Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-18

Ew YORK NJ T. July 14-Unfortunately for
N the writer's of human interest stories and the
manufacturers of standard grades OF chewing
gum, the popular American shop girl type Is passing
out of existence a few moro years she VIII Dc
gone In her place appeared self-possessed IN
telligent young woman with knowledge Of the psy-
chology and professional training IN the
matter selling goods. True. creditabe number Oh
the still lounge over variety OF counters
and shout the purchasers, but rule the conpe-
ttion of the educated saeswoman leaves them far be-
hind and they soon forced into another held-
The gradual evolution has been brought about by
the department themselves, who after many
years discovered OF success lay in an
efficient selling force The first educational reform
in the store through the children employed
on it's force 1t is estimated forty thousand chill
dren stop school work year to obtain work
in New York. OF these large proportion enter the
city department stores messengers bundle wrap
pers or cash girls law requires that these chill
dren shall furnished education by their employ
ers under the supervision the board Of education;
otherwise they taken away and marched back to
school by officer Consequently, there is now
a public in every large department store in the
city, teaching arithmetic, English spelling, geography
penmanship hygiene and practical business methods
and school not only has day attendance of many
children night attendance Of hundreds of shop
girls anxious to learn.
In many also special training class
es, held three nights week. in which the employees
are ectured successful craftsmanship methods
entire national and international department
system Many of these classes include courses
in French German, knowledge of which is usual
ly to become successful buyer Each girl
is made to that promotion into the stores
high places is limited only by her ability and ambi-
tion.
The Asta Adjustment Of these schools required tre
endous original outlay text books and
school facilities the stores have more than maze
up the greater efficiency Of their selling 1oroe
which has brought increased profits Advertising Is
the prime essential in bringing people to the store
hut after that it is up to the selling make them
And hiatt
that word-of-mouth advertisement which travels from
one customer another and brings people back again
and again buy that particular store Under these
circumstances Indifferent or discourteous sales
woman may be direct means Of losing five custom
ers.
Not long ago an actress bought silk sport suit at
argA dapartment store where she had account and
ordered it her residence Upon trying on the
t morning she discovered that 1t had small white
spot on the hem of the skirt wncn appeared 10 h@e
been caused by acid of some sort AS the spot hao
not been on suit when she bought II ana since ~
hod not occurred while in her house, she Immediately
+ooL II hack and showed it to the saleswoman Inc
s,i+ hanpened to the only the department mad
IN stock so the actress explained that she would Keep
a. - the saeswoman would have the skirt altered so
that the spot would not show At this point the buyer
of the department arrived in disagreeaoe frame OF
mind and told actress that such thing would Dc
inossibIe unless she paid It, and that otherwise
the store simply send the suit back TO the rae
In other words according to the buyer the store
preferred to lose prontaDle safe rdtner Ind 70 az
commodate customer.
The actress however, having a determined dispo-
si+ion demanded the manager OF the store 10
whom she described the incident and that afternoon
che went home carrying the suit which had been neatly
exed as we'll as series Of apologies from the entire
department The dscourtesy Of the buyer in this in
stance nearly the store valuable account and
rather than again the management pre-
ferred to lose the buyer.
On the other hand, in this store there are
rurnber Of saleswomen who have regular customers
On their books some Of whom buy hundreds of dollars