Wn'rn JloaeJ !

first time.

The association's 1954 Christmas package has a total of more than 25 plans. These include decorative outdoor cut-outs and displays for home and commercial use, gifts and toys and a life-size nativity scene complete with eight figures. To make it easy on both the dealer and his customers, the plans are organized in three big sheets that fold down to a handy, shirt pocket size-one for tl-re outdoor displays, one for toys and gifts and a third for the nativity scene.

One of the unique features of the package is a detailed "merchandising plan" which outlines display ideas and sug-

(Please Turn to Page 57)

Merchondising Gontest for Deolers

To encourage maxinrum merchandising of fir plywood parallel with Douglas Fir Plywood Association's current national Christmas promotion, the association has announced a big Christmas merchandising contest offering dealers a total of $2,000 in national and regional cash awards. Any dealer who submits au outline of his own Christmas rnerchandising behind fir plywood gets a crack at the awards. In announcing the contest, W. E. Difford, managing director of the DFPA, said:

"Our merchandising kit is a 'better-than-ever' package for dealers who staged a Christmas promotion last I'ear. For dealers who have never tapped the big Christmas do-it-yourself market, it's a natural for building holiday profits. The contest is intended to encourage maximum use of the sales aids in the kit and to encourage as many other forms of fir plywood merchandising as possible."

Awards will be based on the best fir plyrvood Christmas merchandising programs outlined by entering lumber dealers. Difford said that the association's Christmas mechandising package should provide a solid base for a successful campaign but that dealers are not asked to confine themselves to these particular elements in planning programs. The package contains point-of-purchase display material, plans for 25 plywood projects with a Christmas flavor, ad mats and radio and TV ccvmmercials. Although intended to encourage use of these materials, the contest awards will be based ol ail phascs of local promotion including sales contests, premium selling methods, cooperation rv'ith community projects and all other means by which an1' alert retailer seeks to increase his prestige and sales volume. Entries will be judged by a panel of experts. The association said full details on the contest will be contained in the merchandising package now being sent to dealers who request it. Get your "gift package" right now from the Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Tacoma 2, Washington. A convenient coupon for dealers to order the package can be found on Page 6 of the October 15 issue of THE CALIFORNIA I-UMBER MERCHANT.