The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-02-14
Che management Of Large
Department Stores

Gowns ana bargains, IN 1acC managing
his store Independently.
The position of buyer is much
sought, as there are possibilities of
commission. The managers are aware
of this and pay percentage on net
profits, thus making All incentive for |
the buyer to earn money for his house.
The average salary paid to buyers is
four or five thousand dollars year,
but many of the largest buyers receive
$4,000 year and make as much more
from their percentages.
The superintendent ranks next to
the general manager His duties are
tersely put by the clerks, who say "He
hires and fires" but this is Of course Il
superficial view of bis responsible po
sition for upon his efforts and abilities
i'll the management of his employees
depend in great degree whether the
The superintendent's duties are of
disciplinarian character, and as such
he comes in daily contact with delin-
quent and careless clerks. He hires
every person on the pay roll represent
ing about every trade and profession,
except burglary, under the sun and
not excepting detectives and spoilers.
The average salary paid is from $500
to $4,000 year.
| Next to the superintendent comes
the floor manager. He has direct con-
troll Of all employees in his department,
and on his ability depends great deal
whether the sales are good or poor.
Ali the clerks deal with him, and he
must be good jollier and hand each
young lady clerk honeyed words and
sweet promises or they will sulk and
the department lose sales.
No doubt you have all heard lady
shoppers exchange views as to the de-
STABILITY of certain stores for shop
ping. They will all declare they just
love to. shop at Fields, as the service is
SO perfect, even if the prices are higher
than further south ON State Street.
Lady shoppers like to deal with pleas
men; they do not like to wait long
time for their purchases and change.
and they appreciate the many little at.
: tentions clever clerk can give them
This perfect service the floor manager
If competent, strives to maintain. The
floor manager keeps the time of his
clerks and other employees, sees that
the proper goods are displayed as ad
: vertised with correct prices attached
. rectifies errors in change, adjusts dis
: putes between clerks and customers
n exchanges goods, helps fainting womeI
2 to the hospital, and keeps an eye ou
for boosters, or shOplifters.
Q Wastage and lost time must be KEEP
y at a minimum, and the persistent shop
t per who is looking for one dollar
9 worth of goods for ten cents, diplo
f matically steered out of the depart
8 ment. His salary runs from $18 t.
Q 1926 week. The auditing department
r keeps track of all sales and expendi
It lures. Each clerk is given three book
70 cash sale, charge, and G. o. ID. Th
q cash sale ticket is made out in tripl
b cate, the customer has one, the cashie
10 one and the inspector one. The stu
is remains in the book and goes to tn
20 auditing department to be pieced tt
= getber again and checked up. Th
r auditors department employs abou
r one hundred pretty girl clerks, and
,r worth $4,000 year.
The department coming close to tt
n- customer, is the delivery. When 20
re buy your Sunday dinner in the grocer
re department you must feel sure it wi
to be delivered by Saturday night and nj
I'd the following Wednesday noon. Mar
to large stores that are otherwise desir
To. BILE places to trade, have so poor q d
al livery that they lose customers, wi
ee naturally want what they have pa
ar. for. This leads us to the lost al
d. found and complaint department wi
ks their large corps Of tracers and col
in plant clerks. They are kept busy tt
eir ing to find out why Mrs. Black receiv
TX q table cover in place Of picture 8