MERCHANDISING METHODS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 67, 13 December 1918, Page 6

MERCHANDISING METHODS

MODERN DEVELOPMENTS. In America many changes in merchandising methods are resulting from the war-time scarcity of man-power. In past years merchants, competing for trade, havo added service after service as an apparent gift to the customer. Credit has been extended, frequent and prompt deliveries made, and stamps and coupons anil premiums offered, quantity discounts allowed, and what not. These things, however. coßt money; what they add to tho regular operating expenses could not be charged direct, for tho game was to make the customer feel that the items in question were being thrown in. A retrenchment in labour costs is now going on' in most retail stores. To-day the housewife who wishes a spool of thread delivered to her door, or a head of lettuce half an hour before dinner when she has already had one delivery from the same grocer earlier in tho day, finds her wishes unmet The cafetteria. or self-service restaurant, has hud n marvellous growth in popularity within the past five years. Thousands of people have shown themselves quite willing lo 'act as their own waiters when the meal is thus served without annoying delay and at a. reduced price. The recent working out of the idea, has taken the form of an elaborately-planned fond-mer-chandising system. All.the patrons enter at the same turnstile and pass rapidly or slowly, as the find convenient, throughout tho _ entire course of the aisles. This is necessary in order to reach the exit turnstilo beyond Ihe cashier. No one is nrgc<! to buy any special brand or any special article or anything at all. Upon entering n. market basket is picked up, and the parcels, selected during the grand tour are dropped into this. At the desk the'bundles'are nicely packed into a largo paper sack, and the customer receives a cheque on which each separate item>is listed by. mi adding machine. She pays the cashier as she files past, and .(lie market basket is replaced on its rack near tho entrance stile. No fresh meats are handled. Fresh fruits and vegetables are kept in open wire bnskets, and most of these, including bananas, are sold by weight, rather than by- count. This, of course, is up effort to prevent the early comer getting all the best of the game.