'Be q illerchqndiser to Succeed in Yqrd,' President of WesternRetoil Lumbermen Tells Seottle Hoo-Hoo

"Be a merchandiser of building materials and allied lines if you want to succeed in the retail lumber business," Morris S.-Tarte told western Washington dealers and members of Seattle Hoo-Hoo Club 34 at its February 25 meeting at the Washington Athletic Club. Dealer Tarte served as 1958-59 oresident of the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association, which had just concluded its 56th annual convention in Portland the week before. As secretary of Columbia Valley Lumber Company of Bellingham, Washington, and manager of its ten retail yards, he spoke with the authority of 23 years in the lumber business.

To the above theme, Tarte admonished members to observe the following objectives :

"Build an organtization-management team that provides efficient administration and succession of man-power."

"Be a constructive factor in every community in which you do business."

- "Win ancl maintain leadership in your chosen field. Among other things, give unexcelled service ancl an adecluate range of good quality merchandise, and price consister.rt therewith."

"Work for the improvements of standards and practices in the industry. Be ready, ahvays, to give others in the industry the benefit of your experience on the theory that a strong competitor is a good competitor."

Tarte reviewed the changes that have come about during the past quarter-century in the lumber business. He pointed out tl.rat in the middle 1930's, ffi/o of the average retail Iumber dealer's business was in lumber and cedar shingles, u'itl-r the balance in paint, hardware, millwork, rolled roofing and a ferv u'allboard items.

"Today, this is what the inventory of a diversified retail Iumber yard operation woulcl look like: h.tmber approxi- rnately 3l/n, cedar shingles less than I ol l/r, tvallboatd (including plyrvood, insulation board, insulation and plasterboard) I5/o, roofi.nC a%, millwork 8/c, paifi 4/c, hardwate 7%%, cement 2o/o, electrical 12/c, plumbing 1/c, floor covering l/c, suuclries 9c/o (plaster, brick, flue-lining, coucrete blocks, etc.).

"During the past trverrty years, mauy iten.rs have been