A SO FALL 19m9 4446,414404440d)1844 A bsbsdbsbbs ddd JOHN ALDENA GREATER OPEN SPACE To Come in 1990 Ta enccssy 1990 sue Yian o me Hose begins. Although Chinese astrologers say it's a year of little activity, L-S Distributors views differently. By summertime next year, Northern California booksellers will be calling it “The Year of L-S Distributors.” By March of 1990, L-S will have a new home- a greater open space for its operations. The decision to move started jelling with last Christmas’s hectic season, when the company realized it needed (o increase its physical floor space to meet the demands and needs of its customers, Since 1984, L-S has been on Ninth Street in San Francisco, “Our current facility was chosen because it was convenient, It's well- located, with easy access from any direction. It also has on-site parking,” president Dick Seifert said, When faced with the need for more physical space, it was imperative that L-S find something just as convenient for customers, only larger, Seifert said, This particular challenge forced the company to look to the south, because, as Seifert noted, San Francisco is no longer a warehouse. city. “We still wanted a one-floor warehouse and the size of building we were looking for, you just can't get on one floor in San Francisco.” ‘The answer was found in South San Francisco. LS's new home is on East Grand Avenue. “We're situated with the exact same dynamic as here (Ninth Street),” the president of the company said, referring to the b accessibility. The new building is j Grand Avenue exit, which is easily reached from any direction. THE NEW BUILDING NOT ONLY 15 CONVENIENTLY located with on-site parking, but — the best news of al three times the size as L-S's home on Ninth Street. It fogs in at close to 30,000 square feet, a number which is the combined space of the warehouse and the mezzanine floor above the warehouse. “This will allow us to carry more titles in greater depth,” Seifert said. He hopes to see his company stock larger quantities on major besisellers, and also to stock more copies for the lines that are consistently selling well. “This was cur purpose in moving: to have more available, as well as to be more efficient,” he added. Seifert believes some of L-S’s buying patterns will change, just “because now we'll havethe space to buy differently. We won't necessarily change what we buy, more on how we buy.” He did note, however, the company will contemplate expanding certain categories of books. “While we have an extensive travel and regional section, we'll have the ability to expand further our juvenile titles and maybe our computer books.” He added those decisions will be made once the company moves in and realizes exactly how the larger space defines itself For those customers who visit the warehouse and pull their own orders, the size might take some geting used to, But L-S plans to continue stocking its inventory by publisher in order to keep cash-and-carry customers familiar with L-S's operations. Seifert assures that not much will change in terms of organization of inventory, as well as with delivery; however, there are more changes in L-S"s future besides the address change. By Mac 1990, m conjunction wert ts new location, L-S Distributors plans on being fully computerized. “Already we are testing the systems. We've begun using the computer with our cash-and-carry business, so by the time of the 8 “THIS IS OUR PURPOSE FOR MOVING: TO HAVE MO! (TITLES) AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT,” HE ADDED... "EVERYTHING WE DO WILL BE FASTER." photo: Dick Sellers President of LS Dieribanors move, we're hoping to get all the glitches in the program out,” Seifert said. In the spring, Seifert plans on his company providing its customers with instant title verification and more detailed invoices, as well as having the ability to receive electronic ordering, “Our customers will be able to phone it in, fax it in or even plug it in and we'll take care of those orders immediately. Everything we do will be faster and more efficient than ever,” he added With the new building and the new technology, L-S is looking forward to planning more open houses and more in-house events “We're excited about having more people visit our warehouse. [think they'll agree with me about it being a very pleasant working environment,” Seifert said. More than likely Northern California booksellers will also agree that 1990 is definitely “The Year of L-$ Distributors.” © by Jill Lewis Please note: You wilt be recieving updated information concerning changes within LS Distributors at a later date by mail.