The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-04-09
Keeping Open at Niglt.

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nights These letters ask our opinion
in the matter and are usually from mer-
chants who close at six o'clock for the
day,
Generally they are from the best mer-
chants.
The competitors referred to as keep
ing open until nine or ten o'clock 10 the
evening are usually of the more ordina-
ry and smaller stores. However, some
of the letters are from merchants in
towns where all the stores are now
keeping open-the merchant writing
us being DESTROYS of establishing early
closing hours.
Whether store should CT should
not keep open in the evening is mat
ter of both human morals and business
policy.
AS matter of morals, the conclusion
is most decided that an employer gets
out of his employees between opening
time in the mornings and six O'Clock in
the evenings, all that he pays for-and
sometimes more.
AS matter of business policy the
Reporter has always contended that
unanimous closing at six clock p. m.
Is to the best intereste of the merchants
themselves.
Aud even to the store whose Compel
itors keep open al night, we would adj
wise pro npt closing, regardless to the
actions of petitors-this as purely p
matter of business; of hard dollars and
cents
And here are our reasons. Stores
that close at 6 p. m. allowing their
clerks time for rest and recreation, wi
have a more capable salesforce than if
that same salesforce is kept fretted and
tired by overwork and too losg hours.
capable, bright, cheerful, rested
salesforce will sell more goods, please
more customers, and give more general
satisfaction ala around, than the other
kind.
Customers who arc, pleased at the at
tention received by salespeople will
bring that store new customers. A
tired crnsty, run down salesforce will
turn trade away, aEd this kind of a
salesforce is inevitable with overwork
and night hours,
Salespeople are merely human beings
and the human constitution can only do
so much.
The proprietor who keeps his store
open nights gains the disrespect and
dislike of all his employees. This dis
like is not outspoken, of course, but it
is there just the same, and It is sure to
work evil to the business. Customers
are human and if they see you treat
your employees in humanitarian way,
you will gain their approval. This ap-
prevail may not be oLtspoken but it will
be there just the same, and it is sure to
work good to the business.
II your competitor keeps open and you
close, there is direct contrast be-
tween you and your competitor that is
sure to make the customer think the
better of your store.
Because few struggling customers
stay in at night and buy goods of the
store that keeps open, you cannot con-
clude that the public is -blooded
and cares nothing either one way or
the other about these things.
And the claim of stores that they
keep open for the accommodation
of customers has no weight. The opin-
ion of the ninety and nine who do not
go shopping at night is more valuable to
your store than all the trade of the af-
uersupper traders.
1t is not an accommodation to the
public for you to keep open at nj ght,
and therefore tho public will not ap
preciate it, 1t is an accommodation
to your clerks for you to close nights,
and therefore your clerks will appreci-
ate it.
And don't close your heart head and
for that means at least, dollars and
cents to you.
i We could reason through several
pages on this subject without reaching
any different results. The practical
fact is that statistics show stores that
close evenings are the most successful
have the biggest and most intelligent
trade ssmartest salespeople and make
more money.
Then to you we would advise except
ing Saturday night some special lay
night, or some special local affair: If
the stores in your town close at night
you close your store; If part Of the
stores in your town close at night, you
close your store; If all the stores IN your
town keep oper at night, you close your
store.
We advise this purely as matter of