Retail

Ra zzl e Da zzl e and the Pearson Sc hool

One of our favorite subjects, John Pearson. owner of Pearson Lumber Companv at Pleasarrt Hill inear \\'alnut Creek. California I is at it again.

Last summer it was a guessing contest. John built an iceberg in his yard out of ten tons of it:e. Winrrers were those who guesscd t'losest to the date the "iceberg" would melt. Winners, of course. received variou,* gifts such as merchandise orders. discounts" good only at Pearson Lumber Company.

Then there was the ping-pong drop. Try this for size. Why not hire a helicopter and scatter 50.000 Jring-pong balls (marked with various discounts when presented at your yard) o\-er your communitv? Why of coursel Why didrr't we think of that before ?

Seriously. the "ping-pong drop" was one of John's most profitable promotions . that is until Lr. S. Gypsum rep Martin Phillips and John decided to start a school. Ilut let's tell it in John's words.

"We acquired a fi{ty-year-old home that \t'as to be removed to make room for a freeway. Cot the shack for nothing, but

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it cost $225 to move it to the yard. This was done for publicity efiect, not because we thought we could save anything by using it as a hasis of a house. Actually it woukl have becn cheaper to start from scratch. but the advertising value was good.

"Oncc in the yard, we advertised a 'back to sr:hool' promotion starting on October 5 with architectural design (courtesy of Design Associates AIA) and ending on December 7 with cabinet installation and flooring application."

Pearson's "horv to do it school" was held every Saturday morning starting on October 5, and covered every phase of construction including the addition of a two bedroom wing to the "shack." Attendance ran about 150 per class, mostly repeaters, and a lot of women. "Women love to get in and do the work, finish the eoncreie. put up insulation, sweat copper pipe, etc.," John told us.

l3oy, just r.r'ait until we take that little gem home antl show it to the War Department !

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Although hardly any ofour customers order it by its true name, Philippine Mahogany is a big item at HigginsLumber. Over thepast83 years we've earned a reputation as specialists in this great wood. And for good reason. We consistently carry the biggest stocks on the West Coast. That means you can always get uniform color to match plywood and mouldings-andthe right texture for interior or for marine use. It's just one of 52 expertly selected hardwoods you'll find atJ. E. Higgins Lumber Company, 99 Bayshore Boulevard, San Francisco, California. VAlencia 4-8744.

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