Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-05
WILLIAM SMEDLEY WANTS
CONTINUED FOOD CONTROL
Tells GrocerS They Have Been Get
ting More From hdmnistra-
ton Than Before
WAR TAUGHT MANY LESSONS
Trade Has Learned Better Business
Methods. and Is in Healthier Con
dition Than Before World Con-
iiict.

Introduced briefly by Benjamin |.
Purcell. of the Federal food admins.
lra,ion for Virsinin. William Smedicy
Groccrs Association. addressed Il rc,,-
rcsentatire gathering Of retail and
wholesale sroccrs Of Richmond ana
NlclIiitS last night in the auditorium
Of John Marshall High School
Local Food Administrators w. pernct
PATTERSON ana members OF his stan
We're seated on the platform. as wen
as Mr. Purcell. Director w A. Powell
OF the sugar division, and others d,
the official personnel OF the State or
Ganization.
In advocating the necessity for fur
th.r conservation Of food and the All
vahtaSes OF organization and CO. opera
ton in the grocery business the
speaker gave il as his personal opinion
from wide observation and an ihiensive
study Of conditions before and during
taught the trade generally would he
Of incalculablc benefit to. dealers in
ROOD products in the future even after
the present restrictions had been lifted
MIR. Smcdlcy went so far ms 10 nd-
vocatc continued food control by leg
lsiailon after the war agencies ere
caily cease with the signing of peace
terms.
We have been getting a squarer
deal from the food administrator than
we got for ourselves" he said we
nave learned better business methods
and trade is in a healthier condition
The first of three salient points Of
tho lesson taught by the hard ships OF
the war. Mr.. Smedlcy stated. was 10y
meaning of service. and through service
co operation.
Cod must have loved a grocer" he
declared. because lie made So many
OF us"
The advantages of organization were
stressed by Mr.. Smedlcy. who gave Il
mum her Of practical Recommendations N
support of his theories. The great
est impeachment in the grocery bust
ness; as in every other business to
ness man. Exchange ideas. Get to-
gether,. keep together, work together
There is room enough 10 be friends in
the other fellow. Nothing Helps YOUR
business like intelligent ompetition.
rms is the day wlen We need all the
brains in business we can get"
DIVIDED GROCERY BUSINESS
INTO FIVE DIVISIONS
The speaker divided the grocery bust
ness into five misunderstanding, sell
ing. storing, accounting and collect
ing. Tasing up the divisions in the
the salient points CT each. Good buy
ing" he said, lis not overlooking. Buy
quick ,urnovers The art OF selling
only had one before. Good selling IS
good service"
Enlarging upon the intrinsic value
Importance OF personality behind tho
counter Wit ia number of Illustrations
in point. particularly that Of the little
hootblack in New York city who cra-
tuiiously supplied the missing button
for CATERS and sewed /, on as par,
Of the service rendered with a scent
shine
In the matter Of storing. Mr. Smed-
ley said, Don't let your Storeroom be
cemetery Tor dead stock. Use judc.
ment IN buying, common sense and
nerve. When We teach men the proper
knowledge OF costs we get them into a
better class Of competitors"
As We serve the consuming public
nest, We Ser|" ourselves best" Mr.
Snlcdley assured the croccrs. whether
a store Is great or small, depends on
the service II gives the public. More
goods are sold on personality and sem
timeni than for their Intrinsic value
The man who doesn't get a profit is a
fool. and the grocer who charges an
UNJUST proiit iS y thief. Increased in
i"l!iscncc In tho conduct Of amy bust
ness wtl get Increased returns from,
that business out or organization
comes tri"ndllnesS ana iricndlinesS
counts Getting together gives w cour-
Local Food Administrator ". Per-
re- PATTERSON. in thanking VI, Smcd-
ley TOT BIS comprehensive ana iustruc-
I've ADDRESS, resolved the meeting. into
:9unaiable discussions. when the gro.
Gers present were 1T liberty to avail
NJ N-nscl4y any questions :, ruinfc-
- local ErccerS Immediately took al
e.,s&E - 'lre opportunity thus created
us Nt Patterson