Cqtch the Christmos Trqde With frlore Lumber ond Plywood Sqles

DFPA Offers Pqtterns for New Pqste-on Notiviry Scene

LUlr-DERs

"li"','"oJ",""t;iil,:il.tTll"T:i;"i.'J,''vornish' Cliristmas business fr-rr lumber clealers u'ho t'uerchanclise Douglas Fir Plyrvood Associatiott pzrste-otr patterns for outcloor clecorations s1-roulcl be evert better this year than last. The DFPA has adclerl a ne\/'set of patterus for a cornplete Nativity scetre to the familiar Sarrta Claus, sleigh, arrd reittrleer offered in Previotts years.

Components of tl're 1S-piece Nativity Sceue are the Christ Child, Nlary, Joseph, the three \\'ise IIen. three shellhercls, a cherub, arrcl the traclitional atritnals, irrcluclir.rg :r camel. Like other DFPA patterns, these are prirttecl otr heavy paper in fu1l sunfast color. The big sellirrg ltoint is that rro painting is required: all the customer l'ras to clo is paste the pattern to a panel of exterior lir plr'u'oo<I. cttt atttttucl the eclges, and apply a coat of clear plastic r-aruish.

Simplest Kind of Pattern

DFPA research has shorvtt this tylte of ltattern goes over best 'ivith most clo-it-yourselfers becattse of its simplicity. This is borne out by patterrt sales fiq'trres siuce the ltrogram u,as started in 1956. Last year, 330,000 patterrls u'ere clis- tribrrterl; this topped the year before by more than 200(/o. A few Nativity scene patterns \\'('re test urarl<eted last year, arr<l results inclicate tl're trerv patterus n'ill join the traclitional cnt-outs as best-sellers for clealcrs u,ho tuerchanclise them this year.

DFPA Has Sales Aids for Dealers

;\ l<it of merchar.r<lising aicls to help dealers move patterns olT the sheh'es u'ill be offered by DFP'\ again this year. It irrclucles four aclr'ertising mats-three protnotirrg the traditior.ral Santa, sleieh, aud reincleer, attd otre featuring the neu' Nativity scerle; anrl 500 eacl'r of tu'o envclope stuf-

California Dealer Builds Christmas Profits

Last year a clealer in S:rtr Carlos, Califorrria, tlre Brttce Bauer l-umber Conrpany, ntcrcharrrlisctl the DFI'A l)atterlls aggressivell. atr<1 iucrease<1 fir ltlyu'ooc1 szrles rlttritrg the ncirn-rirlly clrrll Christmas seasol-t by sorne 30tfln or.er the rest of the year. Ftrrthermorc, relatecl salcs gave ltittr zrs urrtcl-t profrt as plyu.ood ancl patterns.

T(er'' elemerrts iu Battcr's promotiolr \\-ere a large ltrrllinorrs sign arlr'ertising the Christnras cttt-ortts, prominently <lisplar-ed 2-1 hottrs a da-r'; and fivc completc st'ts of the figrrrcs, placetl in tire varcl n'here customers :rrrcl passers-by corrlcln't fail to notice tirem.

Patterns u'ere offererl free'n'ith purchase of ltlvu'ood. \\'cek11' ne\\'sl)aper advertisements, ancl nr:ri lirre' ltieces seut to 300 of the store's best custotncrs, brorrght in still ntore brrsiness. The clir.rcher \\'as a cuttirrg st'rvice, at $3.00 per sct.

As a result of this hard-hitting campaign, Bauer moved about 18 d.ozen patterns and sold some 3,000 square feet of fir plywood-about ten times the previous season's volume. when Bauer had not merchandised the patterns.

fers or counter giveaways. The ad mats are suitable for the dealer to use alone, with his name imprinted, or to combine with larger ads of related products.

_ As in past years, these materials will be provided to dealers without charge.

Pattern prices to dealers are as follows : for the Santa, sleiglr, and reindeer,25c for each pattern or $2.50 per dozen ; and for tl-re complete Nativity scene, $1.00 per set o. $10.00 per dozen sets.

Orders for all Christmas patterns should be sent to Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Tacoma 2, Washington, before November 24.

And Sell Them the Power Tools, Too

A 1958 Christmas sales program, which features customer app-eal with free accessories and special gift wrapping with each p,ortable electric tool, is announced by Thor Power Tool Company, Chicago, to help dealers aird wl-rolesalers sell Thor's No. 23 l/4-inch SpeedDrill, No. 15R SpeedSander, and No. 440 jig saw as Christmas gifts.

