The Hanford Sentinel from Hanford, California • 14

Tidbits Inventions From the U.S. Patent Office Every egg is a small billboard Reported by Rich Blum If there is a competition for the Advertising Hall of Fame," this inventor is definitely in the running He has, in effect, received a 1 7-year monopoly to use the common egg for advertising purposes. With the Method And Apparatus For Applying Advertisements To Eggs" or what the patent calls completely new concept in the field of advertising" many of us might soon be staring at a dozen or so tiny little billboards each morning. Unless some bio-engineer creates a chicken that lays an egg Grade-A advertising idea which beams to apply its message is with a preprinted slogan, this uses ink jets, decals or laser going to be hard to top. Dixie income drops CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.

Dixie Yarns, Inc. announced sales for the first quarter of 1990 of $146,014,000 compared with sales of $151 ,316,000 for the first quarter of 1989. Net income for the quarter was $1,352,000, or 14 per share. fully diluted), compared with $3,579,000, or 33 per share (fully diluted), for the first quarter of 1989. Daniel K.

Frierson, Chairman, said in a press release, Our sales and earnings were lower than in the first quarter of 1989 due to the continuing effects of a downturn the textile cycle and Dixie's inability to pass through its inflationary cost increases. Results for the second quarter are also expected to be below 1989 due to industry conditions. Dixie continues to focus on its strategy of capital expenditures to gain long-term competitive advantages in quality, new products, and costs. The refinancing of $50 million of senior debt with subordinated debt in February 1990 further positioned the company to take advantage of its strong balance sheet to make attractive acquisitions when they become available. Dixie recently declared a 17-cent per share quarterly dividend which is payable to stockholders of record on May 16, 1990.

Dixie's business consists of four product categories: specialty yarns, industrial sewing threads, knit fabrics, and carpet and rug yarns. Candlewick Yarns of Lemoore is a unit of Dixie Yarns. Realtors helping in drug fight The Kings County Board of Realtors recently presented every third-grader in the county with a coloring book and a tape about saying no to drugs. And some of the agents gave talks at area schools about avoiding drugs, said Diana Soward, executive officer, Kings County Board of Realtors. The agents wanted to do something in addition to the DARE anti-drug program to help students, she said.

Bankruptcy seminar scheduled The Central California Bankruptcy Association will sponsor its Fourth Annual Bankruptcy Institute in Fresno, at the Hilton Hotel on Thursday and Friday. The Institute will focus on practice tips for insolvency attorneys, accountants, bankers and consultants and will cover both business and consumer bankruptcy topics, according to a press release. CCBA President Dennis B. Bean, consumer and business bankruptcies are at an all-time high and show no hint of slowing. Bean said the education program, which includes some of Central California's outstanding bankruptcy specialists, will attract attendees from throughout California.

The Institute will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Fresno. The cost is $195 per person. For further information contact Riley C. Walter at 442-1150, Mike Wilhelm at 442-1150 or Dennis D. -Bean at 276-1200.

Pacific nations poised for modest economic upturn Its called Performance and it pays 62. Why would you setde for less? One notable exception from that growth forecast is Japan, which is expected to decline from a 5.1 percent growth rate 1989 to 4 3 percent in 1990 and 3 1 percent in 1991. Japan saw its trade surplus narrow in 1989 despite a sharp depreciation in the yen relative to the dollar. January 1990 trade statistics show a 3 8 percent drop in exports, and further import increases compared to a year ago Japan's trade surplus, $78 8 billion in 1988 and $57 3 billion last year, is expected to drop to $42 7 billion this year and edge up to $45 5 billion 1991. Taiwan's balance of payments surplus in the region is forecast to drop to $10 4 billion this year from $11.1 billion last year, and drop again to $9 2 billion in 1991.

