The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-15
ROLLING IN WEALTH.
Large Salaries Made by Buyers for
New York Firm.

Large Salaries Made by Buyers for q
New York Firm.
The buyers and sellers of some BIG
houses located in the metropolis are
simply rolling in wealth. At east they
should be, if what member of a wealthy
tobacco firm, who is in touch with a va-i-
ETY. of interests here, tells me is true, and
his word goes in good company. zone OF
our salesmen," said this gentleman to-
day, has for several years averaged at least
$50 900 year, counting salary and COM
mission. He virtually controls our big
customers, one of the best being in San
Francisco.
"Of course his is an exceptional case in
the line of trade referred to, but there are
other sellers in this town who discount
him. l know few wine men who spend
more than that amount booming their
brands, and the wine business isn't what
it used to be by long shot. One agent
here was given $4,000 a year to blow in
on the brand he handles. And he made
it show. OF course, be coined money for
his house and himself, too. He's rich
man now.
Another foreign house allows its agent
$1,000 week, and he easily gets away with
it. I've seen him coquetting with the
walters in the big hotels at Saratoga, and
after he would leave, few of the head
walters there would be wearing diamond
ring, pin, or something of that sort. He
knows how to plant his money where it
will do the most good. l used to be in the
same business myself, but the house |
represented only allowed me $1,000 q
month, and l wasn't in it. Still, l man.
aged to knock out about $4,000 year"
After brief intermission the man of
affairs resumed: "The men who do the
buying for the big stores here also earn
big money. One who used to be with a
Sixth-avenue house received a salary of
$4,000 year in addition to a percentage
of the profits of the department he ac-
tualIv controlled. He is now connected
with another firm, and as he made the
change against the wishes of his old en-
ployers he is undoubtedly making more
money. He's rated at over a quarter of
a million. His case is not phenomenal for
the amount OF money he makes. Some
slime ago, when a certain dry-goods house
wanted to make special effort to increase
its business, it cast about in the other
stores for the best talent. The men it
fixed upon received offers of $4,000, $4,000
and $4,000 year to make a change. OF
course all the buyers in The principal dry
goods stores do not command such sala-
ries; but taste, good Judgment and busi-
ness ability cannot be purchased here for
much less. The tendency in the bigger
newer and more successful houses
is to allow the buyer to have abb
solute control, and TO manage the
business as if it were his own. certain
amount of capital is put at his disposal;
he is charged with interest upon it and
with his share of the total expenses, and
at the end of the year he is required to
show profit of certain amount upon the
operations OF the department. He buys
his goods, advertises them, offers bargains.
and is under only the most general super
vision of the frm. Naturally, men in
whom confidence to such degree may be
placed are rare, and command a high sal
airy. New York correspondence of Pitts
burg Dispatch.