The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-09-12

a eae GENERALIZATION OF one OF the
city's busiest shopping centers.
The work that has beer done 10
the first floor IN the last few
months includes installation Of the
new terrazza floor. complete mod.
ernization Of lighting including
wiring and fixtures; installation of
the new cases and counters; in
stallation Of a new ventilatlng sys-
tenn involving the basement floor;
new entrances and stairways.
This all was accomplished with
the assistance Of Mike Larson who
planned details and handled the
suo-contracts TO Puget Sound
Manufacturing Co. for fixtures;
Connor's Electric shop for electro
cal work in cases and ceiling: and
Bergh-Griggs for heating and ven
tilating.
Planning Of the entire remodel
ling, Manager Gillespie explained,
was based on customer service"
Thought was given 10 ease Of shop
ping and display Of merchandise
no that customers could more
easily select any item to meet
their requirements.
At the time the remodelling pro-
gram was established all store ex-
ecutives were drawn into a series
Of meetings to evolve = definite
store policy.
Policy Ia Simple
That policy can be simply en-
pressed. they decided: The store
will be competitive at all times,
the buyers for each department
will study each article from the
standpoint Of how low can ! sell
II" rather than how much can I
get for it,"
Stocks were to be more COM
plete. with better displays, and
merchandise was not to be carried
over from one season TO another
under any circumstances. and any
merchandise over six months old
was TO be disposed of at once.
Service departments were to
continue with improvements. In
the credit division. budget checks
for convenient shopping have been
added, and a complete system of
credit telephones connecting each
department with the credit office
provides a modern improvement
over the old pneumatic tube sys-
tenn with its delays.
New Equipment
To complete the installation for
faster service, a number of new
cash registers were purchased and
installed and nine new trucks were
purchased from South Tacoma
Chevrolet Co. to speed and improve
deliveries. In addition 1t is now
proposed to install a cashiers
office at a convenient location on
the first floor so that checks and
other accommodation may be
offered patrons.
The first step in this new pro-
gram was the discontinuance Of
the grocery and foodstuffs depart
ments, recognizing the fact that
this type merchandise could be
more advantageously purchased
from modern markets. The addi-
tional space secured by this elimi-
nation, was given to home apph-
ances. The department was COM
pletely remodelled. with new cell
ing, new lighting, and modern dis
plays. This section, together with
the china. silverware and home
is located in the base
ment.
Improve All Floors
After moving the appliance di-
vision from the fourth floor. this
floor was completely remodelled,
and the furniture, rugs and drap-
cries given more space. At the
same time. the offices were mod
ernized, both in equipment and APP
pearance. New business machines
were installed. to facilitate the
more accurately and
of customers accounts
of which the store enjoys thou
Sandstone dating back to the
early days of the business.
On this floor. a new ceiling was