Southern Coliforniq Door lnstitute Foces lts Problems

Southern California door manufacturers and distributors are moving into the heavy house-building season with one eye on the weather and the other on a rather sorry last-quarter profit picture. Local distributors, particularly, are wondering if the "worst is over" and if some semblance of business stability can be expected in the near future, declares John Eells (left), vice-president in charge, Davidson Plywood and Lumber Co., Los Angeles, and former officer of the Southern California Door Institute.

The past 60 to 90 days have seen a downward spiral in prices that appeared to represent a more serious decline than the recent labor dispute and subsequent rainy season would justify. In the face of a market demand that indicates a full-scale utilization of doors beyond the capacity of local manufacturers to provide, sorne distributors have taken another look at their "hole card" with the idea that perhaps the sales effort is not worth it, Eells believes.

This condition presents a business phenomenon inasmuch as other fields within the building industry ap-

SCDI Heod Sees Good Yeqr

Louis Fidler, 1956 president of the Southern California Door Institute and manager of the Inglewood operation of Fidler's Manufacturing Co., who is a wellknown pioneer woodworking executive, said: pear to be enjoying good volume and reasonable profits. ft is not unlikely that if profits during the next quarter do not improve some distributors will withdraw from this intensely competitive ma,rket, he said.

"I feel that this year will go down in history as one of the greatest production years ever enjoyed in the door manufacturing business. It will not only be an excellent year for all of u"s, but I feel sure we in the industry shall work together to measure up to the standards of the Institute and help the growth of this great state of ours. We fellorv members of the Southern California Door Institute will have an excellent opportunity to cooperate and join hands for the good of the fraternity and of ourselves," declares President Fidler.

Local information indicates that capacity to produce doors locally is growing. These doors are of the hollou-core type utilizing imported plywood for door faces. There is no indication that the market cannot absorb some increased production. lfowever, there are unmistakable indications that house-building production is gaining on demand, said Mr. Eells.

An entirely difierent picture exists in the institutional field. Here the demand for doors, of architectural specifications is