Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-12-26
THE DRY-GOODs CLERK.


considerable brains said the manager
of one of Chicago's great retail houses
to an Evening News reporter.
"Pcople in general are fond Of max
ing unkind allusions to dry-goods clerks
and considering them as q lot of ma
chine-like mon, good enough to wait on
you and try to make you buy goods, but
that is all. The fact is, many, If not
all, clerks possess much business capa-
bility. In their own way they conduct
almost business Of their own at the
department over which they preside,
and take az much pains to promote the
growth of that business as if it were
their own. The customer thinks that
they are instructed to act just 80 and
work just such schemes, but that is all
wrong. The clerk receives no instruc-
tious, but goes ahead and carries on the
work he is assigned to the best Of his
ability.
81 don't think there Is a big retail
house in the city where the statesmen
receive regular instructions about their
work. know they don't in our house.
An applicant for the position of sales
man comes in and asks me for position.
"'What are your qualifications, and
how much experience have you had" I
ask.
"He tells me, and then / ask him
what pay he wants. Ho will name the
amount he thinks he is worth. Per-
haps it Is the limit of the amount paid
in the department that he wants work
in. If 1 think want him land assure
you, long years of experience have
taught managers to guess pretty accnr-
ately Of mans worth in one inter-
viewl-I tell him will give him a
place, but would not like to pay him at
first quite as much as he asks. If all Is
satisfactory between US, and he is en-
gagged, that ends it.
ale is introduced to the ffoor-walker
in his department., who in turn in
PRODUCES him to the other clerks in that
department He Is given check-book,
placed behind the counter and left to
hustle for himself. That's all there is
to it. We don't tell him to act just so,
and to DO polite to this party or not
idle, etc. None of that at all. When I
hired the man did it supposing he was
q competent man and q gentleman. No
beginners or novices are taken. The
men must have learned their business in
Somo smaller house before they will get
job in u largo one, and during their
apprentice days should have learned all
tnose points which go to make up a
good salesman. He must know his
duties thoroughly and understand the
art Of selling the articles in his depart
'tnent, once he becomes familiar with
them and the prices.
r"As to his manners, would not have
hi M + of aIf 70 6o
agentleman!' never say any thing to
u now man on that head at all. lie
should be we'll posted on all points of
etiquette and good-breeding necessary
to make him agreeable to the people he
waits on. The man is expected to 90
right III and sell goods in way that
will be profitable to the house and pleas
ing to its patrons.
"a clerks pay Is not gagged by his
experience, but according to the depart
mont no is in and his ability to sell
goods There is certain limit for the
pay of clerks in each departments, and
Wo rarely go over that. A clerk is hired
for certain department, given 80 much
pay, and generally that ends it,"
''In what department does clerk get
the best pay2"
''In the dress7goods, silk or linen do
nartmept. You see, in the dress-goods
&nd silk departments great deal Of the
Nles depends on the ability of the
\rk to- make the customer, buy what
doesn't want. To so arrange fabrics
O. catch her eye and make her want
m. He must be good taISer-ir
It,, have the gift of gab,' so as tc
% his patrons coyet and buy more
they really intended to. Often 8
paratively new and inexperienced
will be given position in those
rtments for the very reason that he
rood talker The manager think.
rs the right qualifications, and, al
Bh no may not know thing about
psincss, the new clerk will go ir
ell right over tho heads OF the or