Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-11
ARMY OF SALESGIRLS.
QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED FOR sue
CESS BEHIND THE COUNTER.

A School for the Close Study OF Human
Nature-Talk with the Manager of q
Large Store - The Valuable EmpIoye.
Marriage.
Attending to the desires Of ladies who each
day crowd the shopping districts of the city
is an army of saleswonen who, from morn
ing until night, stand behind counters in the
large stores, exhibiting goods, forcing sales,
advising purchasers and what is more i'm
portant to themselves, earning a living.
| There are thousands of young women thus
employed, many Of the larger stores having
a staff of over 600 Where they all come
from, what becomes of them and how they
live are matters Of interest, for the large
army has an influence on society and from
| its ranks ladies are at times selected to ill
prominent positions in professional and fash
ionable circles.
Women who have been selling dry goods
for q few years generally acquire a knowl-
edge Of people and things such as could not
be taught in any other school They come in
close contact with more people and with
moro kinds of people IN day than they
would in any other position. Their vocation
is an interesting one. Many of them enjoy
it. They frequently become good students of
human nature, and most OF them are good
physiognomists. A customers face is studied
by the saleswoman, and if she is up in the
business she knows just how to draw out the
pocketbook Of the woman before her A
pleasant disposition is almost essential to the
success Of saleswoman, but of course this is
not possible at all times. The woman who
cannot be pleasant and agreeable even under
trying circumstances is not apt TO rise to the
more important positions in the business;
while those who can carry a CHEEKY face and
who are not easily put out OF sorts generally
find that they succeed beyond their expecta-
tions.
The manager Of one of the largest stores
In the city was asked about the women who
work under him. He has 900 girls and
women in his employ, and many Of them
have been In the place for q dozen years or
longer There are very few changes made.
he said, and promotions are made as soon as
the aptness Of a girl warrants it, Girls of "A
years are employed as cash girls at e. a week
The head of the department in which they
d
ditional hand is wanted as stock keeper the
head of the department. will suggest to the
manager that such a cash girl has shown a
desire to learn and that girl gets the position,
with 81 week added to her salary Then
she becomes junior and later a senior sales
lady, and her salary will be from $40 TO $50
q week, according to her ability. Her tact
tn selling goods, her ability to handle a num-
Der OF customers at the same time, and her
uccess in pleasing customers all affect her
salary.
There u an example," said the manager,
directing the reporters attention TO coun-
ter, behind which stood two girls selling rib
bons. One of the girls was tall and slight
Her frame was delicately formed, but her
face and eyes indicated activity and grit She
was waiting on seven ladies, and with appar-
emit ease and pleasure pulled down box alter
box, answered hundreds Of questions, talked
to one lady while she was measuring of few
yards Of ribbon for another, and succeeded in
making each Of the customers feel that she
was being properly attended 10 The other
saleswoman was Q well built, robust girl,
beautiful in form and face, dressed most be-
comingly, and in appearance the moral, in
tellectuai and physical superior Of her c,sn-
panion. In a drawing room or on tennis
lawn she would take the had, bat behind a
counter she was not a success. She was
showing ribbons to three ladies, and was un-
able TO please either Of them. She became
confused, got her stock no badly mixed UP
that she never knew whsre to find what was
wanted, and finally became Cross and i'm
patient
That tan girl Is valuable saleswoman,"
aid the manager. 'and she II paid "a
week, because she Is worth r. She enjoys
selling goods, and the more busy she IL the
happier che appears 70 ia Tia other tries to
enjoy Il, but she cannot. STU she Is a.yiri
who appears 20 have some guali6c.ssons for
buEness. S6e receives but ei2 week
would like to pay Der more, for il appears e
though she should e. more. but Ehe dos. not
earn what she receives ] intend to put her
In the BOOKKEEPING department. % 50 II sbs
viii noe be more successful there
Continuing. the manager said that bot
very few changes - made AZ the end Of
tbs busy season the girls who are ths least
able 10 sat. and tboas against whom the
greatest number Of oonpiaants arc made,
are dropped from the ssa6 Mose u these |
return at the begfnninS Of ths next SEASON.
and are reeznpasysd A g,ri who has shown |
bersek - b able TO se.l soots Is sa,. q /
steady szspisyrDsns, aad abs usually remains 1
b ono hoas It'll sse zir1up rs tSx.nsss |
Many of TIE gir.s give up b.sine. ssca1<s l
they are 10 become Ufv0
In . store ex.ptoTog loo R;Y,s ahozf 4
s~usy6ve Marriages yw taks GA. nazn-
hs At gsTss from heAind - coun4erx Its
. GngulAT fac4 that AlesvoDn rrsely marry
or. In fact, Dsn employed Ia any /
capacity IN The dry goods business Several
were saked Why The girls cid not
nArry meu WHO WORRIED WITH them Ths
Fe.sons given are that Ii. girss g.s 70 hno-
shs men too weil: tha4 shey al hare social
relations os.zste entirely different from tho~s
which exist in s:or-s; tSas While The gir-s
make s>rocg attachments With oso>r g.sfs In
TIE s.er- sssy rarely co-z.1-r lie Issa rsore
ttan business Acquaintancss, ssd thai girl
hrongh: up ia tbs cry goods b7s.asaz sss4rss
b higher poss.ioc. az6 :s~rescre dc>s 70.
rcnxster the msn IN tbs sArae business as SUI
li.ls per~ors 30 se,scs . hzsoarsd from
A great rany gsr4s lsa-e tAs hcst,ee 10
becq<ns hs~skesps1 tr sAsr EsgsaA e.