San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-02
l.. e. WENZEL, Ann Arbor.

In Ann Arbor, siich., where the
state university is located l.. Z. Wen
eel has a paint store. Anu AruOr nus
ABOUT -u,UvU permanent resiueuls, anu
you might be bit surprised to KNOW
lnat III town or that size WenZel
sells a hundred and fifteen thousand
dollars worth OF paint year.
One of Mr.. N.nzels associates OBJ
serves: his success runs like the
romances OF the old MacGutfy's Fifth
Reauer type"
This Ann Arbor paint business be-
gan within very recent years, but Wen
zel's preliminary story goes back some
twenty years. lie quit school, borrow
I'D S4UU, and with his brother opened
d tiny store ut W .st Branch, a north
ern Michigan town OF 1000 people.
Now good many grocers will tell
you there isn't any money III grocer
ing, but after seven years at West
Branch " enzel sold out with S14,SOO
in his pocket.
Perhaps you'll get some clue from
Mr.. Wenzel cheerful observation:
A study OF personal psychology S
lots of fun, and if applied, helps Dusi'
ness. 10 KEEP an eye continually on
the books and hand on the cash
drawer of a retail establishment is as
essential as for ar engineer to keep
an eye on the track and hand ON
the trottle; and judicious spray OF
advertising must be used steadily. 4
competitor can be friend
Ill Ia, Aro, ..h tnrn
Wenzel had u chance to purchase, a
grocery at Shepherd, Mich. lie made
a close survey and bought. In a year
and a half lie sold out at a profit
of $500.
Just then the contracting business
looked good, and he went into 1t with
partner. Their operations took them
to several places in southern Michigan
and to Gary, Ind.
Among Wenzels contracts was one
at Ann Arbor, where he found paint
ana wallpaper store for sale. just
about this time the building boom
slumped. Along will many Others
Menzel slid down the chute-but land
ed safely on his feet in tie paint
store.
The first six months showed a small
loss second six months broke even.
Inventory year later showed a profit
of $500.
In the town of Ypsilanti, nearby, a
going paint business was offered at an
attractive price and Wenzel got II
quick.
Here is some of the Wenzel philo-
sophy:
I'm selling paint the employe
learns exactly what the purchaser in
tends to do: the surface to be covered ;
the nature of that surface, and all
other details. Tactful inquiry is al
ways made to find il the purchaser
fully understands e1actly how the
material should be applied. Advice
is always given.
In wallpaper sales, before patterns
are shown, the salesman makes him
self fully acquainted with all details
such as size of room, kind of finish
of woodwork and floo:s, direction OF
light and light distractions, size OF
windows, kind of furniture, and color
of rugs, upholstery and draperies.
Thus the purchase soon learrs to have
confidence in the recommendations we
make"
Wenzel advertising-Here you get
something that stands out in Ann Ar
Dor as unique. There is nothing else
like it in the newspapers:
That morning about the time
We were through sweeping and
Dolling Up the Shop
She broke in the Front Door
With a Determined Clean
In her Eye and
w. ]. Bryan set TO her Jaw;
And if she Missed Anything
In her Order for
Paints, Enamels and Bronzes
In our haste for Shelter
We failed to Observe it.
After her Departure
We crawled out from Under
The Counter and Prepared
To Inventory the Remains.
Today her Home
IS Evan nlifiad Harmony