__Six-high-quality trvist drills will be packed with each Thor No. 23 SpeedDrill, a Carbi-Grit permanent metal abrasive sheet with each No. 15R SpeedSander, ancl four metal and wood cutting blades with each No. 440 jig saw. witlr no charge to dealer, wholesaler, or customer foi these Christmas bonus accessories for Thor power tool gift buyers.

Each tool carton will be wrapped by Thor in bright Christmas packaging before shipping to dealers ind wholesalers, providing eye-catching displays in themselves.

In -additio-n, Thor's Christmas sales program inclucles colorful cardboard window and counter disilavs for each of the three tools, with a place to show tl.re aciual tool on each display. Other sales tie-ins available to dealers without charge are tool circulars for use at the counter, advertising mats, radio and TV scripts.

The entire Thor Christmas promotion will be backed by national advertising with easel reproductions of national ads available for dealer window or counter use. The Thor 2.5-amp, l/4-inch No. 23 SpeedDrill and No. l5R orbital SpeedSander already are leaders among popu- lar-priced portable electric power tools. Thor's No. ry+O ji1 saw, newest tool in the portable saw field. cuts uD to 2-irich w3od, tilts to 45 degrees, and blows cuttings clear'of the line ot cut with a unique vent design.

Low-cosf Outdoor Christmqs Mo$lon Disploys Now Avoilqble

According to recent viewer surveys of outdoor advertising-motion , displays attract and stop more traffic, for lorrger periods. than any other type. Wtrite motion displays have lor-rg been used on heavy triffic areas, their high cost prevented wide acceptance and use.

_ Now, thanks to a new service introduced by Homasote Company, every dealer can use these four fooi by six foot motion displays at an approximate cost of $25 each. Created ar.r<l .clesigned by Easi-Bild Pattern Company, the first two nrotion clisplays available contain "Chrlstmas Greetings.,' Sarrta u'aves his arm in build-it-vourself Pattern No. 762t'hile a Reindeer bounds up and down over snow-covered fields in Pattern No. 764. The motion is activated by a spe- cially-designed electric motor, connected to easy-tb-install linkage. (Illustrated below and also on Page l.)-I'o. simplify building these displays, Easi-Bild provides full-size patterns which simplify cutiing out the figure and painting in the background. By following the pattern, anyone can make like a "pro"-even on the first attempt-sinie he merely traces the pattern on the Homasote and paints in eacl-r -color in the position the pattern specifies. Thii is typi- cal of sign painteis' techniques and provides the dealer with professional-looking displays at one-tenth normal cost.

While the first two motion displays feature Christmas Greetings, other displays will bi available to per- mit using the same motor and linkage 12 month3 of the year.

Keepin-g a company name before the public is good relations and any .advertising that creates good conversation lea.ds to good business. Dealers who recognize the advertising value of these traffic-stopping displays shoulcl make arrang'ements,with parking lot operafors ancl other key locatiolrs, in order to obtain the best possible points for-featuring these displays.

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Every retail merchant, manufacturer, service and professional man is a prospect for this type of display-the lumber dealer can plan bn offering different displavs to tl-rose customers where no conflict arises as to location.

While home-owners, civic clubs, fraternal organizations, police and fire houses will all want to bu;ld these motion displays, they were primarily designed to help the lumber dealer do a better outdoor advertising job for his own place of business.

The displays measure 4 feet by 6 feet. Both are urarle of llomasote Board, which costs approximately 10c a sctuare foot. The pattern provides complete directions that simplify building and painting each display-as well as for installing the special motor and necessary linkage. The patterns are $3.00 each. The motor and linkage cost $9.50 iret for each display.

All orders for these patterns should be serrt directlv to Easi-Bild Pattern Company, Pleasantville, N. Y.

Annuol Club 9 Roundup Goes to Town, Right in Town

Nearly 200 Northern California lumbermen attended the a.m. 'til the final act by the Mason-Kahn dancers (definitely 1958 annual Roundup sponsored by San Francisco Hoo-Hoo Std. & Btr.), the Ro-undup machinery -worked 1mo-gtl.ily, Club 9 at The Village- in San Fiancisco on September 26 thanks to a lot of beforehand planning by Club 9 officials and, without an exception, they had a ball. From the start- and Roundup committeemen. ing gun out on the Sin F'ranciico Golf Club course at 11:00 The 1958 Roundup also marked a return to San Fran-