Deqlers Cqn Help Good Couse (ond Themselves) By Stoging

Open House qt Yords During Notl. Forest Products Week

Many forces will be at work during National F'orest Products Week, October L6-22, to focus the public's attention on forest products and the industry throughout the United States and Canada. The lumber dealer can use this to his own merchandising advantage-and, at the same time, add his part to the over-all progiam, by holding an Open llouse during the "week,"

By highlighting his wood products and forest products, he can capitalize on consumer interest now being created by the impact of the National Wood Promotion Program. October, the start of the slow season, is a good time for such extra merchandising effort. F urther-the occasion of National F'orest Products Week is an opportune time to introduce your customers and the public to the latest developments in forest products and modern techniques for wood construction which are designed to capture new business.

It all arlds up to a very favorable cllmate for the oxtra-special effort of a,n Open Housg which will bring customers and profits to the dealer.

An Open House must be something special. It should make use of decorations, placards and displays in such a way that it has a festive air about it. The objectives

-First, to get people to come and be interested! Then to piomote and sell Forest Products; to make new customers and thank old customers; to create good-will for the firm, and emphasize its place of importance in the community.

Open House merchandising brings results. Hundreds of Open House techniques have been developed by retailers with proven success. The suggestions below will present ideas for use, as they fit the circumstances:

PLANNING. Most important. Hold a planning session with your whole staff. fnvite cooperating suppliers. Discuss a wide variety of ideas, select those you will use, assign responsibilities, schedule the preparations,

METIrOD OF INVIATION. Newspaper advertising, radio, TV, direct mail, letters to regular customers and selected prospects.

DECORATIONS. Give it a festive airinside and out. Make use of lively colors in paper streamers, posters, banners.

-Highlight some of the full-color ads of the NWPP from Life J['f.agazine.

-Highlight other attractive wood promotion material.

-Posters can be an important part of your decorations, but carry merchandising messag:es too.

-Make National I'orest Products Week banner for outside display.

A unique cross-country air tour, emphasizing the importance of National Forest Products Week, oct. 16-22, has been planned by The Pacific Lumber Company, largest producer of California redwood lumber products. Carl w. 8ahr, Vice President, Sales, announces that "Palco-Panorama" will consist of a whirlwind two-week flight into ap- proximately a dozen states.

Lumber dealers, builders and architects will be invited to view displays of wood products of today, and possible developments for the future. The flight sched. ule for "Palco-Panorama" will be from September 25 to october 8.

Pacific's high-speed Super Ventura airplane will carry portable dis- plays with wood sam- ples representing more than a hundred PALCo specialties in redwood, DouSlas fir, and plywood, developed through PALC0 research to achieve fuller utilization of its timber crops, and to Drovide dealers with a diversified line of spe- cialty forest products. Photos and informational material will be made available to members of the lumber industry at each stop, to provide localized publicity on

-Employes should wear distinctive apparel or headgear for the occasion, Checkered shirts, logger's hard hats, what-haveyou, something unusual or festive.

THEME. It may be desirable to select a theme, like the suggested "F'orest Products Fair," Decorations, costumes and all events can tie-in to this theme.

EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS. Don't attempt to feature all of your line of forest products. Select a few items that are most appealing, most modern, and that you are most interested in pushing. Highlight these in attractive treatment. Where possible, get your supplier to assist in preparing the displays. Posslble displays lnclude:

-Eye-catching display of wood-paneling enhanced by adding an attractive painting

Hove You Crot YOUR "Gvide"?

In cese you did not receive, or have already worn out your persona,l copy of the "Gulde for Natlonal Forest Products Week," copies a,re available from the lfoo-Ifoo fnternationa,l lilood Promotion Committee, 1507 21st St., Sacrarnento. Calif. The valuable 4page fdea shoet encourages the wood products industry to join with HooHoo Interna,tional in observance on as broad a base as possible for the grdater good of the entire industry.

National Forest Products Week, and the sig- nificant advances being made by the lumber industry in research and forestry. At each stop, the display of forest products will be arrayed id the local airport hangar, with the PALCo plane adjacent, to provide refreshments for visitors. Larry Sabey, eastern sales manager, Bill Van Beckum. head of PALCo researih, and other members of research and sales will accompany Eahr on the trip. and placing one piece of furniture in front.

-Moderrr techniques such as components, prefab trusses, open ceiling'beam-roof decking designs.

-Recreation rooms of wood.

-Moulding strips mounted in distinctive design on doors to add appeal and style.

