The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-24
Mrs. C. p. Walford or directly to MISS ri'~
man at tho kindergarten, corner OK MING
tecnth and Franklin streets.
no RICHMOND GROCEKs.
a Suggestion About tho Union broc~''@
Commission and Warehouse COMPANY

A Suggestion About tho Union brocSe'"<"
Commission and Warehouse Company.
Editor of The Times:
At recent meeting Of the Southern noie'
sale Grocers' Association. held az Menp"'''
Tenn. the president reported as ioilo"S'
"The average profit obtained by oou.no a,
iobbers of groceries decreases year attoi 80 ~
while there is n steady and unmistakaoie ~
crease in the expense OF 'fah9"0A7
ness - ~. xxho
That the president is correct every one "ho
has been in business for the past Few yena i.
will admit Competition Is incienS,sS. and
and Of course this means smaller prom 80
larger expenditure OF money 10 enc. 80 IN.
The manufacturer and importer. IN bany ~
stances. feeling his profits at the larger IT, ~,
bng centres steadily decreasing Is teInpleu ~
seek the smaller interior towns Wnoio ~
found merchants of good credit ana nnanola'
strength. who will pay better pron' Vim"
the jobbers at the larger centres A.. ~,
This evil OF which the Joboefs at tne e,,sa
tres Of trade naturally complain Is the cause
of the organization of the Southern WHY
sale Grocers' Association. of when one ~ .no
objects is. as the president states III NE 70
port For this meeting 70 agree upon |" 49,
by which our occupation can De pinoe" -
its former substantial basis. so tua. 800 ~
member OF our association may IJcoaroa ia
profit that the capital invested IN anu VIZ VIZ
time and labor bestowed on his Duslness
Justly entities him to- :. b,,
As the president Justly says there IS ous
one method by which TINS groNipS of
be checked, and that is by Organization. Al.
While the Association 10 considerln. sn9
hest method of checking the evil complained
of would il not be we'll for the wholesale JoD-
bers nj the different trade centres TO meet
and consider what can best be done TO lnhu-
ence the manufacturers and importers 70 con
fine themselves 10 what were formerly coh-
sidered legitimate channels OF trade:
One way to induce the importers ana manu-
facturers TO confne themselves TO the iafssi
trade centres is TO cause them 10 ieel' aii
OTHER things being equal. that each one mas
as good an opportunity O. efect sales al Sucn
centres as any OF his competitors. r
| would suggest T. the wholesale groceIs OF
Richmond that since the organization OF the
Union Brokerage Comm sslon anu ware
house Company. formed by them, many Oh
the jobbers and manufacturers feel that they
do not have a fair chance IN this market. I'M
less they place their goods IN the hands OF
this company, as many OF the largest buyers
will not give them the same favorable con
sideration they do 10 those who are Offering
their goods through this company.
IL il impossible for this organization TO rep
resent all the better class OF importers ana
manufacturers who have been accustOucu 10
sell goods in this market and a. they are
aware of this fact and feel that those who are
represented by the Union Brokerage Com
pany will have the preference when all other
things are equal. they naturally become dis.
satisfied and place their goods IN the hands or
brokers in the small interior towns and III
many instances put their travelling salesman
on the road to solicit orders from the smaller
dealers.
We do not question the right of merchants
10 have formed such an organization but
would suggest that while the question OF
smaller profits and increased expenses Is be-
ing agitated they should try TO lose sight or
the dividends. which we believe are declaEed
monthly by this company. and calmly con-
slider if this organization OF this company mas
not a powerful effect in increasing. il the
country tributary to Richmond, the very evils
about which they are complaining and COM
planning Justly.
Very much more could be said on this sub
iect but we think our merchants. who have
So recently and so credtably represented the
trade of Richmond at the meeting held IN
Memphis. may perhaps think these remarks
worthy of attention and give them due con-
sideration. ALPHA