Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-13
Chicago Merchants
Head Chief Speaker
Local KiWanis Club

The regular meeting Of the XII
wants club was held at the vestry OF
the Uuiversalist church last evening,
the luncheon being furnished by the
ladies of the Arcadia club. 1t was
voted by the members as being an
exceptionally fine one and a rising
vote of thanks was given to the
ladies for their efforts in behalf OF
the club.
The speaker of the evening was ].
w. Greist of Chicago, ILL.,, general
manager of the National Retail
Merchants bureau, who spoke in part
as follows: Although production is
one of the fundamental bases of
prosperity, and the products Of the
factody, the farm, the sea and the
mine are basic, they are of no value
without distribution and 1t is of dis
tribution that l am to speak this
evening. The town Is founded on
distribution. Go into the history of
any town and it will be found that
it developed because it was a natural
trading point. Because the people
came there to trade, and this brought
to the town the lawyers. the banker,
the teacher and the doctor and the
employees of the stores. so that in
time the town grew as its trade in
creased. Today the growth Of the
smaller cities and the towns is being
seriously threatened by the compe-
tition of the chain store and the mail
order house, and the big city depart
ment store. All excellent in their
way. all conducted on the highest
plane of business principles, but Of
necessity because of the manner Of
their business, not Of the value of the
town, that the merchant who owns
his own store can be. In the begin
ming about 80 to 100 percent of the
business from the vicinity of these
trading posts which became cities
was done in those places, but with
the increased methods Of transporta-
ton and the widespread advertising
Of the larger centers, the percentage
has decreased until now 1t Is only
about go percent. This 40 percent
loss represents a dead loss to the
community, not only in business but
in the development Of the community.
it's schools, its churches. its public
buildings and its material wealth,
for it is on this 40 percent that the
merchant really makes his profit
which he can use for these things
which make for the betterment of the
town in which he lives. So then the
eDrODlcIH WHtCh 1dCCS CNCAy Wy Ah4
large town is the bringing back to
the distribution of that town the 40
percent of the trade on which the
prosperity of the town depends on.
In a place the size of the city of
Waterville this would probably
amount to about 100000 a year.
II this business could be brought
back to the stores of the city 1t
would mean a material advance FOR
the city in every way.
The business outlook Is fine for the
future. The year 1925 was better
than 1924, which was the best since
the post war boom days. The textile
industry, which has been in q slump,
is looking up, all lines of business
are better, the coming year Is going
to be the best in the history of the
country. Babson and his experts
saw so. the American Federation of
Labor, by it's reputation of the Reds
says so, and President Coolidge. has
said SO in two recent speeches. The
city or town which learns the lesson
of advertising and cooperation Is to
reap the benefits Of this increase In
business which Is to sweep the coun-
try. The individual merchant cannot
hope to compete with the chain store
and the great mail order houses. but
all the merchants of the town work.
ing together can, and 1t will be those
who do who will survive.