be numbered. However, some companies report that their market shares have been actually increased over the past year, as well as their margins, by aggressively redehning that portion of the market they considered their best.

Lumber retailers were equally in agreement as to the factors of tight competition and reduction of profit margins throughout the year. Sales volumes in many building materials centers, while not reflecting an appreciable growth, did experience shifts in sales percentages of more lumber to other merchandise. The practice of drop shipping of lumber plagued many retailers around the state.