The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-09-05
Executive Places
in Large Stores
By EDWARD WILLIsToN FRENTz.

When SaleSg1rl in particular
department of large store has DEM
onstrated that she has ability above
Ter fellows in that department she is
advanced to the position of head Of
stock" She still keeps her place as a
salesgirl, and still sells goods, but in
addition she exercises a general over
sight over the goods, watches for de-
pletion in any particular line, makes
notes of those styles or qualities
which sell best, keeps the buyer for
that department informed. and, in
general, pushes the sales. For this
she receives a slight increase of
wages, SO that she is usually the best
paid salesgirl in her department.
If she shows ability she next be-
comes clerical assistant" to the buy
err. Thus, starting with a poorer
equipment in the way of education,
she has now fought her way up to the
position, referred to in the preceding
paper, which the college girl took
when she entered the store.
In this position she gets the point
OF view of the buyer of goods, in ad.
dition to that of the seller, which she
acquired at the counter down stairs.
She keeps the stock sheets, which re-
cord the transactions in all the va
rious lines. She learns where the
buyer gets the SIS suits which sold
so we'll last month, and what lines
have netted the largest profits.
In some stores the position of cler-
ical assistant does not exist by that
name. In such places the successful
head of stock becomes assistant buyer.
In addition to those duties just de-
scribed, she will visit the wholesale
markets with the buyer, and will be
responsible for the stock in her de-
partment, once it is in the store She
must watch it closely, and know
when to push dull" line by judi
cious advertising or by special mark
down sales. Her wages will be from
SIS to $40 a week, and she may also
have a commission on sales.
The buyers position is the goal of
every ambitious department store
girl. Not only are the emoluments
greater in the matter of money, but
there are trips to the great wholesale
markets, as New York in the East,
Chicago and st. Louis in the West,
New Orleans in the South and San
Francisco on the Pacific coast. In
many departments there are also
yearly Or semi-yearly trips to London
or Paris. This gives variety and adds
charm to the work.
The requirements are energy, good
aste, executive ability to handle SUBJ
ordinates, and above all, and rarest
of all, the buying instinct the
ability to make good trade. Rare
rs this quality is, it shows itself as
often in women as in men, and it al
ways commands high figure. The
salaries of buyers depend both on
their ability and on the department
which they represent. The buyer for
the smalles. department would hard
ly receive less than $40 week, and
in the more important departments
the salaries of women sometimes
range as high as $1,000 or $4,000.
Besides the positions that have
been mentioned there are other we'll
paid places for capable girls in the
department store. Store guides re-
ceive from SIS to $25 a week; secre-
taries to the higher officers from SIS
to $50. 1t sometimes happens that a
girl who begins at the lower rounds
Of the ladder may show small ability
for climbing by the regular and usual
steps, and yet may, develop qualities
which push her into one of these
higher places of another sort.
Every one who has noticed the
lists of INTENDED occupations" of
the graduating classes of mems col
leges is aware that the number of
those who enter the professions has
decreased, while the number Of those
who select business career has in
creased.
The reason is plain. College men
have learned that the money rewards
of success in business are greater.
The growing and coming changes
in the character of department store
work are beginning to have similar
effect upon the minds Of intelligent
girls. With the raising of the stand
ard Of ability, business life is tempt
Ing them more and more, and fore
most among business opportunities
stands the department store. Youth