ffililH PONDEROSA PINE

A soft-textured wood with straight, close and uniformed grain, Ponderosa Pine is unexcelled for smoothness and fine appearance when surfaced. Suitable for many purposes, it has less tendency to split than denser woods. Excellent workability; extremely paintable; tops in gluing.

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Distributors Like New Format

Reaction to the switch from table top displays to booths was positive among most of the 800 attending the National Building Material Distributor Association's 36th annual meeting.

"A couple of samples atop a table doesn't do as much (as a booth)," commented Tom Welsh, Welsh Forest Products.

"The booths are good, the right size, not too big," added Hal Huff, Sequoia Supply.

Ron Pott, RW Specialties/Western Turnings, also liked the booths, "You've got to show the product. I think the days ofjust talking to people and glad handing are over."

Over 150 booths were open for two days during the Oct. l0 to 13 meeting at Caesar's Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, Nv. Response was so good that 100 booths have already been sold for the 1988 sessions in New Orleans. Oct. 29-Nov. l. 1988. at the Hyatt Regency.

Educational sessions with their new ideas and suggestions for increasing profits in the building products industry were equally well received.

Construction Decline Expected In'88

The construction sector of the economy faces something close to an across-the-board decline next year. But most of the setbacks will be relatively small ones, leaving total 1988 construction contract valuejust 3% shy ofthis year's projected $248.4 billion, it was reported by George A. Christie. chief economist for McGraw-Hill Information Systems Co.

Weakness will be evident next year in contracting for new homes and apartments. "Residential building faces double trouble in 1988 high vacancy rates in multifamily housing, and economic insecurity for potential home buyers," Christie said. "As a consequence, total housing starts are headed for their second consecutive decline from the 1986 peak: down another 5% to I,525,000 units."

This year's setback in housing starts will produce a ripple effect in the retail building sector in 1988, with an 11% decline. Industrial building, which has failed to advance beyond a 150-million-square-foot plateau reached in 1984, is expected to remain at the same low volume of activity.

Objection Sustained

This letter is in response to Bill Fishman's "Home Center Merchant" published in the October issue of Ifte Merchant Magazine. Secondly, I have begun to question the credibility of an editorial review board that would allow such a biased and inaccurately negative presentation to be made about organizations that have viewed The Merchant Magazine as the "bible" of their industry.

Mr. Fishman's presumptious article used a forum that is designed to help and support the membership of the lumber and building materials business. In fact, his presentation was counterproductive and destructive. His statements tended only to support those who have long held that Bill Fishman is dangerously naive.

Because Mr. Fishman stated "Home Depot is by far everyone's favorite shopping experience," one would believe that Home Depots in any of the l3 states served by The Merchant Magazine would maintain the same standards. In the same breath, one might assume that all Ace Hardware stores in the 13 states would be similar to the one he depicted, which had short hours, uncaring clerks and over-priced inventory. As an owner of an Ace Hardware store, I resent his published description. If he would care to visit Lumbermen's Building Center Ace Hardware in Palm Springs, he would find his representation of Ace Hardware stores to be absolutely inaccurate.

In my opinion, Fishman's description of Dixieline Lumber was equally jaded. Dixieline's commitment to service is legendary in the Southern California home improvement market. Mr. Fishman suggests, however, that Dixieline customers were treated rather poorly. Secondly he comments that Dixieline had a limited inventory in d-i-y and household items. Contrary to Fishman's perceptions, I have found Dixieline's home improvement inventory to be extensive.

Finally, I think it is great that Bill Fishman has had the opportunity of being so close to the personnel of Home Depot that he can describe their subjective attitudes toward work. It is just too bad he didn't find the equivalent amount of time to discuss these very important attitudinal issues with the personnel of Dixieline Lumber and the Ace Hardware stores.

Bob Slettedahl President/Owner

Lumbermen's Building Center

3455 N. Indian Ave.

Palm Springs, Ca.92263

WOOD DOORS ALIVE & WELL

Recent press reports have attributed comments to NWWDA stating that wood exterior doors are losing the battle with metal and vinyl products.

While it is true that non-wood doors account for 630/o of the new residential construction market, wood doors are still the number one choice for renovation and remodeling projects with a 570lo share of market. As you may know, this market accounts for nearly 5070 of the overall market for exterior doors and is growing every year.

Wood doors are also far and away the number one choice for interior doors, making up nearly 900/o of the market in both new construction and renovation and remodeling.

John W. Shoemaker Executive Vice President National

Wood Window & Door Association

1400 E. Touhy Ave., Suite G-54 Des Plaines, Il. 60018