The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-23
MARKETING SUGGESTIONS.
FOR CANNING CLUBS|
Members OF the Organizations Shonid
Make Careful Arrangements for
Disposing OF Products n Opera
tions Are 90 he Rcmuncratfvc.

Washington. u. c., Sept, 22.---Close
attention TO mark eting problems
should he given by members OF boys
and girls canning clubs, now that the
products of these organizations are
beng turned out in considerable pro-
portions. SAYS specialists of the United
States department of agriculture. I'm
less steps are taken to bring about the
disposal OF the canned goods In n we'll
ordered and pra ctiealI way. IL is point
ed out. there is likelihood that the
operations OF the clubs will not be re-
munerative, The specialists offer aug
gesfions for the solution Of marketing
problems facing the clubs in publica
tion, THE Marketing of Canning
Club Products" recently issued at
markets document No 8.
One of the irzt essentials to salts -.
factory marketing arrangements, say
the specialists. is standardized pro
ducts Standardization should he
brought 10 the point where cans or
Jars OF given fruit or vegetable put
up nv the different members of the
clubs are uRiform IN ack. appear
ance. quality and condition, Every
container which IA fully up to the
standard represented by the labor or
brand with then he an advertisement
in itself and often a guarantee of fur
Their purchases,
Speciaitics
In preparing the products which
are to he sold. It is well also to put
up A large quantity OF specialtles in
comparison with the quantity of plain
canned goods. such rs tomatoes. since
there will then be less competition
with commercial goods
Having assured the quality of their
products, the clubs should then make
an informal survey of the conditions
In their community to ascertain the
consuming capacity Of the comm unity
served by retailers, the quantity of the
various kinds OF products handled
by the retailers, the sources from
which they obtain their supplies. the
prces they pay, the prices at which
they sell. and their attitude toward the
handling Of club products in the place
OF some Of their commercial products,
Such a survey. IS the club work Is
organized at present, may we'll be
I based on the county as a unit, the
work being divided among the vari-
Gus club of the county, When a sur
| vey is being made the merchants
should he acquainted with the products
in which the clubs are specializing.
Advertising.
The next step in developing the
market IS advertising the products
to the consumer. A number of
methods have been found useful by
various clubs. These include the
maintenance of permanent exhibits Of
| canned goods at easily accessible
places; the placing of temporary ex-
J hihits in various stores. a fairs. etc !:
! the use in local newspapers Of news
| stories and display adyeHising; and the
securing of the cooperation OF the
! local housewives who will ask the
| storekeepers for the club products.
! Where 1t ia essential to incur ex-
| pense in advertising, one OF the best
ways 70 make up the necessary fund
! is to have each club member contri-
butte one or more containers Of pro-
ducts each year.
The club marketing plans developed
in North Carolina call for a committee
Of club mem bers in each mommunitS
which canvasses housewives for order,
and delivers through their gNocers
If clubs can not sell all their products
locally. they call on the county com.
mittee for assistance and in some cases
the county committees appeal to the
state committee for help.
/ In Chattanooga. Tennessee, tn.
clubs maintain a booth in a centra
] market house with a club member ir
charge. This member receives a com
mission on sales. Various r9her