Similarly, South Korea will see its surplus fall from $5 1 billion last year to $1 billion this year and $300 million next year, the report says. The United States, meanwhile, is expected to fall further behind After cutting the balance of payments deficit in the region from $118 billion in 1988 to $96 6 billion in 1989, the deficit is expected to rise to $105 billion this year and $116 billion in 1991 Krause said the United States can help itself by cutting the costs of servicing its own budget deficit. But he sees no likelihood of the country regaining a trade surplus with Japan or the rest of the Pacific region in the next few years The United States is expected to remain stuck with one of the region's lowest growth rates 3 0 percent in 1989, 2 5 percent in 1990 and 2 8 percent in 1991. Canada and Australia also are exoected to have worse regional deficits this year and next year than they had in 1989 Japan's real growth rate is reported to be 5.1 percent last year. 4 3 percent this year and 3 1 percent in 1991.

The growth leader, Thailand, showed a rate of 11 percent last year, 9.1 percent this year and 8 4 percent next year, with Singapore and Malaysia slightly behind. China's political crackdown last year hurt its economy and Hong Kong's, but did not have much impact on the rest of the region, the report said. STEVE WILSTEIN AP Business Writer SAN FRANCISCO Pacific nations, worried about inflation rates that would be the envy of most of the world, are coming out of a two-year, self-imposed slowdown poised for a modest recovery in 1991. according to a new report. Asia's economic powers also have been trimming their trade surpluses but other Pacific nations running deficits, including the United States, aren't making up any ground, said the Pacific Economic Outlook for 1990-91 released Thursday by The Asia Foundation The outlook, an important tool used bv planners in the region, is based on analyses and predictions by economists from 15 countries affiliated with the Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference The region's powerhouses all slowed their economies with tight monetary policies to curb inflation and a regional growth rate of more than 7 percent in 1988 that was widely viewed as unsustainable Most countries in Latin America.

Africa and Southern Europe would have been happy with the 1989 inflation rates of the Pacific's leading economies 2 3 percent in Japan, 4 4 percent in Taiwan. 5 7 percent in South Korea, and 4 9 percent in the United States, as measured by the consumer price indexes Overall, the region's inflation rate was 6 5 percent, a figure bloated by rates of 17 6 percent in China. 10 1 percent in Hong Kong and 10 6 percent in the Philippines The tight money policies are expected to bring the levels down in 1991 to 1 5 percent in Japan. 3 3 percent in Taiwan. 6 0 percent in South Korea, and 4 8 percent in the United States At the same time, the overall inflation rate the region is expected to drop to 5 5 percent next year with China cutting its rate to 9 5 percent, Hong Kong dropping to 7.0 percent and the Philippines falling to 9 7 percent.

Lawrence B. Krause, economics professor at the University of Califorma-San Diego's Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, said this year's decline in growth will not be as drastic as that in 1989. The group forecast 1990 growth of 5 0 percent from 5 3 percent last year and 7 2 percent in 1988. "The forecast has a modest recovery in 1991, up to 5 2 percent, so it will have taken two years to moderate the excesses and then have some recovery again, Krause said. Men's store sued over ads SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A pricing battle between two California-based men's clothing retailers has reached the courts in a $1 million false advertising lawsuit filed in federal district court.

Clothiers based in Culver City, filed the suit on Thursday in U.S. District Court against The Men's Wearhouse, marking the second time in 14 months the chain has been sued over its advertising. George Zimmer, president of The Men's Wearhouse, regularly ends television ads by telling viewers I guarantee that his company's prices beat those of his competitors. The disputed ads also claim that The Men's Wearhouse sells a suit for less than $200. which is identical to one sold by Clothiers for $44p.

But Clothiers contends in its complaint that its suit was of significantly higher quality in that case. Clothiers also attacks several other advertising claims by its competitor, including the statement that Clothiers doesn't have any suits for less than $200. Representatives of Clothiers, which has 67 retail stores in California, did not comment. Zimmer scoffed at the lawsuit, saying it was merely another tactic on their part to play off our established presence in the marketplace. Their lawsuit is completely without merit, and we would be delighted to see them in court, Zimmer said.

