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BULLETIN 1044, V. S. DEPAHTMENT OF AGEICULTTJRE. 



store employees and by each other. Theoretically it would seem that 

 the individual purchases would be larger if one is forced to pass 

 before all the merchandise on display, but practically it has not 

 worked out that way. The purchases seem to average about the same, 

 whether one is allowed to proceed at will about the store or is forced 

 around a certain path by the arrangement of tables or shelves. 



The arrangement of the display fixtures should be decided by 

 each operator, depending upon the size of the floor and his own de- 

 sires, and is not vital to the success of self-service, except as it does 

 or does not properly display the merchandise. Figure 9 shows the 



Fig. 9. — Farm products displayed for sale ia a typical self-serve store. 



arrangement of tables in a very successful self-service store now 

 in operation. 



The number of scales needed in a self-serve store is considerably 

 less than necessary under the service plan. Scales are necessary only 

 at the exit and in the stock room where the packages are made up. 

 If a considerable volume of business is done, an automatic scale 

 should be placed in the stock room to save time and labor. As prac- 

 tically all bulk goods are put up in packages before being placed 

 on the shelves or tables, and as a great many can be run through 

 a weighing machine, such a machine is very desirable as well as 

 economical. 



