The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-02-14


TIME management of department
stores in our large cities has
been systematized and per-
fected to a degree not easily
understood by the average person who
shops in these magnificent emporiums
of trade. While Oh the surface they
seem to be big money making prop
ositions, so smoothly does their oper-
alton run, and so pleasing is the effect
on prospective purchasers that it may
surprise a few to know that depart
ment store managers have troubles of
their own that cannot be told to pO-
liceman.
Did you ever stop to figure the cost of
maintenance of one of these elaborate
establishments? A store like Marshall
Fields of Chicago, Wannamaker's of
Philadelphia, or Jordan Marsh of Bos-
ton, these establishments carry a stock
of goods amounting from five to six
million dollars and do business of
twenty to twenty-five millions year.
Their vast army of employees of 1000
or more; daily newspaper ads at $1,000
per page; their splendid cafe for Gus
toners and lunch rooms for employees;
the enormous sums paid for taxes,
freight, express, and mail, is it any
wonder that a single employee feels
like cog in vast machine and just
as helpless? These mammoth establish
ments, with their enormous liked
charges, stand to make or lose thou
sands of dollars. Few realize the
worry inclement weather or backward
seasons cause department store man
ayers.
As general rule the large stores in
our principal cities have found it ad-
vantageous to run their business under
the old firm name as close corpora
tion, that is, an incorporated company
whose shares are held by agreement
and not for sale. At the head of this
corporation is the general manager
who directs the lines along which the
business is conducted. Under his di-
rect personal supervision is The corps
of buyers There is buyer for every
separate department. The general
manager has the final word as to what
is best to be done and what amount OF
goods shall be purchased. On his desk
every morning is daily report show
ing amount of sales in each department
with corresponding sales year ago
Should q department show loss il
sales, the buyer is called in for an ex
planation. January 1st a complete
inventory is taken showing total bust
ness done in each department.. o.
this is based estimates for the coming
year.
Mr.. Jacob Kesner, manager of tn
Fair Store, Chicago, receives salar.
of $50 600 a year, while Mr.. Sheed a
Fields receives 100000. Close to tn
general manager stands the corps o
buyers. To understand this person
importance, will briefly outline tn
departmental organization. All mel
chandise is classified into stores; q
the head of each store is the buyer; tn
general manager allots to each buyer
specified amount of money whic
constitutes the capital on which tn
buyer does business. To each store
charged rental for space occupied, ais
clerk hire, salary of buyer; floor man,
ger, cashiers, electric light, heat, po
ter's service, advertising, and pc
-centage in general management fl
maintenance.
The buyer, of course, as his title II
dicates, buys all the goods in his sto
and fixes the prices for which they a
sold. Each store is subdivided I'M
stocks; the best clerk being designate
as head of stock. He has the right
order goods to keep his stock compile,
In some departments it is not unusu
for the capital to beDturned oyer thr
or four times In the course OF ye,
The buyer, acting thru thesuperinten
ent, indicates the number of cler
he wants, also cash girls, wrappers,
spectors and. cashiers. He fixes tn,
salaries, authorizes special sales. ma