Carolina Holdings Uniting Yards Under 1 Name

Raleigh, N.C.-based Carolina Holdings, the industry's largest prooriented dealer, plans to rename its locations Stock Building Supply over the next two years.

The chain has been growing rapidly through acquisitions, marked by allowing locations to operate somewhat autonomously, including retaining their typically decades-old names such as Terry Lumber, Anderson Lumber, Denpak Building Products and Crissey Fowler Lumber. They now operate 220 locations in 22 states under 15 different names, including Stock Lumber, a l2-yard Wisconsinbased dealer purchased four years ago.

As Carolina Holdings continues to grow, however, unifying the yards under one name had become seemingly inevitable. It should improve operating efficiencies by reducing duplicated expenses, decrease customer and supplier confusion, and create a stronger national presence.

"I would do exactly the same thing," says Terry Mullin, founder, The Terry Cos., Tarzana, Ca. "With all their operations, it adds a sense of cohesiveness they need. From my standpoint, for 50 years I worked hard to develop the Terry name. I hate to see it go, but it must. Change is for the good. It's important to do."

The holding company will keep the name Carolina Holdings.

Anfinson Adds New ltems

The Fontana. Ca..-based firm has added Douglas fir uppers to its traditional redwood and cedar lines. The company has also been named a clear redwood finger joint distributor for Southern California and Nevada by Eel River Sawmills, Inc., Fontana, Ca.

The property the wholesaler occupies has been purchased by Rick Anfinson from company founder Creighton Anfinson.

Preserved Wood Safety Video

The American Wood Preservers Institute has released a video that features five noted experts attesting to the safety of pressure treated wood.

Among the researchers interviewed on AWPI News Update: How Safe Is Preserved Wood? are Dr. Christopher Teaf, director of toxicology, Florida State University, and Dr. Gaylord Lopez, director, Georgia Poison Cen- ter, both of whom agree that preserved wood is safe for children and adults.

The 16-minute program, anchored by former Washington, D.C., area newsperson Jane Karlen Walsh, is particularly timely in light of a recent episode of ABC-TV's The Practice that questioned the safety of preserved wood (see story, p.24.

Site Markets Rebuilt Tools

A new Web site has been launched to sell reconditioned power tools.

ReconWorld is selling a range of cordless tools, grinders, sanders, routers, saws, hammers, drills, hand tools, and accessories from manufacturers such as Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Skil and Milwaukee-for up to half off the original retail price.

"Once a tool has been returned to its place of purchase, it can't be sold again as new, even if it hasn't been used," explains ReconWorld president Stuart Reichman. So the tool is returned to its manufacturer, where it is inspected, then guaranteed to meet all original specifications and perform as new, earning the designation of Certified Factory Reconditioned Power Tool and carrying a one-year repair warranty.