The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-10-11

WI
cOnsignments on percentage basis.
At the beginning the rate was five
per cent on consignments of a
thousand dollars. This rate varied
according to the amount bought.
The merchant issued the stamps to
customers who pasted them in
books furnished by the trading
stamp companies through the re-
taller. Some books were to carry
fifty dollars worth of stamps, 9th
ers one and two hundred dollars.
When the book was filled the hold
er of same was entitled to any
premium listed in the stamp COM
panies' 'catalogs and shown in their
display rooms.
If a stamp concern sold a thou
sand dollars worth of stamps at
five per cent it obtained the sum OF
fifty dollars. The premium Was
seldom worth five dollars; the gross
profit to the stamp company in this
case was forty-five dollars. The
retailer who used the stamps paid
the fixed percentage in every case,
but the stamp company did not
pay the customer in every case.
Hundreds of dollars worth of
stamps we're destroyed or lost, so
they were never redeemed.
! At one time in the history of the
trading stamp it appeared as
though national legislation would
be necessary to restrict the stamp
concerns from coercing retail mer-
chants into using their system.
The writer remembers distinctly
some of the methods employed by
a Canadian concern. Trained So
licitors were employed and worked
in crews, The crew boss and, say
five men, would enter a city. A
map showing every retail establish
ment would be prepared showing
lines of merchandise carried by
9he merchants. The city would be
divided into five sections. Then
the local papers would be handed
full page advertisements with glar-
ing headlines announcing the ad-
vent of the trading stamp to the
city. Letters were printed from
well-known people declaring their
opinion that the trading stamp was
the poor mans discount. After a
few days splendid showroom was
opened on the principal street.
Flowers were given free to all vis-
itors. Samples of stamps and books
we're handed out while a good or
chestra played. The newspapers
we're given more space and, finally,
the largest department stores in
each of the five sections of the city
would be visited and invited to use
trading stamps. Perhaps one
would Immediately agree on condi-
tion that certain stores in his neigh
borhood would not be sold the
stamps for certain period. If
this success ensued without further
pressure, branch premium dis
play room would be opened there;
an elaborate musical program
would be staged and the public in
vited. Books containing free
stamps would be circulated and the
store committed to the use of
stamps. Let me mention here that
once a store commenced to use
trading stamps it must perforce
continue their use for fear its COM
petitor might secure them.
j The next step was to organize
the stores in the suburbs, the So
} licitors gradually working in to-
wards the leading store in their Sec
tions, always respecting the prom
ises made with regard to not selling
other stores within a given limit.
Merchants were practically dubbed
; into using stamps in thousands of
cases. If Mr.. Smith, who handled
groceries in choice location, re-
} fused to handle the stamps the
fact was duly reported to the head
+ Office; an experienced solicitor