South Bend news-times., 1921-05-27

Oh yours before YOU think or buy
ing a one-way ticket from Il. There
are many ambitious. and very wise
young men who are deliberately
leaving the larger cities and moving
into towns such as yours.
a fe-' months ago I visited a
county store in a typical small
town or the west The owner Is a
young man. Ten years ago he left
the town and went 20 Chicago for a
real job" But he had not worked
long before he realized that II would
be many years before he could get
the kind OF a job he wanted. There
were opportunities for foremen.
managers. superintendent and other
bosses" But they were purely ad-
ministrative jobs He wanted 20 ere
ate and build up a business Of his
own.
The death OF his father called him
home 10 care for his mother. and he
got a job IN a general store OF the
town. Il was a terrible grind. The
work itself was not back breaking
But the daily round OF little things
20 do-the same dull routine, hour
after hour, day after day, week after
week. got on his nerves. Weighing
out a bagful Of this wrapping up a
handful OF that-it was hard work
simply because il was not interest
ing.
Did this young fellow settle down
and wear himself deeper and deep
or into the rut? he did not. Neither
did he complain Of his lot TO the
nail-keg politicians and cracker box
philosophers who gathered in the
store on Saturday nights. He simply
began 10 look around to see If he
could liven things up.
The owner of the store was not
doing much more than making ends
meet His bookkeeping was a joke.
The young fellow bought a few
books on the subject studied them.
and worked out a new system. He
nearly knocked the old man off his
feet when he showed him how. with
a few minor changes. he could save
S35 a month on his buying.
The proprietor looked upon him
as a right pert" youngster, and
gave him a small raise. But when
the right pert youngster suggested
that he advertise, he shook his head
decisively.
ADVERTISED" he snorted. What
for? hy-p'tu!-everyOn round
here knows we're here. And open
for business all the time. P'tu! And
carrying almost anything in stock
that they'll ever want. Advertise!
What for?"
That little phrase. carrying al
most everything in stock that they'll
ever want" stuck in the young fell
lows head. Two days latter it bub-
bled up into a new idea
"Mr. B." he said TO the pro-
prietor. have YOU ever thought of
specializing? This store is a Jack
of-all-trades and master Of none.
There's a lot of stuff here that peo-
pie hardly ever call for. Your money
is tied up on your shelves. Why not
throw out some OF these slow-mOv-
ing articles and put in goods that
sell more quickly"
NO" said the merchant. 1--WE
depend on the farmers for the bulk
OF our trade, and we've got to carry
a general line-a littue bit Of every
thing. No -p'tu!-wel go right on
with our line of staples"
And they went right on. But the
young man set down that idea in his
notebook. For he was doing some
tall studying. And when, a year later.
/ the old man announced that he was
willing TO sell out, the young fellow
| borrowed some money, added it 10
his savings, and took over the bust
ness.
Since the time the title 10 the
store was transferred TO his name.
the young man has not known an
uninteresting day. For he started
right away 10 be a business builder.
And he hasn't stopped yet
His first reform was to get rid
of half the stock. You know what
a collection of junk the average
country store is with its haunting
odor of harness grease, calico, soda
crackers. horse hniment and cheese.
His two competitors in town
thought the young fellow crazy.
why. he's deliberately throwing
And il was true. He was throw
| ing this business right into their
hands. For he did not want it. He
/ intended 10 go after business which
he knew 10 be more profitable.
He had observed that the women
| did most Of the buying So he
nodded his stores service 10 meet
| their needs. He investigated their
| buying habits. He learned that those
who could afford to buy fnery pa
tronized the large city store. or sent
away 20 the mail order houses.
The young man visited the jobbers
and manufacturers in the city. He
/ brought back a large consignment OF
\ hats. suits. dresses and other stylish
] things that women wear. Then he
fitted up a special department in tn,
/ space from which ne had throw
the gun oil and 10-penny nails anC