3 minute read
National home center show upbeat
PTIMISM was the prevailing spirit at the National Home Center,/ Home Improvement Congress & Exposition, heid Feb. 27 -Mar .2, in Dallas, Tx. In terms of square feet, it was the largest trade show ever held in Dallas. More than l30O manufacturers and suppliers displayed thousands of d-i-y products. Anticipation of better business in 1983 was nearly universal.
Attendance was 23,203 gross attendance, up sharply from 17,834 in 1980 when the show was last held in Dallas. When the show was held in Chicago last year, it drew a whopping 26,334. These figures, while unaudited, are believed to be very accurate, unlike some of the show attendance figures put forth by other trade show organizers.
Stanley Marcus, former chairman and c.e.o. of the Neiman-Marcus Co., was the keynote speaker. The famed retailer said that he was concerned by what he sees as the decline in the quality of products, service and ethics. He feels products have been cheapened to provide dividends to placate stockholders and that cus- tomers have come to expect less.
Bigness, he said, has isolated management from customers and the products. Marcus urged managers to become involved in daily activities, especially sales. Avoid dullness, he counseled, be innovative, re-invigorate your store, it will invigorate your customers and employees. Educate, don't train your people like animals, add a spirit of fun, he said.
Another of the many show speakers was Sanford C. Sigoloff, head of the troubled Wickes Companies, Inc. that filed Chapter I I bankruptcy last year.
In an unusual "state of the com-
Story at a Glance
Well attended trade show featuring positive anticipation for balance ol this year . speakers included famed retailers Stanley Marcus and Sanford Sigoloff .. next yea/s show: Chicago, March 11-14.
pany" address, the savior of troubled firms (sometimes described as Ming the Merciless) noted that Wickes had lost $233 million in'the first quarter of 1982, but now had $300 million in cash. The firm has bought eight Gibsons Discount Centers in East Texas. which will operate under the Howard Bros. Discount Stores banner: and has remodeled 375 other stores.
Sigoloff said that the better business climate caused them "to look for annual growth of home remodeling to be almost three times 1982's level." He had no comment on the plan Wickes recently sent to its creditor committee for the reorganizing of the firm's debt.
Western firms receiving Home Center of the Year awards included Chandler Home Center, Van Nuys, Ca., and Tynan Lumber Co., Salinas. Ca.
Future show dates are: 1984. Chicago, Mar. I l-14;1985, Atlanta, Mar. 17-20; 1986, Chicago, Mar. 9-12; 1987, Chicago, Mar. 8-ll; 1988, Atlanta, Mar. l3-16; 1989
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National Gypsum Wants L-P Out
National Gypsum, which plans to resume acquisition of other companies after a three year pause, has said that it can best fulfill its potential without the involvement of Louisiana-Pacific, which recently increased its ownership in National Gypsum from 12.3s/o to 12.690. L-P is the largest shareholder of National Gypsum stock.
John P. Haynes, chairman, said that any combination of the two companies "would be a totd mismatch. We don't want any part of it."
While he denied he was seeking a buy back proposal for LouisianaPacific's shares, he said that he wouldn't object to such a development.
Home Center Show
(Continued from page 50) total 9.98 billion board feet during 1983.
Chicago, Mar. l2-15; 1990, Chicago, Mar. I l-14. Chicago meetings will be held at McCormick Place, Atlanta gatherings will be at the World Congress Center.
The annual Innovator Awards program emphasized the many new and varied do-it-yourself products available and unique methods of displaying them in home centers.
The winners were: Dap, Inc.; Gibson-Homans Co.; Handy Home Products, Inc.; RBI Industries (Channel Drain Div.); R.V.I. Homecare Products (Formby's Div.); Shop-Vac. Corp.; Stanley Works (Automatic Openers Division); and Surefire / Igniter Products, Inc.
William A. Whelan, president and chief operating officer of Pope & Talbot, Inc. was elected president of the Western Wood Products Association at the meeting.
He succeeds John T. Casey, Jr., president of Sierra Mountain Mills, North San Juan, Ca., who was elected to chairman of the board. Casey had served as president since 1981.
Whelan, a 23-year veteran of the forest products industry, has been active in the association for many years.
Smiles Return
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Besides the 14.59 billion board feet of production expected from the West this year, the Redwood Region should produce another 1.67 billion feet. Southern U.S. production is expected to reach 6.77 billion while other U.S. producing regions should total 1.86 billion. canadian lumber shipped to the U.S. is expected to
Prior to joining Pope & Talbot, Whelan served as executive v.p. of Roseburg Lumber Co., Roseburg, Or. He served for eight years as v.p. for Western operations for the U.S. Plywood Div. of Champion International Corporation.
Ira Liberman, president of Duke City Lumber Co., Albuquerque, N.M., was elected first v.p. Elected to second v.p. was Richard B. Parrish, v.p. of Boise Cascade Corporation, Boise, Id.
