TOPICS FOR TRADESMEN

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 14

TOPICS FOR TRADESMEN

[From Our Correspondent.] LONDON, October 31 LONDON’S REDUCED LIGHTS.

Whether or no, when the war is over, and home affairs resume the normal, it will bo advantageous to continue a policy of reduced lighting on present lines, is a question which is causing a good deal of discussion among London' traders. Not a few shopkeepers state that since the existing regulations came into operation, and they were compelled to reduce their outside lighting to a minimum, they have found that people do their shopping earlier in the day, tlio premises being practically deserted after dark. This has made for shorter working hours, and for a considerable saving in expenses; indeed, in many cases traders assert that their wiving in light bills fully makes up for their losses consequent upon decreased takings. Although this cannot ho said in general, yet in every case there must be some saving, more or less, and if a shorter working day can be established by shoppers coming earlier, so much the better for everyone concerned. Present conditions give the small trader, who cannot afford a huge lighting display, a better chance, and now that all shops ar.o level on a lighting basis more value will become attached to artistic and effective window displays. On balance, it seems clear that the present lighting, regulations have served a useful purpose by opening shopkeepers’ eyes to the amount of light that can bo done without, although, in the interests of public safety, it is not proposed in any quarter that_ the present minimum should he maintained.

NECESSITY AND INVENTION

Rather is it suggested that shopkeepers ought in future to endeavour to spend more time in studying lighting effects from an economical standpoint. That is to say. to study how to obtain equal effect with less light. Necessity is the mother of invention,.. and necessity has caused many London traders to excel themselves in the use of the little lighting which they are allowed to use. Much ingenuity has been displayed _ in the choice of lamp coverings, which, whilst reducing the glare, distribute the light equally and softly. Red covers are most in favour, blue being sometimes used, hut not very much, a good blue light being difficult to obtain. Other shopkeepers have dono much with a discriminating use of reflectors which reflect the light on to tho goods in the windows, but. do not allow any to be reflected outside. A SUIT CLUB.

A high-class American gentleman’s tailor, who was recently on a visit to this country, has been giving his impressions of tailoring establishments on this side. "What struck him most, he said, was tho general excellence of even tho cheaper work, and the astounding cheapness of clothes in England as compared-with, the States. But against these excellencies of the British tailoring trade over the American, lie deplored tho comparative lack of initiative and new ideas displayed by tailors here. Ho said that lie had' noted with surprise that there was no such institution as a suit club, which is a great money-making scheme for tailors on the western side of the Atlantic. The club is conducted in the following manner:—A number of gentlemen (say 100) agree to pay to a tailor tho cost of a suit in eight equal monthly instalments. That is to. say, presuming the cast of the *suit to he four guineas, tho members of the club would pay- 10s 6d monthly for eight months, at tho end of which time they would he entitled to a suit. But every month during tho period of payment the tailor draws two numbers, and the members holding these numbers become entiled to their suits without paying any more money. Thus, if. a member’s number were drawn in tho second month he would receive his four guinea suit for the amount ho had paid, namely, 21s, and so on. If a-member wants his suit before the eight months are expired he may obtain same by paying tho full balance, the tailor promising to refund « proportionate amount should his number he ultimately drawn. A member requiringmoro than one suit would have as many numbers as he desired suits. Tho advantages to the tailor, points out our American visitor, are numerous. The chance of a cheap, albeit good, suit, brings many customers who would otherwise content themselves with an inferior garment, and the system of payment is keenly appreciated. Further, the average price obtained per suit is very little lessoned by the successful drawings (on a basis of four guineas, with 100 members, the not price received by tlio tailor would he #3 19s per s»it\ An advantage to the tailor also is tho amount of .money ho handles in advance. NOVEL LAW POINT.

A novel point bearing upon the subject of price tickets was raised in a recent law case. In a.Manchester shop a customer had negotiated for, and eventually bought, a clock, which was priced on the tiokot at £lB. The sale was completed, and the clock ordered to bo delivered. But before delivery to the customer it was found that the clock was worth a good deal more than £lB, it having been wrongly ticketed, and the customer was advised to this effect. However, tho buyer insisted that he had purchased the clock from on authorised salesman, and that, therefore, the article was his property at tho prico agreed upon, and that the firm had no right to refuse to deliver or to expect any further payment. Upon tho firm repudiating the sale, the customer sued for damages, and won the case, it being held that the sale was valid, and the price could not bo altered once such sale was completed Had tho mistake been discovered before the sale was completed it could, of course, have been rectified, and tho customer would have had no redress. It is stated that this is by no means an isolated case of tho kind, but that most firms, having made such a mistake, are prepared to lose the amount rather than make a fuss, and probably bo accused of sharp practices. In connection with price tickets, it is interesting to mention that a large number of London firms, in view of tho crowds of French and Belgian refugees at present in this country, are printing their window tickets in French and Flemish, in addition, of course, to the usual English.