Company is one of
the last major BC.
lumber traders

From page 48
of its work is done outside of the

North Shore with lumber mills in
the B.C. Interior, Eastern Canada
and the United States. .
That, says Granger, accounts in
“part for the firm’s low profi le on
the North Shore.
' “We're not a major supplier

- &é You just
‘can’ t afford any
: mistakes. It’s a
high- volume,
: Jéew-margin
: business 9

“here: ‘Our name. is not in the mar-
‘ket here. You won't see us at your
‘favorite lumber-. store,’’ says
Granger. .:

“We “are: basically. a-.

commodities-oriented trading
house that has very litle com-
munity involvement.””

Olympic is one of tne last sur-
viving major lumber trading com-
panies in B.C. At one time there
was a large wholesale lumber
trading community in the Van-
couver area, but many firms have
now closed down due to market
conditions.

Granger says that the industry’s
level of competition allows no
room for error.

“Our business is so tight that if
you make one mistake, you're
toast. You. can’t afford to
eneculate too heavily,’' says
Granger. ‘‘You just can’t afford
anv - mistakes. It’s a high-volume,

. low-margin business.”’

Olympic’s annual gross sales

: ‘range around $80 million. ©

Granger has worked as a stock
trader and has owned his own
personnel firm. But working as
the head zoo keeper for Olympic
is a role he loves.

“I love putting trades .ogether;
always have and always will. This
job can result ina lot of days
when you.don’t even put 4 dea!

together and then there are days’

when you go absolutely nuts and

‘do the deal-of a lifetime. It’s a
terrific: business. It’s meat,’’ says
‘Granger. 7

13 days for the price of 10.

Lucky you. Buy our new Frequent

Skier Pass until November 6, and you'll

save $129 this season on the 13 best skiing

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So pick one up at the Vancouver Ski

Show this weekend, Warren Miller’ film

Sunday, October 27, 1991 — North Shore News - 47

gS photo Bike Wakefield -

STEVE GRANGER, director and general manager of Norih Vancolnvier-based Olympic: industries; is

the head zoo keeper of a very succeseful forest trading firm...

Steve Granger - in his o own words.

How long have you worked for

‘the company?: ‘‘Six years. Before
‘coming here I worked for another

large wholesale company, Plant

Forest Products..It was the largest -
luniber trading floor in B.C. and, .
probably Canada. 7. think we had.

something like 45 waders -

“f believe Olympic is now the
largest -trading . floor. in: lumber
products in Canada. As a matter
of fact, after they closed the Van-

couver Stock Exchange and got.

ji

1004389

rid of the trading floor there, 1
guess we're the largest trading
floor in B.C. Ours is a very old-
line business and it’s built on rela-

.tionships and trust.

“It’s unique in that it’s not
regulated by. anything. like the
B.C. Securities Comnuissien. It’s

, Tegulated by the people in the in-

dustry. ’” .
What is 2 typical day Uke for

.you?: “I get here at.6:30 in the

morning, as do all the traders. We

have a morning meeting to discuss.
opportunities, market’: strategies .
and any annotincements ; that may.

come along, such as ‘mill: ‘closures | *.

and mill: start-ups. Then we ‘just’
get on the phone.:My. day involves-
trading | lumber. - It involves the
management aspects. of. the’
business,” it’s personel manage-
ment, - financial management and.
management. of . the
that we carry. I have to:weer'a lot’
of hats, -but it’s a lot of fun."

“Born to Ski” at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre,
orat the Blackcomb ticket office. Or call our
hotline, 687-1032, and order by credit card...

But you'd better hurry. This great

cure for triskaidekaphobia will be more

expensive after
November 6, 1991.

Please note: Only one pass per skier at this price.

Above all.
BIZCKCOMB

inventories

ae