The Detroit times., 1911-11-20
"PAY CASH AND TAKE
HOME YOUR GROCERIES"
Duke c. Bowers Tells of Novel
Plan He Uses in Operating
Thirty-six Stores.

MEMPHIS, Nov. a0-Grocer Bowers
and thousands of Memphis house
wives are informal partners. The
party OF the first part agrees to sell
groceries cheaper than anybody else
in Memphis the parties OF the sec
ond part agreed 10 pay cash and 10
carry their purchases home with
them.
Duke &. Bowers has three dozen
grocery stores scattered over Mem,
phis He has built them up ana
fought food trusts at the same time.
He has never owned delivery
wagon. Its TOO expensive a luxury
for the man OF ordinary means. Some
people had the idea that the grocer
paid for that horse and wagon. Tor
the man who drove and for repairs
Wrong. The customer pays II all;
the groceryman just tacks II onto the
stun you buy, and you pay Tor. IL
whether you have your goods deliver
ed or not
Credit losses is another thing that
the grocery keeper unloads on his GUS
toners.
II don't want half my customers
paying the bad bills of the other half;
and | don't want some of them who
come for their groceries, paying the
delivery bills for those people who
telephone for every nickels worth
they buy and want II sent over right
away" says Bowers.
That Is why every woman who
markets at one OF the Bowers stores
gets groceries for whole week OF
seven days, where. she would get only
about six days food IL she didn't stick
TO Grocer Bowers cardinal principles.
Wealthy women. poor women and
women OF the intermediate grade
visit the ''carry-your-good s-home
yourself" stores Recently Bowers
made arrangements 10 deliver pur-
chases of IS and over, because an or
der OF that size Is usually too heavy
for woman TO carry.
Bowers divides the profits with his
store managers. He figures on max
ing clear profit of per cent on
everything he sells; and he allows 10
per cent for the cost OF handling
That Ia per cent Is added to the
wholesale price OF his goods, and IL
doesn't make any difference to him
whether that agrees with the retail
price fixed by the manufactures or
not II took many hard fight 10
make the manufacturers let him re-
tail at his own price and not at the
higher price printed on package
goods.
Most OF the other grocers have to
load their goods anywhere from Is
to 40 per cent Bowers explains.
MY three dozen stores permit me
10 turn over my stock almost every
day II run short In one store can
stock up on a few minutes notice.
am not compelled TO charge my Gus
toners interest on a big stock OF
goods. | don't have the losses OF
perishable foods TO contend with, and
for the same reason.
But the largest share OF the high
cost OF living Is not due TO the grocer"
said Joseph Fly, Bowers righthand
man, but to the food syndicates.
There isn't single food product on
our shelves but has its price either
fixed or influenced by some food syn.
dictate"
Gould cooperative groceries cut
down the cost any,"
About as much as we do" he re-
piled. IF they cut out credit and de.
livering. and bought in large quaint.
ties for cash
Bowers began his remarkable gro
Gerry career in Memphis 10 years ago.
with one little 5000 grocery. His first
days sales totalled eight cents-"but
II was all cash" he proudly said az
forwards Now he sells nearly $4,000
200 OF goods a year, and he figures
that he is saving the Memphis wife
about 100000 a year.