NRLDA Directors Meeting

(Continued from Page 4) with other agencies, including the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission on anti-trust and fair trade regulations, Department of Agriculture on farm building and grain storage problems, and the Bureau of the Census on development of statistical facts helpful to the industry.

After a day of committee sessions, the meeting opened with management conferences on "How to Meet a Declining Sales Volume" and "Employee Incentives." At the forme: conference, it was agreed that many dealers easily can offset any drop in sales to the housing market by going c,ut after business aggressively, spending their advertising dollars more wisely, stressing better employee training, and placing greater emphasis on package selling.

Russell Nowels, Chairman of the Merchandising Committee, who was arvarded a Lincoln Plaque in recognition of his outstanding services to the industry, urged members to use the new Merchandising Calendar as a guide to higher volume and better p:ofits. Pointing out that the Calendar lvas developed by a large number of successful and experienced dealers, he said that it will help any dealer to do a superior job of merchandising.

Phil Creden, Chairman of the Public Relations Commi'.tee, announced that a new type of contest would be held in 1954 in which awards will be made to members who submit the best entries describing either good public relations work in their communities or activities which combine outstanding merchandising along with good public relations.

He also urged dealers to get ready to offer a high grade of service to the growing number of how-to-do-it customers, pointing out that dealers who neglect that important source of volume not only will lose sales but also may give their yard and their industry a black eye.

NRLDA's Public Relations Dire.ctor, Everett B. Wilson, whose department is helping develop the association's merchandising, training, and educational programs, reported that the N{inute Man program was being continued and that the public will be kept fully informed about NRLDA's viewpoints on federal legislation and other matters and about the indispensable services which the industry performs..

He urged dealers to make full use of the Dealer Training Manual as one of the best rvays to maintain sales and profits and reported that future chapters of the Dealer Operating Guide u'ould deal u'ith Sales Management, Advertising Techniques, Accounting, and Orderfilling and Delivery, together with product chapters on nails, paint, asbestos products, and asphalt products.

In addition, he told the members that full details of the program for coordinating the advertising of dealers and manufacturers four times during 1954 rvould reach them soon.

Mr. Wilson also said that NRLDA is continuing its efIorts to develop a pattern u'hich r,vill enable a maximum number of dealers to participate in management confer€lrces at a minimum cost.

\\,'. C. Bell, Chairman of the Educational Committee, described management conferences as a vitally important factor in helping members keep abreast of modern operating and merchandising techniques and as an indispensable tools in the industry's fights for its proper share of the consrlmer dollar.

A report on the u'indou' study conducted by the Small Homes Council of the University of Illinois will be ready soon, according to a report by Clarence Thompson, Chairman of the Lumber Dealers Research Council, which sponsored the project. I\{r. Thompson also reported that the study of the pre-cutting and pre-assembly of parts for small homes is about to get under u'ay and that LDRC is taking preliminary steps toward a study of mechanical handling and yard and office layout.

Bill Burnefte Footboll Hero

Lloyd Webb, softwood manager for E. J. Stanton & Son, Inc., Los Angeles wholesale lumber concern, advised upon his return from Marysville, California last month that young Bill Burnette, son of George Burnette, prominent Marysville lumberman, had been injured during one of the first football games of the season but was now back in active play with Marysville High. Bill has been a star with his high school team for two seasons and is a versatile player in several positions. His father is president of Burnette Lumber Sales of Marysville and well knorvn in Southern California, having spent over 25 years with E. J. Stanton & Son, where he learned the lumber business from the vard up.

Offices: Eureko, Gollfornlo; Eugene, qnd Gronts