The Lord Helps The Lumber Dealer But Does The Lumber Dealer Help Himself ?

By Jack Dionne

A whole year has passed since the last Birthday Number of The California Lumber Merchant. More things have happened, more developments have unfolded, more progress has been made by the world in general during this past year, than during many centuries of the world's history. It has been a year of rapid-fire radio'like progress in almost everything. The race has apparently been striving as never before for new thoughts, new things, new ideas, new helps, new luxuries, new everything to supply this insatiable craving of the human race for progress' variety, and still more change.

What have you dong in YOUR business during the past year, Mr. Lumber Dealer? Have you progressed? Have you advanced? Have you more and better building thoughts and things and ideas and services to offer your trade today than you had a year ago? Have you? If not, have you kept up with the times?'

Even in ancient days it was admitted by all thinking peo' ple that he who does not progress, goes backward. And if that were true in those slow days, what must be the condition of the man or the businpss that does not progress in THESE feverish days?

Most lumber dealers, as a matter of fact, HAVE progressed during the last year. The dealer has been blessed during that time with much development along lines of his interest, in ways that should Put new programs into his operations, new business on his books, and new cash in his till. He has new building helps ofrered him that he never had before. He is ofrered the opportunity of ftrrnishing his trade with building THINGS, building FUNCTIONS' that he never knew before. And many, many dealers have grasped these opportunities.

Take built-ins. I'll admit that I totally fail to understand the apparent indifrerence of many lumbermen to these wonderful helps that are being offered him for,HIS business. Built-ins have developed in the past year as never before, been perfected, improvised, greatly increased in variety, etc., until they offer the dealer something interesting and useful and productive to do with his every available minute.

I{onest, folks, I should think you'd thank God for the things that are being offered you, and fairly tear your shirt trying them out. Think of the differe4ce between selling these beautiful pieces of built-in furniture, and selling just Iumber and house bills !

There may not be a man on your list in the market for a house right now. But think of the number of houses orl your list-that SHOULD be on your list if they're notthat have:

<ld fashioned kitchens that need moderhizing-

-breakfast room nooks that need equipment-

-breakfast room corners that are empty and need attractive and economical cabinets-

-bath rooms that need linen cabinets, drawer cabinets, mirro.rs, medicine cabinets-

-bedrooms and dressing rooms that need dressing room cabinets, wardrobe cabinets, vanities, cedar-lined closets, shoe racks, etc.-

-living rooms that need bench cabinets, mantel cabinets, book cabinets-

-and other rooms that need storage cabi4ets, ironing board cabinets, cooler cabinets, telephone cabinetsand all the other various things that are being offered the dealer, and which he may with profit to himself and satisfaction to his customer, offer his trade.

There are plenty of these attractive and useful things that make a great appeal to the home owner, that are much easier to sell than lumber, and which offer a much better profit than can be made sitting in the office and waiting for someone to decide that he wants to buy a house bill.

And there are lots of other things besides these built-ins, lots of other building functions that might delight the heart of plenty of people in YOUR town. For instance, there is being created by a progressive manufacturing concern a ngw paneling idea for home and other building interiors, the entire wall coverings, finished, colored, and fitted, shipped by the'mill ready for the job. All the dealer has to do is sell and deliver it, and it needs only to be nailed on. No cutting, painting, staining, or finishing on the job. Something new and something beautiful.

Don't you think your trade would like a service of that sort if it was offered to them?

Don't forget, the big mail order concernb are making millions s,elling corrpleted buildings to people who live in towns where the lumber dealer claims business is rotten-

The Lord is trying hard to help the lumber dealers. But someghing more is needed. They have got to help ther* selves, also.

Nicholson

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