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ffiOME GENTEM MERGHANT
BILL FISHMAN
Bill Fishman & Affiliates
11650 lberia Place
San Diego, Ca.92128
EIEOPE attend trade shows for many l- different reasons. Some retailers seek new lines or new product categories. Others use this marketplace for meetings with the top brass of the suppliers exhibiting at the show. A few come to seek and interview new talent. Many attend to see, hear and learn at the seminar sessions.
This October, retailers from all 13 Western States will find all of the above opportunities at the frrst Western Home Center & Building Materials Show in Anaheim, Ca. I predict it will be the most exciting industry event that has ever occurred West of the Mississippi.
Manufacturers, mills, jobbers and distributors doing business in the Western States will show new products and new programs in two of Anaheim's huge convention halls. Being a regional- not a \ational show, booths will be manned by western region reps and sales people whom retailers will know and recognize. But even more important-the "brass-from-the-factory" will be there too. For many delegates, this show will be the first time they will have the opportunity to shake the hands of the presidents and GM s of America's top suppliers.
The show space is heavily committed to lumber, building materials and other merchandise categories typically found in home centers and lumber stores. Manufacturers are interested in retail outlets.
Look for lines of lawn & garden merchandise, arts & crafts, auto supplies, RTA furniture, gifts, sporting goods, computers, telephones-and all those innovations that will be created, manufactured and marketed before this column gets into print.
It's a weekend-Friday, Saturday & Sunday. It's in Anaheim, in proximity to Disneyland and other Southern Californ- ia fun spots. The facilities are ideal for supplier-retailer conferences, hospitality suites, and good dining and entertainment.
The after-show activity also includes a bus tour of many nearby home centers. Retailers will be hosted through state-ofthe-art western region home center operations for a first hand look at major chains and successful independent operations. Bring an open mind.
In three days of concurrent sessions this show will offer more than l2 hours of lectures, exchanging of ideas, panel discussions and case histories. Look at this lineup of leaders who will share their concepts and experiences: John Bates, Westmark & Associates; Ray Bell, Louisiana-Pacific Corp.; Bill Boston, Ernst Home Centers: Earl M. Christensen, Hayward Lumber Co.; Stuart Clifton, Triad Systems Corporation; Don Clothier, Jr., Marketing Consultant; David Cutler, Merchant Magazine; A.E. Eggly, Allegretti & Co.; Richard Falk, Calif. Hardware Co.; Norman Fox, Handyman/Homer's; Peter Ganahl, Ganahl Lumber Co.; George S. Gotto III, Lamar Building Material Supply; George Gower, Evans Building Center, Inc., Id.; Bill Griffin, Griffin
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