State

eb'i* THE STATE Poqp Thrcr The "trailer store," recently put Into use by Meyer’s Department Store of Greensboro “Here Comes the Store!” A NEW system of merchandising apparently is here. Although a long «ay from the old- time peddler and his pack, it adopts the same principles. By CHERRY WILKINS SO FAR a- evolution i- concerned, our ашч-ног* may or may not have swung by their tails from the limb of a cocoanut tree. Hut. when it comes to a peddler's puck 1-ing changed to n rubber-tired, steam heated store on «heels, that U evolution, »r better still, it is a cate of Cinderella’s pumpkin !*•- ing changed to a coach and four. Back in the horse and buggy days «hen the road» were a mass of pulpy mud, the advent of the |xddlor and his pack «as nit exciting осса His раек was a «mall department store, I earning everything from watch ehnins to frying pans, and pocket handker¬ chiefs to bed spreads. Changes in Roads Today where the weary peddler trudged the rough, muddy country roads, a steel-grey highway stretches its curves invitingly. It dip* down to the creek «here once a fool or foot¬ ing stretched from bank to bank, but now a long concrete bridge gracefully span» the water. Down this modern highway, -wallow- lowing the road in long, hungry gulps, sweeps a modern trailer and ear. hike I a silver winged bird it dashes from the shelter of the wood» out to the wide open spaces, then back to the woodsy road agaiu. This i» Meyer’s Trailer, an Гр Shop on Wheels. It wa. last year that Meyer’s De¬ partment Store in Greensboro, X. C.. decided to experiment with a travelling store. Purchasing a second-hand ear and trailer, they stocked it with col¬ lege wearing apparel, ami their first venture was to display these student clothe* on the campus of a local col¬ lege to see how they would take, or at least to see how the idea of “door step selling" would take. Guilford Col¬ lege was -elected. The store drove up and parked. It was something so new and novel that the student* all but took the outfit, clothes, trailer ansi nil. It worked out SO well at Guilford that during the following week the store parked itself at two other college* in the vicinity. The student body, fac¬ ulty, cook* and maid- turned out. al¬ most swamping the driver and four 'ale-people. A Visit to Duke Although there wa« little selling at these first three parkings. Mr. J. T. Martin, president of Meyer’s was will¬ ing to concede that trailer selling could doubtless be made tueeeesful. In con¬ sequence the next move was to stock •be travelling -tore and dispatch it to Duke I'nivertity. This was done and after whirling around the campus two or three tiius-s. the store slid to a stand •till beside the curb. The rear plat¬ form wa- lowered, a rug thrown on the floor, and chic wearing apparel wa* displayed on model* and rack*. Tin result wa» so pleasing to the coed* that 2S per cent of the stock was -old for cash. Inflated with this success. other colleges «pro contacted uith good n- suit». Before Christmas this store on wheel, was turned into a toy shop. Through rural communities it Hashed it- way. •topping at schools, homes, ami small rural centers. Santa Claus displayed and sold love that made the poor lit¬ tle children heart-hungry and the rich little children gasp with delight. This year the trailer plan i* to ex- (sriment in touring the rural districts. This will be done by showing sam¬ ple» and taking order*. Still another plan is a rural tour with a radio line ami facilities for demonstrations in the irailer store. Thi* trailer and driving ear are of silver aluminum color with a vivid crimson stripe. The unit i* forty-five feet long. There i* an illuminated sign on top. The interior wall* are of light oak. the «wiling is cream, and the furnishing* are of red leather. It (CWiou'j on pat)*' t -four)