The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1914-12-10
TELL MERCHANTS
sa WHERE FAULTS LAY
Continued from Page IL


process. Mind you, it is the work
ing together, not for individual gain
but for the common good.
have divided the subject into two
divisions:
merchants themselves.
Second Cooperation between
the merchants and buyer.
= Under the first have taken up
the subject of ''Toting Fair" men
who talk about keeping trade at
home; about cooperation and yet
when 1t comes to buying something
outside their own line-pass their
brother dealers up.
For example: Say a clothing
merchant when in market happens to
think that his wife would like a new
range and the boy a rifle. So he
has the wholesale house go out and
buy them for him. Is there any diff
ference between this man and the
farmer who buys from the mail-order
house? NO. The difference if any,
Is in favor of the farmer, for often
times he knows no better.
~ z-.-- =" s' -. Did He Save?
Did the clothing man save by this
transaction? At the time being he
may have saved few dollars
the long run, No, for he loses the
good will and confidence of his bro
ther dealers and may lose them as
customers. Second: He sends money
out Of the community that rightly
belongs at home, and last, but not
least, he sets bad example for the
buyers of the community Don't try
to save by using the same method
you condemn in others
The Second subdivisions:
Don't be jealous of your compet-
itor and make mean remarks.
These only create distrust
on the part of the consumer which
concerns who find rich harvest
among these people.
Third: In some lines of business
one merchant can help out a fellow
merchant when he is short Of stock
or has too many Of a certain article
on hand. So I say, Cooperate for
the good of ALL"
Now, cooperation between the
merchant and buyer.
f. First: Carry a clean up-to-date
stock, as complete as you can afford.
Second: Have courteous and eff
cient statesmen or you cannot move
that stock. You may buy what you
please-advertise in any manner you
like, but the final results rest with
the salesman and if he be not cour-
teous, competent, accommodating
and interested in his work, the re-
suits are not going to be pleasing.
Right here let me say this courteous
ness should not be one-sided affair.
Why should a customer expect it
from the man or woman behind the
counter when he fails to show the
least sign of respect and courtesy
"Do unto others as you would others
would do unto you"
Be Truthfu'
Third: Be truthful in advertis-
ing. The public is growing wiser
all the time. People compare-they
thfnk-they , reasOn-consequen
they find out things about advertis-
ing that are not good for the mer-
chant, unless all his statements and
comparisons are strictly in line with
the facts. mot only is honesty
right, but it pays in the long run"
Fourth: The unvoiced complaint
How about this: Have you done
anything in the past to unearth the
reason why a man or woman has SIM
ply quit trading with you? If not,
here is fertile field for activity
look into it and you may bring many
customer back to the fold.
Fifth: Just let people shop; en-
courage people to come into the
stOre-loOk over the stock and find
out what you have, whether they
buy or not, for the mail-order
houses encourage people to shop with
their fancy illustrated, catchy cata-
logues, and if you do not encourage
them the trade may go out of the
community.
Sixth: Keep in touch with the To-
cal activities and progress.
II we wish to make Bemidji a
clean, un-to-date, prosperous city, in
fact the big town of North Central
Minnesota, we must cooperate, each
and every one of us.
II knew you and you knew me,
d 'Tis seldom we would disagree; a
But. never having yet clasped hands,
Both often fail to understand
That each intends to do what's right,
And treat each other "Honor bright
How little to complain there'd be
II ! knew you and you knew me.
Then let no doubling. thoughts abide
OF firm good faith on either side;
Confidence to each other give,
Living ourselves, let others live;
But any time you come this way,
That you will call, we-hope and pray
Then face to face we each shall see,
And I'll know you and you'll know
T-'.Ez~ me. .-~..
>.S-s.>s .-.A Selected