The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-07
What Makes a Good saleswoman
Beauty Not An Unmixed Advantage
Tests OF Temper and Tact.
New York SUM-

New York SUM-
ssDo you have many applications for work
from saleswomenr' asked reporter of the
manager of large uptown store.
sWe can get all we need at short notice,n
he replied. "Most of the ladies like to hail
from large concern like ours. But 1t is not
90 easy to find many who are fully up to the
Standards
''What is the standard?''
''The question is not easy to answer. We
expect a lady to be quiet, yet confident;
alert and wide awake, yet polite and agreea-
BILE; easy and frank, yet possessing a touch
OF firmness. and not so outspoken as to in
jure trade. In fact, good saleslady is
rather complex article under simple ex-
terror. Patience and GOODNESS are among
the best points they can possess. / some
times feel obliged, in doubtful case, to test
the applicant upon this point of equanimity
by trying the effect of some little aggravat-
ing remark. If she remains cool and pleas
ant, her chances are good; If she colors or
bites her lips, l am forced to regard her as
inexperienced, and put her in some simple
depsrtment-hosiery, for example. One of
the instincts that an inexperienced girl has
to contend against is the tendency to stiffen
upif customer becomes little disagreed
BILE. But could pick out good saleslady
much more easily than can describe herr
us beauty desirable points'
ION the whole, l think its Importance is
overrated, should prefer, from busin, IS
point of view, what is called an attractive
ri vxh. In afrrlo x,A Tnsx
Many of our best sslesladies are not remark
able for physical charms, though they are
agreeable in manner. Some houses make a
point Of beauty. 1t is thought to be useful
at counters frequented by gentlemen; but
we have often been obliged to displace sales
ladies for keeping gentlemen in converse
ton. The art is to say just enough to effect
the sales and dispose of the customer when
business commences to degenerate into
chatter. Beauties are hard to take care of;
we often have to 'calP then, that is, send
them on message to distinct part of the
establishment as hint. l think it quite
possible that larger sales at higher profits
are sometimes made in the departments of
mems furnishing goods by having good
looking girls behind the show cases. Never
theless, do not think that, as whole, we
consider the value of a pretty girl, in the
wages market, to be greater than that of a
palmer girl who is as attractive in other re-
spects. We do not pay more for beauty I'M
less it is combined with other high Qualities.
In the cloak and other trying-on depart
ments personal charms are of great value,
and command high wages; but even here it
is more matter of figure and graceful move
ment than of face. 1t is perhaps advan-
tageous to have handsome, refined
looking girls in the lace and embroidery de-
partments. In the silk and trimmings de-
partment we require good taste, faculty
for nice drapings and quick eye for colors,
united with genius for matching fabrics.
We pay well in these departments, and in
selecting ladies for them good looks have
only secondary place. Some of the ladies,
as you will notice, are quite plain, but all
are nice looking
"Women perfectly suitable for the
trimmed hat department are certainly born,
not made. | assure you that few of the fine
arts are more difficult than selling ladies'
hats. The hats with their velvets, silks,
laces, flowers, feathers, and passementeries,
are very complex articles. To be able to
choose the particular one from stock that is
most suitable and becoming to customers
features, complexion, age and style requires
natural gifts OF a high order. Ladies are al
ways studying dress more or less, but the
number who can trim hat tastetully, and
who know what is most becoming to them,
is small. They feel this, and, although
they are often very opinionated in other
matters of dress, they are quite apt to de-
pend much upon any salesladv in this de-
partment whom they believe to be really
competent. Hence the need of the best
talent here, and, as the best talent is always
in demand, the prices for it are high'
"Why do they object to be called sales
womenr'
81 don't know