310 
SEED TRADE BUYERS GUIDE 
Bee Supplies 
ibpN excellent auxiliary line to 
the seed business, one which 
™ “helps the seed dealer round 
out his year's profits, is bee supplies. 
It is a fascinating line, but there are 
many things which the dealer who 
installs or contemplates installing this 
line should learn if he is to make a 
success of the venture. 
Here are a few helpful pointers 
for the dealer handling bee supplies: 
Do not install the line until you 
have made a thorough study of the 
bees themselves. There are many 
good books published on the subject 
and in addition to this the U. S. De¬ 
partment of Agriculture, at Washing¬ 
ton, D. C., and the various state agri¬ 
cultural colleges have bulletins that 
may be obtained for the asking. 
* * * 
Buy a few beehives for yourself, 
in order to acquaint yourself with 
the bees and equip yourself with the 
proper knowledge to enable you to 
talk the "bee language" intelligently 
to your customers. This will give you 
an intimate knowledge of local con¬ 
ditions, which cannot be learned out 
of books. Bee-keepers like to sit 
around and gossip about their bees 
and local conditions. 
* * * 
To start with, stock only one good, 
complete line of bee supplies manu¬ 
factured by a reliable firm. As you 
gradually become better acquainted 
with the line, the items of other manu¬ 
facturers can be added, according to 
the need or the demand in your com¬ 
munity. 
Bee supplies should be kept in a 
clean place. Never allow dust to ac¬ 
cumulate around them. A dirty bee 
supply department is sure to drive 
customers away. 
★ ★ ★ 
Window displays are undoubtedly 
the most effective means of attracting 
attention to this line. A glass beehive 
with the bees at work never fails to 
draw a crowd. Using this as a mag¬ 
net, display bee supplies all around 
it. In this way you will put over the 
idea that you carry a complete line 
of bee supplies. 
•k * * 
Know all the bee raisers in your 
community by name and when the 
time comes that there is a demand 
for this type of merchandise, drop 
them a line or call them up and re¬ 
mind them that you are fully equip¬ 
ped to supply them with all their 
needs. 
* * * 
Have in your store books and 
pamphlets on bee culture and this 
phase of natural science from which 
the bee enthusiast can gain any in¬ 
formation he may desire. 
* ★ * 
Keep in touch with the manufac¬ 
turer whose supplies you stock and in 
this way you will be informed of any 
new items of merchandise which he 
is introducing and which you should 
carry in order to swell your profits 
and help your customers make a suc¬ 
cess of this line of activity. 
Directory Section Index—Pages 4-G-C-IO 
