The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-12-05

connection with distribution. While
t efficiency Of manufacturing has
greatly increased and the cost per
unit has decreased, the cost of re-
failing has gone up. This difficulty
can, and must, be solved
81 The present system of distri-
button holds the key TO free en-.
terprise" as this depends largely
upon full employment and a low
cost of living Those who are int.
crested in continuing free enter.
prise and in avoiding communism
should give more thought to effici.
ent merchandising.
co. People will have more mon.
ey to spend in the postwar period
There will be a surplus in the
hands of consumers OF about 500 ..
600, 100000 in addition to their cuI
rent earnings.
% More than 100000 mar.
+ ges have taken place since Pearl
Harbor and this figure will prob
ably be over 100000 when the
boys return. This means that there
must be a great demand for hous-
Ing. Every new home gives a
boost TO over 80 industries. includ.
ing furniture and home appliances
Of all kinds.
(S) Things have been wearing
out very rapidly during the war.
Homes must be rebuilt. repaired
and ~lodernized. Equipment of all
kinds. for homes, Offices and fac
tories has been wearing out. There
will be an abnormal need for all
kinds Of requirements which can
be bought at some retail store.
90 There have been about 12.-
100000 children born in the United
States since Pearl Harbor. OF
this number. over 100000 are in
excess of the normal birth rate.
The poorest retail purchasers are
the aged. who are dying off: but
the best are the children and their
parents.
l0) Consumer goods are not
only wearing out. but styles are
changing. New things which will
come on the market after the
war will be of designs which will
make the old things look obsolete.
This applies not only to houses.
furniture, wearing apparel. but
even to foods and beverages.
I'D Billions of dollars will be
required merely to bring factories
offices, homes and individuals up
to-date". The farms Of the coun-
try will especially need attention.
The land has been oyerworked:
fertilization has been neglected;
ia implements are out-of-date
Moreover. the farmers will have
more money and less debts after
the war than they have ever had
before. All OF these farm purchases
must come through retailers.
,l2) Even the retail stores
themselves will be large purchas-
ers. Most of them must be return
ished. relighted and repainted. Air
conditioning must be installed in
many; refrigeration and other new
equipment will be needed. A large
store is not necessary. II may have
only a ten-foot frontage, but it
should have modern furnishings
with an excellent show window.
Returning service men should
also consider warehousing, trans
portation, financing. advertising.
printing and various other depart
ments OF distribution. The coop.
eratives, or group buying. or vol.
untary chains OF manufacturers
branches present opportunities.
suppose there always will be an
opportunity for the old style whole
salers. but that division does not
appeal to me.
The greatest opportunity lies
with the chain stores. especially
the variety chains. Next in import
ance come The supermarkets: and
third, the department stores.
House-to-house selling will always
be profitable for those with CUTS.
Consumer credit will come back:
cooperatives will continue to in
crease in importance; but the chain
stores have nothing to fear from
cooperatives for many years to
come. There will be changes in
servicing as well as products and
packaging. This especially applies
to the perishable goods such as
meats. fish. fruits and vegetables
due to the increased installations
OF deep-frcezes.