Evening star., 1941-04-07
Marketing
Hints for
Novice
Select Fresh Items
In Person Always;
WatchLOcal Ads
By Betsy CaslCeH,

II DcISy - 40 "cby
Woman's Editor
The other day a young woman,
recently married and starting in
to keep house, asked me what I
thought she should learn about mar
keting. This was large order
to fill, for many books have been
written about the subject, and
much still left unsaid that would
prove helpful to the novice.
However, there are few out
standing facts that every young
housekeeper should know before
venturing into the 'marts of trade"
If she has been fortunate in having
a mother or older relative who is
an excellent housekeeper and who
will take her along a few times
when the days purchasing is to be
done, she will have made great
strides in the right direction.
The average cook book published
today contains complete tables Of
can sizes, and the amount of por-
tions they will serve. Labels on
cans and cartons are explicit in
describing the contentS-She should
learn to read labels carefully, and
thus be sure she is getting what
she wants. In New York, I under
stand, there is a regular training
school for grocers' clerks and sales
men, where they are instructed in
giving all the information neces-
sary to the "greenest" buyer. This
should be a great help, and per-
haps a similar program will be in
stituted here.
Telephoning for the days orders
is all right as far as staples go,
if you have no time to 60 to mar
ket. But you should make a stern
attempt to choose your fruits, vege-
tables, meats and fish in person.
You should watch the advertise
ments in the local papers to deter
mine the best bargains before max
ing out definite menus. And you
should always be able to change
an item on these menus without
upsetting the rest of the meal,
should you find a substitute for
your original idea that looks bet
ter and cheaper at the moment.
Wandering around the markets
is an education in itself, and also
a wonderful Stimulant for ideas.
The housekeeper who goes to mar
ket herself Is usually the one who
has the most varied, interesting and
inexpensive meals. New dishes sug-
gest themselves to you as you pass
the wares spread out before you
they certainly won't spring unbid-
den to your mind with nothing but
a telephone staring you in the face.
I am firm believer in establish
ing yourself and your business
with certain ndividuals-either the
special salesman in a larger one.
They take a personal interest in
your wants, and will see that you
get what you pay for. OF course
occasionally you may run across
some one who will take advantage
of your ignorance of marketing mat
ters-but they are few and far be-
tween, and you will do we'll to rec
ognize them in time for a speedy
getaway. Most dealers and sales
men will help you wholeheartedly
and you can do business with them
with entire confidence. And this
personal contact means that on the
few times when you are not able
to go to market yourself, your order
will be taken care of in the usual
efficient way. Tramping about, and
choosing at random a small item
here, large one there, may pos
sibly save you a few pennies on
the immediate transaction, but II
doesn't pay in the long run.
Next week we'll give you few
fundamental rules for buying meats
which will help you to appear a
bit experienced, at least, on your
| first shopping spree.