Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-12-14
MEXICO AIDING IN BIG
TRADE INVESTIGATION

me of the leading market eenters
If the United States and Canada.
The Associated Clubs will make their
annual investigation of business con-
litions in these trade centers.
L. A. Beech, of the Mexico Al
Club, has been appointed a member
Of the National Research COMMITTEES.
In speaking of the plans of the AS
ISOLATED Clubs and of Mexico's part
these plans, Mr.. Beech says:
"The purpose of these investiga-
is to give merchants def
mite facts and figures upon which
to base their sales efforts and ad-
vertising campaigns for the coming
year. Through this organization
merchants may see the trend of bus
mess in general and have available
figures showing sectional prosperity
and depression.
an answering the five questions
asked by the Investigators, merchants
need have no fear that they will dis
close business secrets, for no names
or figures in dollars and cents are
asked for. All that is asked is per-
centages and averages, and all infor-
nation is held strictly confidential.
zone great feature of this work is
the rapidity with which the results
of the Investigations are compiled. We
started to collect the information from
Mexico merchants Monday morning
and hope to send out our data by
the latter part Of the week.
at will be sent to Mac Martin, Of
the Mac Martin Advertising Agency
of Minneapolis, Chairman of the Com
mittee, who has promised to have the
complete tabulations for the Cont
nent within $50 hours"
This is the third Continent-wide
Investigation of business conditions
which has been made by the Associat-
ed Clubs. When trade conditions
were upset in 1914 by the outbreak of
the European War the Associated
Clubs were appealed to to make an
investigation in order to show the
change in purchases between one
month of 1914 and the same month
the previous year.
The investigation then conducted
showed a decrease of only 2.3 per
cent in the purchases of the two
months taken.
The praise of this work by Presi-
dent Wilson, Premier Borden of Can
ada, and many leading %financiers Of
both countries led to another inves-
tigation in 1915. This second investi-
cation showed that American con
sumption haad increased 1898 per
cent. These figures gave indications
that America was entering an era
of unprecedented prosperity and that
1916 bid fair to be one of the great
est business years in American his
tory.
Even though this prophesy has been
fulfilled, another investigation is be-
ing made for 1910 Like the two
former Investigations the one for
1916 will cover the six chief retail
lines: department stores, grocery
y stores, hardware stores, clothing
: stores, jewelry stores, and drug stores
Five questions, which will in no way
. disclose business secrets are to be
. asked each dealer and no names viii
. be asked for. All questions are il
u terms of percentages and only TIL
city is subjected to the investigation
The five questions asked are:
l. Sales: "What is the per cen
of increase or decrease in your tota
volume of sales for November, 1916
as compared with November, 1857
2. The same question relating II
/ advertising expenditure,
8. The same question relating t
v volume of stock on hand.
, A. The same question relating t
net profit.
s. What per cent of all money |
y accounts on your books October 81
&c 1916, wa collected during November
10 Serve without Pay.
The investigation is not conducte
If for profit. None of the members G
IF the committee receive any money fc
h. their services.
ii While the first report was sold
ID $500 a copy to defray expenses, tn
lie Associated Advertising CLUBS lie
that such valuable information shouI
have a more general circulation, ar
the report of the second investig'
d. ton was published in the Janual
m Number of Associated Advertiser
l., the official organ of the Associate
s., Clubs, as the present report will b
Some sixty maps and charts a,
y, contained in the final report. Proc
er newspapers of the country, that bus
ness men in every section may cor
of pare their own sales records with Il
to averages for their cities and the a
erages for the country.
tie Missionary Meeting.
Ut The Women's Society of the Bapti