444 



HORTICULTURE 



March 31, 1917 



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Other Flower Show Echoes 



Or What Was Heard Over a Liuiinich Table 



Last Week at the Biltmore 



THERE were six of us: Mr. Bohannon, of 

 Bohannon Fl. Co., Chicago; Mr. Brown, of 

 J. M. Gasser Co., Cleveland: Mr. Philip Breit- 

 meyer, of Detroit; Mr. Max Schling, New York; 

 Mr. Arthur Langhaus, of Wheeling, W. Va., and 

 our company representative. 



We were there as Max Schling's guests to talk over 

 the question of forming a definite organization of 

 one or two retail florists from each state, with 

 the idea of doing some national advertising to 

 hroaden the sale of flowers. Also with the aim ot 

 an intimate co-operative service between members. 

 Already Ads. have been issued reaching over six 

 million readers. 



After the organization business was over, the talk 

 turned towards business methods. 

 Mr. Bohannon, of Chicago, said that with every 

 basket of flowers they sent out, a card was en- 

 closed stating that "if the flowers were not fresh 

 and entirely satisfactory when received, to immed- 

 iately let them know, and a fresh lot would 

 promply be sent." 



Mr. Brown, of the J. M. Gasser Co., Cleveland, said 

 he didn't like that word "if." It at once put a 

 person in a needlessly critical frame of mind. 



Tlieir method was to enclose a card saying: "These 

 flowers are fresh. If not satisfactory, let us know 

 at once." 



Mr. Breitmeyer then spoke up in his quiet sunny 

 way, carrying indisputable convincement with it: 

 "I don't care what you print on your cards boys, — 

 the thing is to make good, and do it promptly and 

 cheerfully." 



Mr. Schling mentioned that when he was asked to 

 re-fill a basket that was not fresh and clean; or 

 the color scheme out of all harmony with the flow- 

 ers; he first had it understood that liis name card 

 would not accompany it. Said he could not afford 

 to have his reputation risked. 



Riglit then and there, I would like to have spoken 

 up anl said that for exactly the same reason Lord 

 & Burnham often refuse to build certain houses, 

 certain ways, for possible customers. We simply 

 cannot afford to build houses we know are not 

 practical. Neither will we lower quality, to cut 

 down costs to meet competition. 

 The only way we meet competition, is in giving 

 a man a better house for his money. 

 If you want to talk over that kind of a house, 

 say when and where, and we'll be there. 







Tof^ Sifiiirnhamlo. 



Builders of Greenhouses and Conservatories 

 SALES OFFICES: 

 NEW YORK BOSTON PHILADELPHIA CHICAGO ROCHESTER CLEVELAND 



42nd Street Bldg. Treinont BIdg. Widener BIdg. Cantioenlal & Com- Granite Bldg. Swetland BIdg. 



mercial Bank Bldg. 

 DETROIT, Penobacot Bldg. TORONTO, Royal Bank Bldg. MONTREAL, Tranaportation Bldg. 



FACTORIES : Irvington, N. Y. Des Plaines, III. St. Catharines, Canada. 



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