The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-07-28
'0NE Man RUNS THE
BUSINESS OF ENTIRE Town
Dexter in
al lind Trades
and Turn Over the Management o
Who

complete record of every store, every
department and the sales of every
clerk is kept. These slips are re-
turned next morning to the store.
They show how much gods each clerk
sold, how much produce they handled
how much their cash and credit sales
were.
comprehensive Report.
This report also shows the number
of customers and the average pur-
chase of each, and on the first day of
each month a complete statement is
made out for each place of business
for the last month. This report shows
expenses and profits, SO that every
merchant every month can tell just
what amount of business he does and
exactly the amount of profit.
From these reports depends the
From these reports depends the
buying. All this is done under the
supervision of Pogue and in case the
sales in one department are short the
stock is reduced accordingly Should
they increase the stock is increased
and in this way the stocks are kept
cleaned and in shape, with no useless
which there is no demand.
When a travelling man goes to Dex-
ter the merchant calls in the superin-
tendent and he does the buying ac-
cording to the results of the daily
and monthly sales reports.
Besides authorizing the buying the
superintendent places the advertising.
writes the ads and decides whether it
shall be circular, letter or newspaper
publicity. He dictates the amount Of
space to be taken in the papers and
how often the advertisements shall
run. Each month report of the
money spent for advertising Is made,
together with the per cent of sales
used for advertising last year and this
year.
One of the innovations already start
ed is the store and window decora-
tons in an effort to make the store
windows pretty and attractive and an
expert window trimmer trims all the
windows. Then another thing Is the
elimination of the dry goods boxes IN
the street, so often found in country
towns, and the education of the peo-
pie in keeping the streets clean and
the walks passable.
Awaken to Civic Pride.
Although the city government was
not turned over to Mr.. Pilkington, he
practically dictates what it shall do,
as most of the councilman are mer-
chants and are heartily in favor of
the movement to boost Dexter and in
crease the business of the town.
Since June 1 the streets have been
kept clean and in good condition,
several public Improvements have
been started and people have awaken
ed to the need of civic pride. The
experiment is being watched by manu-
facturers, jobbers, merchants and
travelling men throughout the United
States, and as a result Dexter is Sc
curing an abundance of free advertise
ing.
In short, the business of Dexter has
been placed on the plane of a large
city. The same business methods
which are used in a city are employed
in Dexter now. allowing for the small
change in conditions. Under the new
arrangement the expense of most of
the business houses is increased by
advertising, but it is expected to show
that to make money it is necessary
to spend money.
In picking Dexter for the expert
ment, Mr.. Pilkington did not make it
easy for himself. Two cities, Stuart
only five miles away, and Des Moines,
with 100000 population, only IA miles,
mean a severe competition to be faced
by Dexter. But Mr.. Pilkington well
comes a decisive test.
Figures of the stock and the profits
of, the various merchants under the
old conditions have been prepared and
these will be compared with the
showing for this year when the seven
months contract has expired.
If the results are what Mr. Pilking-
ton expects then he will have taken
place among the great modern bust
ness innovators.