The Men's Wearhouse operates 83 stores in California, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada. Greenspan calls for TGChnOlOCJY Now theres an everyday checking account that works just as hard as you do. Thats why its called Performance Checking. Earn 6 interest, with minimum balance of $1,000. Free STAR and PLUS ATM access.

Pre-approved overdraft protection available. Combined statement for checking and savings. No monthly charge with $1,000 daily balance. Dont settle for less. Stop by your nearest Imperial Savings branch today and demand the best checking account around.

Youll discover that its worth the change. insurance changes WASHINGTON (AP) Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan outlined plans to reform the nations financial system, including charging banks with risky investments more for deposit insurance. In his first extensive remarks on deposit insurance reform, Greenspan told a Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago conference Thursday that the issue should be high on our agenda as the government considers permitting banks to expand into securities and insurance. He suggested varying insurance premiums according to the riskiness of a banks investments, examining banks books more frequently, seizing weak banks faster and requiring bank owners to risk more of their own money. Continued from Page IB of time clerks have to spend on the phone.

More importantly, because it is linked to an ordering capability, customers are more satisfied with the timely response they now get Another company, a specialty health food bakery delivers breads, chips and muffins to local grocery stores and restaurants each day. Drivers record both inventory and orders with a hand-held computer. Data is fed into a PC at the bakery and passed on to the overnight bake shift. Waste is down, freshness is up, expenses are lower and sales are higher. Its clear the payoff is there for these small businesses, but for many companies knowing what technology will work for them pan be a nerve-wracking, even mystifying, experience.

And the potential cost of these systems adds Be willing to buy expertise as well as equipment. As the price of technology continues to drop, the report concludes, the selection of more complex equipment, systems and applications will become more difficult. But, with the implementation of these systems, the potential for improved efficiency and success is enormous. Insights was prepared by the respected Menlo Park think tank, the Institute for the Future, and is designed to help entrepreneurs prepare for the changes affecting business and to spark ideas that can help them profit from these changes. Bank of America's Small Business Alliance is an exclusive resource that gives the bank's small business clients access to information, expertise and services to help them manage and grow their businesses.

yet another layer of anxiety to the process, especially since small businesses cannot afford costly experimentation. To help ease anxieties, Insights outlines the advantages and disadvantages of 19 emerging applications of technologies for small businesses, and offers entrepreneurs some common sense guidelines to help assure success in that selection process: Watch industry leaders and borrow from their success in applying technologies. Focus on the benefits of technology, not the special effects. Put your business needs first and apply technology to meet them. Start small and grow incrementally.

Set an investment ceiling based on your business plans. Be aggressive in investigating options. 1 Imperial Savings Maternity biz going big time COMMERICAL PROPERTIES, INCOME APARTMENT UNITS AND BUSINESSES CAN BE PROFITABLY PURCHASED OR SOLD BY PROFESSIONALS WITH A PLAN OF ACTION Hanford 110 West Seventh St. (209) 582-4381 SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) -The Motherhood maternity store chain is counting on the baby boomers now joining the ranks of mothers to keep business growing at its 258 outlets.

Executives of the Santa Monica-based chain, which boasts a 15 percent market share of the maternity clothing business, say those late-blooming mothers are a key source of new revenue. She might be a power attorney sure of herself, but now has all kinds of questions about what to expect." Motherhood Mark Syrstad says of the typical baby-boom woman who is now having a baby of her own. To meet the demands of such people, Syrstad, Motherhoods president and chief executive, says the company is providing a wider range of fashions, including, career and causal clothes, active wear, hosiery and lingerie. Although a slight downturn is expected in the nation's birth rate as baby boomers age over the next decade, Syrstad, 36. says Motherhood is confident enough its market will expand that it is planning to open a dozen new stores over the next year and remodel 25 existing ones REALTY and INVESTMENTS 116 West Seventh Hanford 584-1749 Don Crawford rrrjj A jFDIC Gene Alldredge Kitr imt ondilions subjnl to ih.mgt I.