The Elbert County tribune., 1906-06-21


Technically the terms storekeeper
and merchant are analogous, but COM
mercially and practically speaking
they are somewhat different. In trade.
the wholesaler and great retailer are
commonly known as merchants, while
the owner or keeper of a retail store
of moderate size, located either in the
large city. in the small city. or in the
country town or village. is commonly
known and classified as storekeeper.
Perhaps the best definition of store
keeper is small retail merchant"
The storekeeper's business is not
extensive. When 1t becomes extern
sive, he is known as merchant. AS
his trade is almost entirely local, and
comparatively small in volume, he is
naturally his own buyer, manager and
superintendent. In fact, he is about
everything in the store except the
clerk, although he frequently adds a
clerks duties to his own. The sue
cessful storekeeper must be natural
trader and a master of detail, even
though he may not be competent to
handle large propositions. If he does
pCooCoo
buy against the market and pay more
tlSn he receives. He is virtually
trader, a direct buyer, and a direct
seller, who meets face to face both
the man who makes the goods for
him or sells them to him and the
man to whom he sells the goods.
Business a Good One
There are few callings more certain
than that of the storekeeper. If he
understands the fundamental prin-
ciples, of business, is shrewd, a good
Buyer, economical personally and in
business. he is almost certain of a
livelihood, and is reasonably exempt
from failure, provided he is satisfied
with moderate income and does not
overspread in business or in living.
Most of the storekeeping failures are
due to marked inability, extravaganza,
carelessness, inattention, or an at
tempt to do larger business than the
field warrants. Almost any boy of
average ability and of good habits,
who is willing to work. and is reason
ably cautious, can become success
full storekeeper.
The storekeeper almost always be-
gins at the bottom. he was a boy
before he was a salesman, and from
salesman he became head clerk or
head salesman, and from that he
jumped into proprietorship, as part
ner in, or owner of, the store he
worked for or of store he purchased
or established. The storekeeper
should be an all-round man. He can
use a knowledge of bookkeeping, al
though he need not be a professional
bookkeeper. He should understand
buying as well as selling, and it is
absolutely necessary that he know
how to meet his customers He should,
above all, be a good calculator and be
able to financier for the future.
Should Be Natural Trader.
The boy best fitted to be a good
storekeeper shows, even at an early
age. natural trading propensity. The
sharp boy is likely to fail. No matter
how much dishonesty pays, or seems
to pay, in general business, it is alb
solutely essential that the storekeep-
er be, at least, reasonably honest. The
customer he makes, to-day, is the GUS
toner he has, Tomorrow The bulk
of his trade is permanent and not
transient. Sharp practice of any kind.
although it may pay under certain
large city conditions, is sure to be
fatal to the success of local store
keeping. The storekeeper comes in
direct contact with most of his Gus
toners. He knows them socially as
well as in business way. His per-
sonality counts as much as does his
store. He is, therefore, a part of the
goods he sells, and he must keep him
self. as well as his goods. in good
condition.
The successful trader gives value
for value, that is, he sells something
that is worth more to somebody else
than it is worth to him, for a proper
consideration. If the boy successfully
trades jack-knife for a kite, he real
ly sells a jack-knife which is worth
more to the owner of the kite than to
himself and the kite is worth more to
him than to the other boy. The trade
is an equitable swap" each party be-
ing the gamer, each party receiving
something he wants by giving for it
something which he does not want as
much as he wants what he receives.
Success in local store-trading does not
consist in getting the better of the
other fellow, but in making a mutual
exchange. The boy who gets the bet
ter of his fellows every time he trades
will not be a successful storekeeper.
but may make success somewhere
else, because 1t cannot be denied that
sharp practice sometimes pays finan-
cially, and produces, for the one who
understands its manipulation, finan-
cial success; but mark you, it brings
f.,arciaI sI.nnacs e.