The Coconino sun., 1924-02-29

The competitive relation regarding
the public, or the effect of competition
on the public.
There are two classes, manufactur-
ing and retailing, and there are three
general effects of competition upon
the public.
A tendency to lower prices, tend
ency to improve product, or service,
and tendency to combine large man
ufacturing or merchandising units and
eliminating the weaker ones.
First: A tendency to lower prices
is usually the first natural way to
meet competition. If man in a
certain line of business finds himself
confronted with a rival in his same
line, there is usually a speciality made
on a certain staple or group OF
articles, on which one can make a
small saving, or specialize on some
certain kind of service, which each
line of business can indulge in, ac-
cording to the kind of business one is
engaged in.
Prices usually are and should be
based on cost, and should show fair
profit. Why engage in business If
one can not progress
The practice of price-cutting has
a dangerous side, when over-indulged
in, as it curtails buying capacity,
hurts the business mans credit, and
makes him a pessimistie crouch, one
not interested in the growth or ex-
pansion of his city.
Civic pride and interest are two
things that make city, and unless
your business men are making fair
returns on turnovers they have no pep,
and your town suffers; so does each
and every business; and eventually
you may be deprived of that business
or industry.
Business lethargy is one thing to
avoid. Take an interest in the wants
of your customers and supply them
with what they want as long as it is
consistent with good business princip-
les. Some want the earth as long as
it is coming from the other fellow.
The most effective kind of compet-
ition is to give and encourage the
highest quality of production, service
and cooperation, and not price cutting.
Second: The tendency to improve
product or service.
The public is demanding more each
day in service and quality for each
dollar invested, until each business
man must be a specialist in his line,
able to grasp ideas and place them
before the public in a convincing way.
Business houses of today are I'M
proving their service, such as rest
rooms, nurseries, telephone booths,
nurses services, mail and telephone
shopping, solicitors, personal shopping
service, delivery, convenient check
rooms, interior decorating, etc.
Modern office buildings are furnish
ing parking space and convenient
garages for business men who rent
office space, and for the accommodation
of people patronizing those who oc-
cupy space in the buildings.
Modern hotels are offering services
that ten years ago were not thought
Oh.
Banks have added many depart
ments to be of service to depositors
and public.
Laundries in the past ten years
have had phenomenal development in
machinery and service.
Telephone, telegraph, wireless, and
radio have each contributed their
share to public service.
Professional and scientific experts
are contributing their share along
their individual lines.
One you are all most familiar with
is the automobile industry which be-
gan with many a puff and groan,
sometimes it would go, sometimes not.
But by persistent labor, improve
ment and progress, the finished
product is today a time and labor
saver to all industries and d machine
of beauty and luxurious comfort for
recreation.
Third: The tendency to larger
merchandising or manufacturing units,
which tends to condense space, capital,
buying and selling power, and to elm
mate the smaller and Inefficient con-
Germs.
By buying in a large volume, one
can get better prices, for cost of hand
ingi cut down, resulting in saving.
For example. A salesman can sell
the same amount of goods for a large
concern of a certain line for less
money, than two statesmen, each rep
resenting a smaller concern, as it
would eliminate one salesman and one