Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-25
W. B. THALH|MER LAUDS
THE PEOPLE Of BRITAIN
Tells Advertising Club They
Are Best for Americans
TO Deal With.

Very few of us Americans know
anything of the English people and the
same thing applies to them regarding
us. and after being in England | am
convinced that the English people are
The best for Americans to have deal
ings with. They have many pccu-
!ariticS. but while I WAS in Europ,
met regular wholc-soulcd fine people.
The Engiishman is the embodiment
OF the soul of honor"
THIS, was the statement of William
II. Thnlhimcr. of Thalhimcr Irothcrs,
IN an address yesterday at noon be-
iore the Richmond Advertising Club
at the Richmond Hotel. He added
that England was a marvellous ma
ton and we need each other" and
then emphaS! 2cd the benefits 10 come
from closer relationship between
the English speaking nations
Mr. Thalhimcr said he was one OF
thirtN-iive representatives OF the Ma
tonal Retail Dry Goods Association
who went to England TO return a
visit made Ivy British merchants in
1919. During the voyage over the
American delegation received several
wireless messages from the Lord
Mayor Of the City Of London. from
Lord Northclifr and others expressing
appreciation OF the coming III the
Americans. When the Olympic ar
rived at southampton the Americans
were met by reception committee
all attircd in gorgeous raimcut. and
the Lord Mayor extended the well
come Mr.. Thalh!mcr described tho
compartment train service in Eng
land. and told OF the evidence OF or
Iilincss and industry between South
ampton and London. apparently every
tract Of land being in Il high state OF
cultivation.
Impressions nf London.
The Americans We're impressed with
The aged appearance of London. even
the houses bull, in late wears being
constructed along the cams OF the
ancient structures outside Of Lon
don the "air and light law is not oh
served so strictly ana there are some
tall buildings and others that have
considerable court space about them.
He described AT length iIerrod's great
store" in London. IL has ground
'loor window display onc-foUrth OF a
mile in length. and the selling spac.
contains is.o"o.o00 cubic feet. The
elaborate carvings and marvellous
merchandise. he said. appeared out
# nlacc in the old "a Shioncd building
occupied by the firm. The firm does
a bankiug. undertaking and real cs-
tate business on an clahorat" scale.
\ popularity Of the English store
keeper is that he tries to put every
thing in the store in his dis"iay Win
dows. Likewise their ADVERTISING
layouts are widely different from the
American layuuts, and the newspaper
carry display advertisements on the
first page. sometimes giving tho On
tire first page 10 the advertisements
Low Overhead Charge.
Mr. TEaihimcr said what struck
him forcihly was the English mcr-
chant was able To do business on Il
large scale on n low overhead cost
One firm did Sio.oo0.o0o business on
an overhead cost of II per cent. he
said. I'VE can learn as much over
there as We can show them Ovcrherc."
said Mr. Thalhimcr, who stressed the
point, "TEcy save ovcrthere; We
waste ovcrhcrc. The big thing We
have here Is the opportunity for saw
ing. and VIC do not take advantage
OF it."
Mr.. Thalhimcr said that the English
business man is RAPIDLY taking his
placc along with the professional
man The speaker said that In tho
eleven days they were in London
there We're twenty-five banQucts
given for them. and AT each toas
TO the King was GivcnN
Mr. Talhimcr said the British look
IN TO the man who serves rs Lord
Mayor. or holds other offices. ami tho
best talent is drawn for The various
offices
Previous To Mr. Thalhimcr's talk
the chairman of the membership COM
mittcc reported thirteen new mem
b"rs. and several subscriptions were
taken for the yearbook Of the ASso-
ciatcd Advertising Clubs Of IN World
giving details OF the atlanta con-
Vcntion. Edmund Massi. called at
tchtion TO the meeting Of the direct
hiaii departmental In Springfield
Mass, October 25-2S. and urged a
large attendance