L-M Opens Giant New $1 Million Buildins Materials Center California's Largest

f UMBERMEN'S MERCANTILE, fast be- L coming a leader in California retailing, took another giant stride last month as the firm swung open the doors to a new $I million building materials ssn1g1-1hs largest in the state.

Situated on a seven acre site in Tustin, Calif., the new center boasts a huge 50,000 square foot showroom and warehouse that will stock "everything for home construc.

tion except wet cement", according to the firm's slogan.

Coupled with their "One low price, cash and carry" selling approach to building and remodeling contractors, homeowners and farmers. L-M comes to southern California loaded for bear.

The new cash and carry store is of concrete tilt-up construction throughout with paved parking for over 200 cars out front.

CAI.IFOTNIA

A giant l0 by 20-foot sign commands attention for blocks around and it revolves atop its S0-foot standard.

A bright, all-glass store front welcomes customers to the neat-as-a-pin showroom than spans 6,000 square feet. On entering, customers are invited to "take a number" to speed-up the service.

Wide aisles allow plenty of browsing room among the displays featuring everything conceivable in building materials. 'oBuilt-in" type displays offer a complete line of kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures and appliances. Throughout the store each item is priced-marked and the emphasis is on brand name building materials.

Another unique feature of the store is the "big board", stationed behind the 45- foot long service counter. Here specials of the week are listed and priced, similar to a stock quotation board in a brokerage office.

Nestled in one corner of the showroom is the Cabins Department. L-M ofiers a line of four custom-built cabins designed for the desert, beach and mountains. The cabins range in price from $3695 to $5480, complete materials from the foundation up, F.O.B. the L-M yard.

The firm will soon erect one of these cabins in a corner of the parking lot and give it away to the lucky L-M customer whose name is drawn.

At the rear of the showroom, a sign invites customers into the warehouse where more displays of doors, paneling, and hundreds of other building materials are stacked ceiling-high. Build-your-own.load carts are stationed throughout the warehouse.

Adjacent to the warehouse is a five-car rail spur and several acres of lumber storage.

By trimming away the fat from a retail operation, L-M is able to ofier materials at rock-bottom prices. For example, the company owns no trucks, but rather uses leased vehicles when hauling is necessary. They also have no credit system, although salesmen do assist customers in arranging loans with local banks.

No newcomer to lflestern retailing, L-M was founded in lB95 in Shelton, Washington to supply lumbermen and their families in the logging camps opened up by the Simpson Timber Company in the Pacific Northwest. These early stores, much like the old-time general store, supplied not only building materials but also gioceries, soft goods and everything from chewing tobacco to hobnail boots.

The company at one time operated 13 line yards in Washington and Oregon, but these yards are being phased out one by one as the company shifts its selling concept to a "cash and carry" basis.

L-M began its California operations in (Continued, on Page 77)

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