Evening star., 1933-09-03
RETAIL STORES ADD
T0WORKERS HERE
Some Houses, However,
Await Longer Study to In
crease Forces Under Code.


Labor day" merchandising season finds
Washington merchants rallying under
the Blue Eagle with new jobs that are
bound to increase the Capitals buying
power
Three of IL Of the larger retail de-
partment stores queried yesterday will
have total of l81 new positions ac-
tualy filled by the middle Of this week.
Three Of f1alf-dozen jewelry stores,
their personnel comparatively small
anyway actually bave six new jobs
filled
While these numbers are low. they
are indicative of the cooperation which
the merchants here are displaying.
Each of the large department stores is
planning larger staffs, but are proceed
ing slowly while they ascertain what
demands for new employees their codes
shorter hours will bring. Yesterday was
the first Saturday of the season on
which the stores were open, virtually all
Of them having operated throughout the
Summer on fiyeday week.
Business Better Here.
Watching the commercial trend with
care, store officials yesterday agreed
that business is somewhat better il the
retail field here. One large concern,
a member of a national sales organiza-
ton. expressed conviction that Wash
ington is feeling now the first definite"
benefits of increased employment while
the most conservative retailers in the
local field see traces of an improved
spirit" on the part of purchasers.
Not single pesSimistic note was
sounded
Woodward & Lothrop reported the
largest number of contemplated and
actual new jobs. BY the middle of the
coming week, that houses spokesman
asserted. we will have, on the basis
of very conservative estimates. $50 new
positions actually filled" A few of
many more of the new employees were
put on Thursday. Friday and yesterday.
As the season advances, prospects are
that considerably more new employees
will be hired
The first $50 new employees includes
sales persons. Office workers. porters.
delivery drivers and practically every
other type of worker at large store.
w. B. Moses & Sons reported II new
employees already at work, with a prcb-
ability that total Of 25 new jobs will
DC CIedteU ny the llIllc Lie lSN SedSOil
Is well under way.
The Sears, Rosebuok g. Co.'S main
store. on Bladensburg road northeast.
has employed 16 regular" or full-t;me
employees and about SO part-time work
ers This stores spokesmen said it is
Just beginning to feel the benefits
now of definite business pickup
through increased employment through
out the city"
Others to Make Study.
Nationally. the Sears, Roebuck or
ganization reported an actual business
gain of Ill per cent fer the 30-day
period ending August IL over the CORE
spending 30day period of year ago.
The national organization has increased
its personnel from $4,000 to $4,000 with
in the last three weeks, thus raising
the ccmpany's retail division pay roll
rs per cent and its mail order division
pay roll 10 per cent.
R.. Harris & Co., A. Kahn. Inc, and
Charles Schwartz &, Son, all jewelers.,
reported the filling of two new Jobs
each. Each establishment contemplates
adding more workers as the season
opens. Arthur J. Sundlum, president
OF A; Kahn, Inc. and president Of the
jewelers. Association, reported more
spirit on the part of the buying public. ~
Many Of the larger stores, including
s. kanns Sons Co., Lansburgh g. Bro,
Hecht Co., Dulin & Martins and
Goldenbergs, have not completed the
surveys necessary to warrant establish
ment Of new positions. The past week,
their spokesmen said yesterday, was the
f1rst six-day week since the N. r. A.
drive was launched, and while 1t was
still part Of the vacation season, it
was not fairly illustrative of the de-
nands which will be placed on the
present personnel by the new shorter
week. Some of these stores expect to
be in better position to estimate their
new jobs within 10 days. and others be-
heve it will be October before the new
employment situation can be fairly
depicted
The fve-and-ten- cent stores received
their codes only Friday, and some of the
features have not yet been laid before
the local stores. The headquarters
of{1ces of their operating concerns now
are studying the codes, and will notify
their Washington stores probably this
week what effect the N. r. A. will have
on them.