5 minute read
EDITORIAL
Soap ls cheap, so what's your excuse?
Q EVERAL decades ago, retailers began to 9 clean up and modernize when the public, especially women shoppers, began to patronize their stores as the Great D-l-Y Revolution started. Today the stores are all bright, clean and well kept.
Or are they? While most are, there are still far too many that can't pass the clean and tidy test. No segment is exempt. These remarks apply to chains big and small as well as to independents of all sizes, shapes and descriptions.
In our travels we've seen some remarkable horror stories. The aisle, designed for ease of movement, can too often become an obstacle course strewn with unopened or partially opened boxes of inventory, merchandise leaning at a 45 degree angle against the shelves, products falling out of bins and displays into the aisle. All this nicely seasoned with a generous sprinkling of cigarette butts, candy wrappers and plain old dirt. Incredibly, we've seen unopened boxes actually covered with spider webs on more than one occasion.
Walls and corners blackened with fingermarks and other scrapes, end cap displays sleeping under a blanket of dust, all contribute to an overall store appearance that falls far short of what customers find at the supermarket and other retail stores,
In some cases, the employees make their own negative contribution. Dirty clothes, unwashed appearance, finger nails that look as if they've just been out rooting around the forest floor and hair that has more oil in it than most Indianapolis race cars. As for the public restrooms, the term "third world" comes to mind.
There's no excuse for this kind of thing. A little time and elbow grease can quickly cure these failings. If management insists, that is.
Anyone purporting to sell and believe in home improvement should take a good, hard, objective look at their own store. If it doesn't pass the clean and tidy test take immediate steps to make sure it will tomorrow.
We Can Nafidle It
We're an experlenced, professlonal buildtng materlal carrler uslng all company owned equipment drlven bY company drlvers. Sosrthern Gulf has 48 state general commodlty authority, common and contract. lntrastate T€xas butlding materlat authorlty statewide. Arkansas and Oklahoma Intrastate bullding materlals authorltY.
SOUTIIDRN GULF TRUCKING'".. P.O. Box 7959, Shrevepoft, La.7ll37-7959 ('7q, 222-4706 @u)) ss7-a363
@oq 22a-2393 (La.)
62 Lowe's Retail Units In N.C.
With the opening of new stores in Garner and Kernersville, Lowe's now has 62 retail facilities in North Carolina.
Additional units being planned include a second store in Durham and a replacement unit in Wilson.
The Mount Airy store, which was relocated and tripled in size, and the Morganton store, newly renovated, recently had grand reopenings.
Southern Gulf To Texas
Southern Gulf Trucking, Inc., the expanding Shreveport, La., transportation company, has opened a new terminal in Hutchins (Dallas), Tx. The firm has also recentlv enlarged its fleet from 55 to 75 trucks.
The Dallas facility, situated on South l-45, is managed by Joe Alderson. Roland Gauthier is division manager. Southern Gulf now has facilities in Shreveport, La., Little Rock, Ar., Houston and Dallas. Tx.
Mccoy's New Arkansas Twins
Sherwood and south Little Rock, Ar., are the newest stores in the 80 store McCoy's Building Supply Centers chain.
Built on nearly identical plans, the two stores are equal in size with 15,000 sq. ft. inside and a 9,000 sq. ft. lumber yard outside. Both are geared to the do-it-yourselfer with a cash and carry policy although the McCoy's credit card used in the Texas stores is being considered.
Glen Gomez is manager at the Sherwood store, Steve Newell, the south Little Rock unit
NHLA Seeks
Asst. Manager
A selection committee of National Hardwood Lumber Association officers is seeking a person for the position of assistant manager, according to Walter M. Fields Jr., president.
Present assistant manager Ernest J. Stebbins will advance to executive manager when S. Carroll "Bill" White retires Nov. 1.
Treot ee) lumber, coll
4B'!*H!'[ff ?,']# '$,F'$1,, j* r N C' .n',*B€llN T€Rfn:BillHordingo[indoPrid<fgoChorlieHortonoBrcndoBokc,roHorrisHimbctl tlJe con filloll your trooted lumber n@@ds. . . londscop@ timb@rs, plvuroocJ, oll dimensionol lumber,4x4 through l2x12.On 6x6 ond lorger u,@ hove lengths ronging up to 45feet. Plus, ue nou, corrv in stock.60 FDN. UJe olso hovo our ouln fleet of trucks to help gou solve ong deliverg probl@ms Vou mog hove. llll our moteriol is TP grode morked. [Ue feoture the RIUPB quolity mork on oll our treoted moteriol.
For its natural beauty and enduring qualitieq therds never been a better decking lumber than redwood And until now therds never been a redwood decking so affordable to so many. Louisiana-Pacific presents LP Desert Dry Redwood, in construction heart and construction common grades With tight knots and natural variations of color and patterrl Desert Dry Redwood is easily distinguished from cedar and pressure treated lumber. Ifs a prestigious look And you can supply it so economicallv.
LP Desert Dry Redwood is kiln-dried so you can offer economy and performance every step of the way. By taking the moisfure content down to 19 percent or less, the load is lightened and you get more board feet on every truck Desert Dry Redwood loses nothing but water in the process On the job, joints stay tight and shrinkage isconholled Italso mair tains a superior resistance to decay and insects Dried, trimmed, and surfaced so sizes are trug ifs paper wrapped for protectionin2" x4", 2" x6",2" x8" - 12" dimensions and lengths up to 20 feel
For more information about Desert Dry Redwood or any of our other grades of redwood call Mike Parli Redwood Sales Manager, at 7 07 - 443-7 lLL
LP Desert Dry Redwood Go first class But pay coactr.
LIOME IMPROVEMENT videos
I lare big box office draws this spring as the video age hits the retail home center with a bang.
Home centers across the country are stocking how-to videos to sell to customers as well as show in-store. Builders Emporium, one of the largest chains carrying them at present, says sales have exceeded expectations. Peter Taylor, director of merchandising services, attributes the success in part to their interactive video kiosk which allows customers to preview portions plus see the quality and detail of the videotapes.
Other retailers marketing videotapes include Home Quarters, West Building Materials, Grossman's, Scotty's, Moore's, National Lumber, Lumbermen's, Home Club and Fred Meyer.
Selling the video works better than renting it since if the customer does not return them, the store finds itself harassing a customer to retrieve the tape.
Story at a Glance
Chains and independents are finding sales of d-i-y videos are profitable and productive in selling materials. .. selection of titles available is finally growing rapidly.
Hometime, producer of a nationally syndicated PBS television program, is one of the largest producers of home improvement videos with 27 titles now available. Each includes a printed project guide which identifies required tools and materials. The tapes, which are available in about 2,500 home centers and hardware stores as well as video rental outlets, sell for approximately $9.99 each and run 60 to 90 minutes in length. Subjects cover projects such as building decks, siding, doors and windows, cabinets, hnish carpentry, wood flooring and common home repairs.
Working with the American Plywood Association, Morris Video has produced a five-part "Build Your Own" videotape series showing how to use plywood panels. Applying siding, constructing a barn and building several styles of desks, and a cupboard are included.
Ortho Information Services has
