The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-11
GREEN ADDRESSES
RETAIL MERCHANTS
President of Retail Association Tells
Pensacola Merchants Ways
to Success

heard along merchandising lines ir
this city.
President Green was formerly a re.
tail grocer and knows the retail bust
ness thoroughly. He was here about
three years age. at which time he ad-
dressed the local retail men.
President Green said in part:
During the last few weeks l have
talked with a number of industrial
leaders on the business situation, and
they, without exception, predict a
gradual opening of factories and mills
From all / can learn the business out
look is very encouraging, in fact, ii
looks to me as though we are near
ing a season of great Industrial ac-
tivity. 1t behooves us therefore to
put our house in order that we may
be ready to take advantage when the
opportunity presents itself.
1--WE are all distributors pure and
simple. 1t Is our mission and part of
our service to. have the wanted mer-
chandise at the proper time. There
are always some risks involved, but
these risks are the concrete, inevitable
part and parcel Of the distributors
business which we cannot escape, and
1t is our reason for our business exis-
tence. It is our contribution to the
economic fabric. Buying for known
wants rather than upon expectations
of an increased business will main
tain some of the necessary risks.
Buying for the future with the spec
ulative feature eliminated as much as
possible, and these plans lived up to,
will largely eliminate the danger Of
breaks. Future market conditions are
not the distributors most serious
problem provided his turnover rs COR
feet. based on the stock carried.
1.-THE retail business at the present
time is one OF the greatest CONNER
cial assets of our country. By closely
calculating economy, the administra-
ton and control of the affairs in de-
tail, the dispatch with which it con-
ducts all its business obligations. and
the magnitude Of the constant, every
day service that the merchant gives
to the consumer makes ii so.
THE retail business is now recog-
nized for what 1t is. Within the past
few years the change in sentiment has
been marked, and today, through a
variety of reasons, the importance OF
the retail merchant has come to be
better understood than ever before.
There is one thing that appeals to
me very forctbly, more especially in
regard to the grocery business. The
grocery business as now organized
must be we'll founded and we'll con-
Quoted along lines OF practical econ
omy or il never would have pulled
all the criticism that has
been hurled at T. during the last few
years.
Whenever we fail to meet the re-
quirements of the community we will
be swept out of our place and some
now system will flll the position we
now enjoy, but II will take more than
the harangue of some political noun
tebank TO bring II about.
II have the most optimistic vision
at the present time, and yet l am
not blinded to the fact that the bust
ness and industrial situation today in
this country and. in fact, through out
the world bristles with uncertainty. |
THAT times are changing none can
deny. We notice changes now, where ,
previously we plodded along our way !
perfectly contented For years there |
has been an evolution going on, but !
because we were not visibly affected |
we did not realize that influences |
we're at work organizing to take our |
places as distributors.
Now all at once we find ourselves |
n a state of nervousness and a strong |
to magnify little things into |
big problems. Everywhere I go l find !
hat each man has some peculiar thing |
lie blames for existing conditions and !
lie believes that unless that one thing |
S changed the whole country is going
o the dogs.
IT mention these things because
AVE adopted a spirit of optimism
hat is great comfort to me, and 1t
s to bring you a message of courage
nd assurance that will be helpful TO
'ou as you proceed on your business
Quincy.
1--WE must get away from the
bought that pre-war conditions are
oming back. Never no more" New
roblems, new conditions. new obsta-
les, new opportunities are here, and
re must be prepared to meet them
nth energy, enthusiasm and courage.
here is nothing too big for a we'll
ortihed, well equipped, efficient per-
onality, well organized, to put across.
/ is right here that we feel the great
ecessity Of a good organization.
Business jealousy is one OF the
hahn causes, and the least excusable
ne for lack OF cooperation. What
lorious thing 1t would be for all con-
erned IL we would all work together,
nd each regard the other as hearty
striving for the common
ood of the trade.
1--WE hear much about democracy
hese days. Very few of us under
tand what democracy really means.
~ impression is: The democratic
nan is the con1paniona'ble man, and
emocracy means cooperation and
MUTUAL helpfulness between one an
Their. While freedom is characters
&c of democracy freedom cannot ex-
st without individual responsibility.
'hus the great need of greater friend
ness and cooperation between men
4 all lines of business, the injection
{ partnership in the consideration of
he Question between all factors on
he broad basis of those great princi-
and cooperation.
'VThe bigger the problems confront