NRLDA Exposition in Chicogo, December lO-13, Will Fly Deolers on Mogic Ccrpet ro 1957 Merchondising

Wrapping up the details for the giant 3rd annual National Retail Lumber Dealers Exposition, key NRLDA leaders and Exposition Committee chairmen unanimously proclaimed at a September meeting in Chicago that this year's national dealer show will surpass all previous Expositions in business education, manag'ement help, product exhibits and colorful entertainment.

Phil Creden, Edw. Hines Lumber Co., Chicago, and General Exposition chairman, said, "The fact that our business and demonstrations programs are pinpointed three months ahead of opening day absolutely guarantees an Exposition of such size and import that no dealer can afford to miss." Ehthusiasm for the Exposition has already reached retailers everywhere. Almost a thousand hotel reservations had been received as of September 1, according to W. B. Kennedy, Jr., Attendance chairman.

A kickoff breakfast at 8 a.m., Dec. 10, at the Conrad Hilton hotel, will launch the big show, followed by opening ceremonies at the International Amphitheatre at 10 a.m. From that time on, the huge Amphitheatre will be bustling with action exhibits and clinics till Thursday afternoon, Dec. 13. In addition, morning breakfast clinics will be staged at the Hilton.

The original quota of. 192 exhibit spaces have been

3rd Annual NATIONAL RETAIL LUMBER DEA,LERS EXPOSITION

CHICAGO_DECEMBER 10-13

Timetable

8:00 A.M. to 10:@ A.M.

Management Workshops-Dealers Only

Conrad Hilton Hotel, Dec. 11-12-13

Special buses from Conrad Hilton to Amphitheatre

10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Action Clinics and Product Exhibits

International Amphitheatre, Dec. l0-1 1-12-13 ' Evening Hours

Reserved for Exposition Social Events and "Fun in Chicago"

Special Events, including Model Homes for Dealer Inspection sold, and new spaces opened for additional exhibitors, according to Martin C. Dwyer, Exposition director. fn a movi that will focus the attention of the entire building industry and the public on retail lumber dealers, the NRLDA Model llomes committee announced that three "Woman's Congress" houses are now being erected in a Chicago suburb, and attending lumber dealers will get first opportunity to see these homes, starting on Sunday, December 9.

Paul DeVille, DeVille Lumber Co., Canton, Ohio, and chairman of the Model Homes committee, said that national publicity tie-in for the lumber dealer will be coordinated with these Exposition homes. Transportation will be provided to the home sites from the Amphitheatre.

Clinics and Demonstrations

The finalized program for the Exposition includes breakfast management clinics Dec. 11-13, at the Conrad Hilton hotel; four daily action clinics and demonstrations at the International Amphitheatre, and luncheon management clinics at the Amphitheatre. In announcing this program, Watson Malone III, General Clinic chairman, said that special events will include a ladies luncheon Dec. 10, Industry Reception party sponsored by the Cook County (Ill.) Lumbermen's Association, a theatre program for ladies Dec. 12; and the NRLDA Dinner and Dance that evening.

Breakfast Clinics

The first of three breakfast management sessions is set for Dec. 11, at 8 a.m. in the Conrad Hilton hotel, where Robert A. Jones, executive secretary of the Middle Atlantic Lumbermen's Association, will show how to tie-in with the NRLDA's "Woman's Congress" Model Home program. Simultaneous with the Tuesday morning clinic, plans are being made to televise the Model Homes on a nation-wide program.

"Management Side of Merchandising," will show dealers

Doijco Deijmry Room

Gote l,otch l{o. 9 wos dcsigned to bc insrclled in q cenenl block ftnce ot the tine the lence is buih. This gives o good solid onchorcge for fhe gote lctch.

how to plan retail markup, plan for inventory, and all other aspects of successful store management. This clinic gets underway at 8 a.m., Dec 12, at the Hilton hotel. A panel of dealers will be featured.

On Dec. 13, a breakfast session at th€ Hilton will be headed by J. C. O'Malley, O'Malley Lumber Co., Phoenix, Ariz., on the subject "Profit Management.,'

O'Malley said that dealers will view for the first time a film on business management created for the retail lumber dealer. In addition, lumber dealers who have profited from scientific management methods will serve oF a panel with O'Malley.

Amphitheatre Clinics, Demonstrations

From 10 a.m. until 5 p.-. each day, the huge facilities of the Amphitheatre will house more than 200 product exhibits, plus continuous demonstrations and innumerable scheduled clinics, meetings and management luncheons.

