The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-08
3 PER CENT NET
That Is Average Profit of the
Retail Grocer.
Paul FindIay Quoted Figures at
Convention Today.
VISITORS WELCOMED BY MAYOR
Buffet Luncheon WIN Be Served
This Evening.
Delegates Here From All Over
the State.

Grocers from all over Kansas are in
Topeka today to attend the second an
nual convention of the Kansas Retail
Grocers' association to be held In the
auditorium today and tomorrow.
Speakers of national reputation will
be present.
Delay in getting started made It i'm
possible to carry out the program this
morning as was originally intended.
Addresses of welcome were given by
Mayor II. J. Corwine and G. B.
Me rriam. president of the Chamber of
Commerce, to which a response was
made by A. L. Richardson, of Marion,
Kan.
Speeches Put Off.
Paul Findlay. of Los Angeles. one
of the national figures to attend the
convention, postponed his address on
Store Management" until this after
noon. A similar policy was adopted
by Edward T. Hackney of Wellington,
who was to speak this morning on the
State Fair Price Commission" Two
more important addresses scheduled
for this afternoon were "Organiza-
ton" by John H. Schaefer, past pres
ident of the National Grocers' associa-
ton, and The Importance of Ac-
counting in the Retail Grocery Bust
ness" by T.. d. McMnnus, of Armour
& Company publicity bureau.
Tonight buffet luncheon will be
held in the Chamber of Commerce
rooms. with Paul Lovewell. editor of
the Merchants Journal, as chairman
of stunts. The entertainment will be-
gin at Z o'clock.
Altho the public will be permitted to
attend the sessions, there will be little
of interest to persons other than gro
GERS. No extensive debates on the
high cost~of living are scheduled. and
II such take place they will be i'm
promptu talks. it was said.
Exhibitors this morning We're ra pid
ly getting their displays in shape and
the auditorium gradually took on the
many displays of, fruits, canned and
package goods.
Address Of FlndIay.
Speaking Mt the meeting Paul Finlay, re
tail mercchnndiser of California Fruit GROW
ers Exchange held the fixed attention of his
audience for nearly two hours with n talk
replete with facts. figures and statistics
! on , the distribution of foods, particularly
Himself graduate grocer Of over n
years practical experience. Findlay believes
| in opening up the machinery OF prodnr-
ton and wholesale aud retail distribution
so that all may see the inside works. Re;
tailers and their customers will under
stand each other much better if the
I sumer can be introduced to some of tho
difficulties and pcrplexitics Of the re-
taller" he declares. lie cast side light on
| he showed that the average net profit is
! only about 3 per cent.
Thus when customer pays you x4t
for her months bill of groceries," said
Findiay, she is uncertain just what Yet
get, Back in her head she thinks you
get $40. but your share really Is $1.20
actual net profit on the average. II you
| are king-ro merchant you may get ) per
| cent net or 500 net earnings on that bill
4 FindlAy stated that the trees being 2.JOt
miles on. the average from the center oi
| distribution. 1t is necessary that the eX.
| change keep in touch with retailers all ovei
the country, since they are the last link II
| the chain of distribution and must be Keep
not only efficient, but happy in their work
Rapid Turnover In Fruits.
| One Of Mr.. Findlay's most striking dem
| onstrations related to the surprising Spo
| tentialities of rapid turnover In handling
| oranges and lemons. Working on the
the the, ste stock out each week said Findlny
| you make a clear net profit of pc
cent" That amounts. to nearly $50 pc
! Yet the consumer is thus served with mer
| chandise plus tangible. expensive service
! which together cost you % cents for ever!
| dollar YOU take in. This shows Just VIII!
the retail grocer survives. lie performs
service so valuable for So modest u re-
turn that no more economical agent Of dis
| trbutiOn has been discovered nor is
| likely that any cheaper medium will b
Findlay dwcIt at considerable length Of
the display value Of oranges and lemons
| which. by scientific Investigation. have bee
| shown to be more pleasing to the averaG
| person than any other natural colors. Tn
fact that reflection. on the glass does no
distort the vision MS badly when the win
dow is dressed with the yellow fruits a
| with those of darker tones is another grea
advantage.
He urged the grocers to specialize con
tinually on one fine food product after an
other. thus building mp trade in the bet
ter grade of foods and attracting discrim
mating customers. He declared that til
only merchants who succeed in any lin
~ business are those who bring out thei
own indiS iduhlity thru specializing.
Follow Wholesale Market.
most interesting feature of the tai
was Fin1lay's account Of conditions wlTic
favor the Increased sale and consumptio
of lemons. There exists strange super
stition.' he said, that lemons will sell jus
as freely at, say. , for 10 cents, as at an
other figure. But my experience and IL
vestiSation shows that lemons will GO int
consumption many times as fast as now