Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1922-07-06
.BABSON SAYS
MERCHANTS MUST
CHANGE WAYS

Wellesley Hills, Mass, july 3,-In
an interview today, Roger W. Babson
appealed to merchants to study tbe
''self help stores. He believes the
small merchant has great opportunities
II ne will only adope modern methods
and advertise more. He insists that
the pubic does not demand the chain
stores, but rather demands economical
and convenient service. People buy
from the chain store because that is
the only place in their community
that they can get such service, he
continued.
Chain stores are having ire
mendous run today. They are spring
ing up like weeds in every community.
Local merchants are beginning to be-
come panic-stricken. They fear that
the chain store is to swallow UP every
thing Grocers, druggists and cloth
ing dealers are especially troubled.
Considering the tremendous number
of small merchants, this is a problem
in which every one should be interest
ed There are for instance more than
100000 independent grocers in this
country. To have their business wiped
out would result in tremendous eco
nomic appeal. Altogether there are
more than 100000 small merchants
in America who are vitality interested
in this problem, as they will be wiped
out if the chain store proves to be the
legitimate method of merchandising.
WHY CHAIN STORE WINS
Personally l feel that this change
is due to the fact that the chain
store comes nearer to giving the pub
lie what it wants and prospers for
that reason. If the local merchant |
will adopt the same up-todate methods
IF economical merchandising he need |
rave nothing to fear from chain store |
These newer and es-
)ecially these self help establishments
ire doing a splendid business because
heir plan is practical and because
hey are being operated by young men
With initiative and enthusiasm. The
did fine business when they
we're so operated, twenty OF thirty
Tears ago. Chain stores, however,
will have their troubles just as the
have had theirs. Clerks,
ruck drivers, and buyers will some
lay be organized and as saucy and
as the typical plumber is
oday Then the chain store sales will
rop off and operating expenses will
Increase and they viii have to adopt
more modern. form of merchandise
ng or give way to a new order. The
self help system eliminates labor
to considerable extent and
resents most interesting study both
S to service and to cost.
''T appeal particularly to merchants
f the older school and urge them to
tudy very carefully these self help
torres, with their self help service.
{ is true that the average merchant
annot get the advantage of collec-
i've buying unless he himself joins n
hahn. Any merchant, however, can
lstalI a self help system of selling
Of course, this means
Iore than reorganizing the fixtures of
is store.
REQUIRE ADVERTISING II
e'He must change his entire atti- J
lde. The self help stores for in I
,ance are very dependent upon ad-
much more so than are the {
lain stores and local merchants. The
tier must advertise more than ever
he is to adopt the self help sys- 1
m. I am not merchant, merely
atistician. Statistics, however, !
early indicate that if the local mer- !
lant continues as at present he will
, eliminated from American industry
make way for more modern ma
linery of distribution. y