-Highlight specific wood products-lad-

Oneofthemostpopularservicesweoffer Another opportunity for sauing: you can are timed pick-ups that allow dealers to always order one or a group of items in pick up an order at our yard for direct any quantity. This applies to all species, delivery to the customer's job site. This to plywood, to finish and dimension, and eliminates the cost of in-and-out han- many other lumber products. It means dling at the dealer's yard. It also saves you can keep your inventory trimmed taxesandinsurancebecausedealersusing down, eliminate slow-moving items. this service can carrv a lower total in- When an order comes for an item not in ders, garden furniture, etc.

-Do-it-yourself items. Cabinet,'boat, picnic table, tool bench, etc.

-Prefab Vacation home. Prefab tool shed.

-F orest Products Week specials. A real bargain in a specialty line.

-Display describing where various grades of lumber can be used in home construction.

-Displays illustrating the effective use of paints and finishes to add to the decorative appeal of wood paneling.

-Historical display. ff yours is a longestablished firm.

-Demonstrations Instruction. These can either be combined with exhibits, or can be. shown before an audience in a special seating area at scheduled times. Again, sup- pliers can cooperate. Demonstratlons can Include:

-Demonstrations of shop craft with wood;

-Application of wood paneling-finishing wood paneling;

-Instructions in do-it-yourself carpentry;

-F ilms and slides. Particlrlarly wood houses in all stages of construction.

-Classes in carpentry for children.

--Fashion and lumber show for ladiesthis has been done with success.

-Demonstrations of new techniques in wood construction.

-Special evening schools can be announced and conducted.

-Demonstrations on selecting the right grade of lumber for the right job.

GM-AWAYS. Those who attend your Open House are your invited gUests. Serve "them Coffee and the children Punch. Per-

Activity for National tr'orest Products Week is now snowballing on many fronts as the program enters its final preparatory month before the October 16-22 celebration. State chairmen have been appointed in the U.S., and for all provinces of Canada.

Hoo-Hoo fnternational serves as org'anizational body for the industry program under direction of Snark of the Universe R. IV. Scott. In Canada, the program is directed by a Committee for Canada headed by Les Mcltfunmle, Toronto, vice-chairman of the Hoo-Hoo International Wood Promotion Committee and Supreme 9 member.

ARIZONA

Walter T. Howard

Lumber Merchandisers Assn.

4740 N. Central Ave., Phoenix

ARKANSAS

W. E. Tiller

Ark. Wood Products Assn.

Little Rock

CATIFORNIA (Northern California)

Bernard B. Barber. Jr.

1833 Broadway, Fresno (Southern California)

Harvey W. Koll

H. w. Koll Mill & Lbr. co.

1707 W. 49th St., Los Angeles 62

COLORADO

W. 0. 0. D.. Inc.

2106 Tower Bldg., Denver 2

GEORGIA oertell Collins

Forest City Lumber Co.

1026 owinnett St., West; Savannah

HAWAII

Clint Hallsted

P. O. Box 3829, Honolulu 12

IDAHO Robert W. 0lin Potlatch Forests, lnc.

Lewiston (Northern ldaho)

Mrs. Beatrice oavis Potlatch Forests. Inc.

Lewiston (Southern ldaho)

Harold Thomas Rilco Laminated Products

5727 Hnl Road, Boise

NLtttA Offers Kit

A press kit for National Forest Products Week, Oct. 16-22, has been prepared by the National Lumber Manufacturers Assn. and is available on request. The kit was assembled with the help of the NLMA member organizations and several related groups. For your copy, write to: Al Hattal, Manager, Industry Information Dept., N. L. M. A., 1319 18th St., N.W., Washington 6, D.C.

haps use paper cups with company name imprinted. Give-away yardsticks or other small articles of woodpencil, matches, rulers. For children, add to the testivity !V giving paper hats with company name and wood promotion message, "Build Better with WOOD," or balloons with message. And a must for children-the wood-promoting book, "Our Dailtly Is a Lumberman." Available by writing Kitty Kat Press, P.O. Box 815. l-resno, California. For adults-the NWPP brochure in attractive color, "LlvabllltSr Unlfunlted." One look and your customers want WOOD. Also offer other wood-promotion literature available from the various associations.

PRIZDS. To attract people to the Open House-to get them to come back againand, to create a sense of excitement, drawings for prizes are an important feature. Prizes should be Forest Products, including, of course, wood-working tools with wood handles or grips. Ideas for prize award.s include:

-GRAND PP"IZFj,, Each visitor to re-

COilGNESS PASSES IIATIONAT FONEST PNODUCTS WEEX RESOTUTIOI{ fn the U. S. A., the program is coordinated by Jack S. Berry, 2118 P Street, Sacramento 16, Calif., chairman of the Hoo-Hoo International Wood Promotion Committee.

