Xloteriol Distributors Annuol Gets Hord Fqcts

The problem of reducing operating costs in the ma^nufacture and distribution of building materials was the theme of the 9th annual convention of the National Building Material Distributors Association.

More than 807o of the membership attended the Annual in the Palmer House, Chicago, Illinois, on November 16-19.

M. L. McCreery, president of Michigan Wholesalers, Inc., Jackson, Michigan, was elected president of tJle association. He succeeds M. C. Blackstock, vice-president of Lumber Supply & Warehouse Co., Seattle, Washington. Don B. Richardson, president, Richardson Lumber Co., Denver, Colorado, was elected vice-president, and Lewis H. Jenkins, president and treasurer of Jenkins Wholesale Supply Co., Inc., North Wilkesboro, N. C., was named treasurer.

Newly elected directors of the association, for three years, are \ilinston Robertson, Lubbock, Texas; Lewis H. Jenkins, North Wilkesboro, N. C.; Palmer G. Lewis, president of Palmer G. Lewis

DOUGLAS FIR REDWOOD q nd FIR PLYWOOD

. Studs, Boords o Dimension Lumber r Plonks, Timbers o Rqilrood Ties o Industriol Guttings

Co., Seattle, Wash.; Carl E!. Miller, division mana.g:er of Wholesale Distribution Warehouses for Long-Bell Division of Interrrational Paper Company, Kansas City, Mo., and Samuel Lister, Philadelphia, Penna.

Re-elected for two year terms as directors are C. L. Johnston, Davenport, fowa; Walter G. Marsh, Detroit, Mich.; M. L. Murphey, Sioux F'alls, S. D.; D. B. Richardson, Denver, Colorado; and C. W. Walters, Somerville, Mass.

Re-elected for one year terms as directors are E. H. Fahrenkrog, St. Louis, Missouri; C. Lawrence Fenner, Rensselaer, N. Y.; R. R. Haley, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Harold C. May, Little Rock, Arkansas, and M. L. McCreery, Jackson, Michigan.

The combined facilities and salespower of Association members was reported as follows:

Numbor of warehoueoo, 678;

Number of squa,ro feet of warehouso space, 31,738,250; Nnmber of ma,nagers a,nd salesmen,2,696i

Number of employee (other than manegers and salesmen), 8,502;

Number of carloads of butlding materlals solal ln 1960, 246,864; Numbor of dolivery trucks ln operatlon, 1,00?;

Averege monthly lnventory, $147,902,710;

Total lnvestment ln leasehold lmprovements, warehouse and equlpment, $125,fi)0,000 ;

Annual sales (dollars), 9921,1?0,200.

Members attending the convention heard a report of committees at the general meeting on Wednesday. 'I'he highlights of each report follows:

Business Procedures committee-Suggested analyzation of salesmen's order pad so that it is more than an order pad; recommended use of two-way radio communication to improve service and save telephone calls; sug'gested use of tape recorder in answering incoming telephone orders.

Educational committee-Recommended for the future an examination of existing prog?ams for training salesmen. Suggested participation in programs of National Association of Wholesalers, National Sales Ekecutives, American Management Association, as well as national trade associations. Also recommended regional meetings for non-sales personnel.

Lumber and Wood Products committee-Study must be made of railroads and transportation, particularly the efrects of trucking on the industry. Suggested that it is important to bring to the manufacturers sound teasoning for sound compensation of distributors for services performed.

Marketing Trends Study committee-Reported to convention that imports are not a dangerous threat at the present time. Recommended that distributors approach project builders who do not buy from them. Also recommended that a legal committee look into the Robinson-Patman Act and suggest revisions to aid industry. Suggested that prefabrlcatlon is a buslness unto ltself a,nd belongs ln the retall lumber yard field.

EUREKA, CAtlF. o (Genercl Oftce) 630 J. 5t.

Hlllside 3-7001, TWX EK 84

Southern Coliforniq office FRontlet 5-6444 (P.O. Box 1356Torrcnce, Cqlif.)

Specialty Wholesalers committee-F'ormulated a definition of a "Specialty Wholesaler" as one who specializes strongly in one freld, as distinguished from a general line. This committee felt that specialty wholesaling is the only way to profrts and saw a trend toward distributors handling a limited number of items.

Trade Relations committee-Made a strong plea to the manufacturer to partlclpato tn locol advertlslng. Pointed out that national advertising does a tremendous job and creates a desire for