Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-19
AMERICA is FAR AHEAD.
Comparison of Merchandising Between
America and Europe.


of Merchandising Between
America and Europe.
Wideawake America, versus the
world. Merchandising as we do it. and
as our English and French
cousins think it ought to be
done. That is what we are going to talk
about this week. and the study provides
interesting thought for comparison.
Just u few sidelights on some meth
DDS that are incident and anticipated,
that's all. Perhaps some of them have
crept into your business. unintentional-
ly. They may be there and you have
not discovered them. Something we
may say may clear the clouds from be-
fore. your vision, and you will awake to
a realization of things unseen.
The American merchant is great
man. We know him. but not to appre-
ciate him. The one who is alert and
has his wits about him, We mean. The
one who combines all the forces of ma
ture, pluck, talent, vim, energy, tact
and diligence to the success of his bust
ness. who quaffs at theories and clinss
to practices; who develop rather than
initiates; who thrlves and grows like
the budding plant that is nurtured with
great. care.
What has he accomplished that his
brother acroos the pond has not-thats
the question. How many years are we
ahead of them? in another. Or, are
they ahead OF us Would our methods
be as successful there as here? Could
we calculate into foreign minds this
newborn and healthy idea OF doing
things? Let us see-take look, as IL
were, Into the panorama.
We build higher and broader and
deeper. Especially in this true in Lon-
don and Paris where the building laws
do not permit the erection of any struc-
ture that will cast shadow on the one
directly opposite it. In London. 1t Is
the ground area which counts most.
Here, store after store s'jointed togeth-
er in chain, their uneven fronts pre-
senting shabbily picturesque appear
ance Archways and doorways are cut
between and you wander around from
place to place, thinking and wondering
where you will come out. A modifica-
ton of the building laws over there
would result in an almost instant trans
formation on the part of several houses.
In Paris and Berlin the broadness OF
the thoroughfares permits OF greater
height being obtained. but even there
four stories is the nearest approach to
the skyline. The architecture OF the
stores, too, is very different from ours.
Light is too often sacrificed for room.
Crowded aisies and narrow stairs are
very much in evidence. You get little
OF that labyrinth of landscape and
beauty that gives grace and charm and
refinement to our American institu-
tons.
There is possibly one exception-that
OF the Bon Harche in Paris. Here Is
store built quite on American lines. One
thing detracts from its appearance,
however and that is the narrowness OF
the streets around 1t. You would ex-
pect to find this great Establishment
close to the city's center, yet there 1t is
q half hour from the opera thru dingy
streets and muddy lanes, several miles
away. But 1t Is worth the effort to go
to it.
You would not like the STIFFNESS OF
the store; there Is too much to see; too
little room to see 1t in. Or, Is it that the
American idea of shopping does not
prevail there? We Americans like to
put into view few "ticklers" to please.
and then by the fluent use of talk at
tract the customers attention to other
things. Over there. most every is Wis
slble. There are very few boxes. drawers
and mysterious cabinets. You will most
everything you desire right before you
And this accounts to a large extent
for the careless manner in which stocks
are kept. There is not the neatness OF
precision of piles you see in our home
stores. The rack that ought to hold
fifty silk petticoats, to show them to
advantage, is crammed with hundred.
Price tickets, too. are not nearly SC
much utilized as here tho they may be
seen to some extent. Whatever goes
into window you may be sure will
have price ticket upon 1t.
Very few young folks are employed
in the Bon Marche, and quite the re-
verse Of this country, the major portion
of help are men. Their are engaged all
most exclusively in every department.
excepting suits, millinery and women's
undertaking. The man who, earns $40
a week commands good salary. and q
$40 man is prize winner. Over 200
of the 5000 employs speak English In
telligently.
In the Bon Marche there are no chill
dren employed to run checks. This
work devolves wholly on women OF ma
;tronly age. And this Is also true OF
those who interested the writer, and
inquiry was made into the why's and
wherefores.
1--WE employ women to wrap" said
one of the managers. because they are
more careful and palnstaking; make
fewer mistakes: are always In their
places, attentive to the duties. with nc
time or inclination for idle gossip OF
conversation There is certainly little
room for argument in such statement
and 1t is doubtless true.
But when 1t comes to cashiers. the
order is quite reversed. Cash desks arr
placed at convenient points turnout the
big store-there are upwards OF twenty
of them on the main floor alone. They
are omen desks, with no guard ran:
such as we have here. Within eacf
desk is a bookkeeer and a cashier-botf
men. An entry is made of every sale
according to the department in which
an article has been sold. You get YOU
cnange the way we used to get 1t here
ten years ago-when 1t comes.
A systems of transfers is employed
which is an adaptation of the American
but it falls short OF approaching 1t II
completeness and general excellence
The system Is the same, so far as TIN
use OF a transfer sheet. with duplicate
numbers, is concerned. The goods arr