Mortimer Doyle, National Lumber Manufacturers Association representative, announces that the joint resolution of Congress (S.J. 209) declarlng a "National Forest Products Week" was passed and is being sent to President Eisenhower for his signature. A Presidential Proclamation is assured.

The purpose of the resolution is to designate the 7-day perlod beginning on the third Sunday in october as National Forest Products Week.

Throughout both Canada and the U.S., a

M ISSISSIPPI ceive ticket. Name deposited with stub. Winner announced at end of the "Week." Prtze-a room re-done in wood panelinga patio-a prefab g'arden tool house---etc.

-DAILY PRIZES. Drawn each morning and numbers posted on blackboard. Must come into yard to check on winning numbers to claim prize.

-HOURLY PRIZES. F'or those attending at certain times of the day. Tickets may be mailed, Recipients must come in to check and claim prize.

CONTESTS: To enliven the Open House, contests can be held. Advertise these. They may include:

-Nail driving contest. Separate events for children, women, men.

-Sawing contest-children.

-Children's woodworking contest, To be announced several weeks ahead. prizes awarded for best entries. Birdhouses for 6-10 year olds-magazine racks for 10-12 year olds, etc.

Consider installation of public address system for music and spot announcements -boosting special items, promoting forest products, announcing events. ff you get the small children-you get their parents. Consider special attractions for children: broad appeal has been made for participation by all organizations, firms and individuals who have a stake in the Forest Products industry. The response developing in most areas is adding efrective impact at local levels.

-Pony rides.

-Miniature amusement rides-available from concessionaires.

-Puppet sholvs-msny Women's Clubs have such shows available. (Write in some wood promotion lines.)

Ifave a guest book for your visitors to sign-name and address. Use this list for future follow-ups.

State and Province chairmen are encouraging participation at local levels to build organization and coordinate activities. in their areas. Through their efrorts, the potential of this first annual National Forest Products Week is becoming an effective force throughout the two nations.

The State Chairmen include:

ILLINOIS

Edward J. Roche

2101 S. Canal St., Chicago

INDIANA

Calvert W. Brand

522 Jackson St.. columbus

IOWA

Claude Taylor

P. 0. Box 876, Des Moines 4

KANSAS'

M. A. Aldrich

Washington & Indianapolis

Wich ita

KENTUCKY

Robert L. Allen

P. 0. Box 624. Louisville I

LOUISIANA

T. F. Mathes

Natl. Bank of Commerce Bldg.

New orleans 12

MAINE

Burton E. warren

Wildwood Blvd.. Portland

MASSACHUSETTS

Walter Webb 73 Cornhill St., Boston

MICHICAN

Larry Markey

27220 Santa Barbara

Lathrop Village

M INNESOTA

Dave Taylor

J. F. Taylor Lumber Co.

Marshall

MrssouR I

Dr. R. H. Westveld

School of Forestry

Univ. of Missouri. Columbia

C. E. Klumb, Jr.

P. O. Box 391, Crystal Springs

MONTANA

Brooks Robinson

Grogan-Robinson Lumber Co.

Great Falls

NEBRASKA

Paul R. Ely

221 West Front North Platte

NEVADA

H. E. Norton

P. 0. Box 1507, Reno

NEW MEXICO

Edward Wood

4100 4th St., N. W., Albuquerque

NEW YORK

Joseph C. Evans

1698 Genesse St., Buftalo

NORTH DAKOTA

L. Briggs

P. 0. Box 1540, Fargo

OKLAHOMA Joe Peek

P. 0. Box 21, 0klahoma City

OREGON

Joseph Adair, Jr.

520 SW 6th st.. Portland 4

SOUTH DAKOTA

Don Knecht

Buildlng Materials Distrs, Rapid City

TEXAS

J. Kirby Herndon

P. 0, Box 1719, Houston I

UTAH Lile R. wood

33rd & State, Salt Lake City

WASHINGTON Robert W.Anderson, Jr.

P. 0. Box 1525. Tacoma 1

WYOMING

Palmer J. Blact

423 E. 16th St., Cheyenne

In addition, Southern California State Chairman Harvey Koll has appointed the following members to his staff, helping the National F orest Products Week program by their respective areas:

R. B. Saucke

Cresmer Manufacturing Co.

2601 Third St.. Riverside

E. E. Steahr

Ambrose Lumbet Company

Santa Barbara

Bud Curran

Frank curran Lumber Co.

Santa Ana

Ben Bartels

Peoples Lumber company ventura

V, M. caoesius

San Diego Lumbermen's Assn. 1348 E Street San Diego