DANT & RUSSEII SALES CO.

. FIR-TEX HARDBOARD

. FIR.TEX ROOFDEK

SHEATHING

. DOUGIAS FIR PLYWOOD

Require: First choice, PVA stucco,27%; rubberized oil

Those dealers who replied to the survey will receive base, l3/o; oil based stucco, 9/o. For second choice, PVA complete, detailed summations of the questionnaires, plus stucco, l9/o; rubberized oil base, 16/o; oil based stucco, a reprint of editorial coverage at an early date, officials of l2%. the Crosby organization said.

In answer to a question dealing with the retail price range, and profit percentage on eleven specific types of paints, the average of the answers ranged from $4.47 per gallon to $2.68 per gallon, with profit requirements, in percentages, averaging from 29.3/o to 4I.l/o. In this same category of questions, the answers showed the majority of the dealers felt that 35/o gross profit on exterior house paints was inadequate, while 4A/o f.elt that 40/o profit on interior paints was equally inadequate.

93/o of the dealers would prefer to receive their shipments direct from a factory, if any saving could be made through this method, and 82/o stated their preference for receiving prepaid shipments, provided their landed costs were the same. As was expected, nearly 100/t ol the dealers would like a participating profit-sharing rebate.

Preference was shown for television spots, newspaper and direct mail, in that order, as the three most-favored advertising aids.

Concluding the survey, the Crosby organizalion asked what dealers would like paint manufacturers to do to help them sell more paint, and also asked for their "pet peeves" in the paint marketing business.

As refected in the beginning of this report, the most common suggestion and complaint is certainly not new: "Eliminate company-owned stores and stop selling direct to the consumer."

fhompson Joins Dont & Russell

Dant & Russell, Inc., world-wide distributors of Pacific Coast forest products, has named Donald L. Thompson assistant to F. S. Burt, lfllib has been merchandising manager s"t1'= for KPT\r in Portland. He was l l;. graduated in advertising from Uni-

; versity of Oregon in 1951. He:won "' .*r^ a scholarship during his junior year. rl ,r .-. He is a member of Alpha Delta ,J * Sigma, national professional adver-

11 months.of research and survey for an advertising agency and nine months of public information duty for the quartermaster board.

Coronq Sets Building Record

An all-time building record was established in Corona, Calif., for 1955 when the August permits brought the year's total to $2,155,901 in eight months, or already 95283 more than the previous annual record set in 1954.

Western Pine Industry Worns Mill Operolors to Merchondise

Portland-With the year's predictions for construction totals up 70/o from 1954, a high demand for lumber is expected to continue for the remainder of this year and at least early 1956, Western Pine Association members were told during their three-day se,mi-annual meeting here September 14-16.

W. E. Griffee, assistant secretary-manager of the association, estimated the year's shipments from the Western Pine region "will crowd nine billion board feet," as reported in the last issue.

Last year Western Pine region mills shipped a record of almost eight billion feet. Shipments so far this year are up l2/o from last, Griffee said.

A. L. Helmer, association president, declared there is a need for further integration of young men in the industry, and asserted mill operators too often failed to "look beyond the box car" to merchandise lumber products.

He suggested further coordination between the industry and people trained in merchandising as necessary to help the Western Pine industry retain its leadership in the building materials field.

Other speakers included Leo V. Bodine, executive vicepresident of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, and C. A. Gillett, managing director of the American Forest Products Industries, Inc. S. V. Fullaway, Jr., secretary-manager of the Western Pine Association, reported on the association's budget and finances.

Action was taken by the directors to provide funds for the expansion of the Western Pine research laboratory in Portland. A two-story addition to present facilities will increase its floor space by 60/o, and will include "two-story headroom" for experimental projects of large size. The board also examined a new paper-covered utility sheathing panel designed to provide higher grade uses for bottom grades of lumber.

In other action, the board . .

Adopted grading rules for laminated 2x4 dimension and revised rules for No. 3 Shop grade.

Decided to petition the fnterstate Commerce Commission to investigate alleged slon'-downs of eastbound loaded lumber cars, which foster "selling in transit" practices and result in car shortages.

Asked more federal, state and private foresters be trained as aerial observers to intensify aerial detection of pest outbreaks and other hazards.

Reaffirmed recommendation that company managers and foresters give special attention to enlisting timber land owners in the Tree Farm program.

Reported on a study of erosion conditions in logged areas which showed most operators take adequate measures to prevent damage from accelerated erosion.

The group's annual meeting is to be held in San Franciscso next March 8, 9 and 10. The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for Portland, September 12, 13 and 14.