Speaking for the giant Materials Handling program, Chairman V. Jos. Wardein, Ginter-Wardein'Lumber Co., Alton, Ill., explained that trackside unloading demonstrations from flatcars and widedoor boxcars will be made daily, in addition to afternoon materials handling meetings and "Little Theatre" films on handling methods.

From nearby bleachers, dealers will watch modern mechanical equipment unload a boxcar of packaged lumber units; two flatcars of lumber; one car each of plywood, roofing, gypsum products, board products and palletized oak flooring.

In addition, every leading type of handling device and truck will be demonstrated throughout the day in a "Model Warehouse" that will include a full-scale pole-frame shed erected on the Exhibition floor. Strapping and lumber cover demonstrations are also programmed.

Another Amphitheatre highlight that will be opien throughout. each day is a spectacular, full-size 35x90-ft. Profit-Maker Model Store, complete with store front.

More than 60 manufacturers are cooperating in erection of the store, with all displays filled with actual merchandise. New ideas in home planning departments as well as latest self-service fixtures will be featured. Automatic tape recorders will be hooked to all displays, so that dealers can obtain full data on each new idea in the store, on the spot.

Two morning clinics are scheduled for the Amphitheatre to be repeated each day from 10 a.m. until noon. These include "Component Parts" Action clinic and ,.How to Merchandise Power Tools."

Donald Kovar, Joseph Lumber Co., Chicago, told the conference that every new house component, including pre-assembled roof, wall and floor panels will be pre-cut on a specially-built theatre stage at the Amphitheatre, while dealers watch from bleachers. "Component kitchens, with cooking equipment built into the cabinets" will be unveiled here for the first time by major appliance manufacturers.

In the aim to show the dealer how to supply ..parts, instead of pieces," many entirely new ideas in pre-cutting at the lumber yard will be explained, said Kovar. Fred Dill of Dain & Dill Lumber Co., Carmel, N. Y., is chairman of the Component Action Clinic, with Carl Norcross, executive director of House & Home, and Raymon Harrel, direc-

Ar rhc Septembcr NRTDA Expo:ilion plonning mcrting (lefi ro right): l. A. Schoub, Poul DeVillo, Joreph H. OrcndorF, ond thc H&HFA'T tor of Lumber Dealers Research Council. All components will remain on display in the afternoon for inspection. Also each morning, at the Amphitheatre, dealers will learn how to succeed in the power tool business, according to William E. Wannemaker, Gee Lumber Co., Chicago, who heads a merchandising committee of power tool manufacturers.

In a two-hour school, the power tool market will be illustrated, followed by experts who will detail every phase of displaying, advertising, rental and sale of more power tools in the lumber yard store. Manufacturers will demonstrate the newest power tools in their individual booths.

Management Luncheons

Two-hour luncheon programs at the Amphitheatre are scheduled for Dec. 10, 11, 12. Monday's luncheon topic is "Successful OHI Experiences," chairmaned by Robert Blackstock, who said that he will explain the procedures used in Seattle that have resulted in a 35/o increase in home improvement permits in that city this year compared to 1955. Other dealers will also tell how to tie-in with the Operation lfome Improvement campaign, including actual sales histories.

A new addition to the management clinics is "ReadyMix Opportunities," Deo12, at the Amphitheatre. T. Merritt Ludwig, of Merritt Lumber Yards,' Reading, Pa., chairman, said that dealers can learn what to consider before going into the ready-mix business; type of plants; type of trucks; personnel pointers; financing of ready-mix business; and state and federal requirements for readymix concrete. Lumber dealers who now have successful ready-mix departments of various sizes will reveal their operating successes. Experts from plant and truck producers will also be on hand.

Harold J. Esser, of Long-Bell Lumber Co., Kansas City, Mo., will head the "Profitable Kitchen Remodeling" management luncheon on Dec. 11. Esser said that a panel of dealers will tell how to merchandise kitchens, how to advertise, how to install, how to operate a kitchen modernizing department.

H. R. Northup, executive vice-president of the NRLDA, complimented the committee members for their exemplary planning, and urged dealers to make reservations early. Registration fee is $15 for all four days; or $5 on a daily basis. Advance registrations can be made to W. B. Kennedy, Jr., Attendance Chairman, National Retail Lumber Dealers Association, 302 Ring Building, 18th and M Streets, N.W., Washington 6, D. C.