The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-09
THE PECK COMPANY
An Interesting Description of One of
ST. Johnsbury's Progressive
Merchants

Two noteworthy characteristics of
st. Johnsbury merchants are their
long years before the public and the
progress of their business from year
to year. Very frequently they have
to increase their floor space or move
to new quarters. Among those who
have recently moved to a new loca-
ton is the well known firm of Peck
Co. The following from the Hard
ware Dealers Magazine gives an
interesting description of this pro-
gressive hardware firm:
Growth of trade and consequent
increase in stock recently forced the
Peck Co. of St. Johnsbury, Vermont,
to move into larger quarters, which
arc particularly well adapted for
handling their wholesale and retail
business. The new store is an at
tractive one, well located in the bus
mess center of the town and has
been planned and equipped along the
most modern lines.
Will IiIC oilOW CdoCoJ SouilI
ers and display tables placed
in the center of the store, Gus
toners go directly to the lodges of
the shelving to be served and in the
four-foot aisles, which extend from
front to rear, they are able to move
about easily, to inspect the goods on
display and to be quickly served.
The most distinctive feature in
this store is that the business of
waiting upon trade and selling goods
is confined entirely to one floor. The
result is that the working organiza-
ton is not scattered as it otherwise
would be, were there basement and
upper floors connected with the estab-
lishment. Customers coming into the
store do not have to first look about
for some one to wait upon them, as
at all times the statesmen are clearly
in evidence, on the job to promptly
serve them and deliver the goods.
Another great advantage is that all
of the stock for retail is sampled and
stocked within height of seven feet
and six inches from the floor, con-
sequently sliding ladders are only
used when necessary to get at the
surplus stock above.
The display windows are six feet
in depth and of unique type. From
the point at which the door
is hung the windows run on
a bevel back into the store. Gus
toners looking through the glass at
these points, when going out, again
see the goods in the windows. This
type Of window is strongly favored
by merchants who have made a thor
ough study of modern retailing. They
maintain that it is zone hundred pei
cent. efficiency in window display adj
vcrtising and case of attracting Gus
toners coming and going"
The plate glass, in the windows eX-
tends to height of eight feet ant
above it for five feet is prism glass
The backs of the windows have wooC
panels on which goods are displayed
Throughout the store the woodwork
is of light ash in dull varnish finish
Builders and shelf hardware or
the left hand side of the store, car
penters' and machinists' tools on the
right, are sampled on green felt GOV,
4 cred panels, under glass, on hinged
! doors, which swing in pairs, cupboard
style. On the adjustable shelves be-
/ hind, the stock, in the original factory
/ packages, is Systematically arrang
ed. Under these doors there are
double rows of drawers in which nu
4 merous small tools, screws, rivets
cotter pins, stove bolts and odd parts
| are carried in partitioned compart
i ments. When the hinged doors are
] swung open they clear the base ledge
| about seven inches, consequently ne
| goods on it are disturbed or swent
away. Below the ledge convenient
arrangement of various sized draw,
ers accommodates the larger goods
which are well classified into the de.
partments in which they belong.
The gun cabinet, at the front enc
on the right, is about nine feet il
length and it is also used to display
fishing rods in season. 1t is equipped
with three sliding glass doors, as
also is the cabinet for larger tools, as
braces, saws, squares, levels, ham.
mers and hatchets, and weich is sc
we'll located about in the center Of
the store, where the wide aisle acros:
leads to the paint department.
4 Following the large tools are the
/ electrical goods, carried on oper
\ shelving. Then comes the store
managers desk and catalog cabinet
| At this point fine command of al
parts of the store is had. Here the
manager meets travelling statesmen
attends IN hic r1,oip0e ond ,,,,.,....4 Al :