The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-18

Babson Park. Mass. June IS
Although do not expect the Euro
pean and Asiatic conflicts to be
over until after the election In 1914.
yet the time is fast approaching.
Hence. II will be we'll for all bust
, nessmen-large and small-now TO
prepare definite plan OF postwar
action. Certainly the "old days"
will not return. New methods and
policies are inevitable. Those who
properly plan their work should
succeed, but many OF those who do
not, will go under.
Study Profitable Items
Perhaps the first step is to make
q survey OF your present business
and find out which departments and
items are profitable and which
are not. The present time gives
every business man a wonderful
opportunity to cut out non-profita-
bile lines and various unnecessary
customs which have developed dur
ing past years. II Is surprising how
many OF these can be eliminated
without hurting the customer or
the employe. These Examinations
should be made before the war is
over.
After the war. merchants will be-
come more and more specialists.
Competition will be very keen.
both with American concerns and
with foreign competitors. This
means that costs must be cut TO a
minimum which can be done partly
by Standardization. The lines car
ried should be the very latest and
best. but they should not be too ex-
, tensive. 1t will be more profita BILE
to give the best service at low
price carrying fewer lines. This
often requires opposing both your
own statesmen and the statesmen
trying to sell you goods.
Base Costs on Normal Sales
When peace comes there will be
q temptation to expand. Customers
will be rushing in and demanding
goods which you are not carrying;
while returning soldiers and mu-
milton workers will be urging you
to give them jobs. Such OF your
former employees who have been
drafted, you must take back II they
apply within sixty days after their
discharge; but 1t will not be patri-
otto to hurriedly enlarge your whole
organization. Any business boom
which takes place after peace viii
not continue Indefinitely. There
fore, Il Is very important to base
your stock and your labor costs on
. normal business which can be de-
pended upon to continue. Keep
down fixed burdens such as rent,
+ interest charges and other over
head costs.
Cooperate With the Government
Do not be upset by all the re-
ports which You are obliged TO fill
out and by the various restrictions
and regulations to which you are
subjected. Get used to these things
and quit. trying to buck the inevita-
, BILE. AS long as our competitors are
also subject to them, we should CO.
operate with the government.
Above all things. do not put In eva
sive or dishonest reports.
Ali Of us should of course. take
On certain work when the govern
ment requests US to do so. On the
other hand, let US not be hogs and
, take too much when other con-
Germs are willing to take it for the
same price. Hold at least 30 per
cent of your normal business, inde-
pendent Of the government or war.
Have In permanent stock only COM
modities which will be needed after
the war. Many government con-
tracts with concerns on the Allan
tic seaboard will be cancelled when
An armistice is declared with Ger
many. Contracts everywhere may
be cancelled when an armistice is
declared with japan also.
Avoid Debt
As far as possible these wartime
conditions should be used for get
ting out Of debt. The theory that 1t
, is good to go into period OF infla-
ton with a large debt is wrong.
Wise businessmen. will make little
ar no capital expansions at the pres
ent time. The conditions facing us
after the war will be so very differ
ent than they are today, we should
enter them with large cash re-
, serves and no debts.
II Is unwise now to speculate In
raw materials or manufactured
goods. Theer is no telling what
prices will be after the war. The
nriceS for some commodities will
then 60 up while the prices for
other commodities will then GO
down. II Is bad enough to have any