Am'se°PUtr'i^i9rm'  ^    Economic  Value  of  Wholesale  Druggist.  60j 
necessary,  for  business  is  done  with  a  single  wholesaler  whose 
responsibility  is  above  reproach. 
"  In  the  foregoing  we  have  considered  the  economic  value  of 
the  wholesaler  to  thousands  of  manufacturers.  This  is  an  im- 
portant reason  for  his  existence.  Now  let  us  consider  his  relations 
to  the  retail  trade. 
"  One  of  the  great  advantages  of  the  wholesale  druggist  to  the 
retailer  is  the  saving  of  time.  One  order  placed  with  the  whole- 
saler brings  one  composite  shipment  of  assorted  goods,  that  might 
otherwise  of  necessity  be  ordered  and  shipped  from  a  score  or  more 
of  houses,  some  of  them  at  great  distance  from  the  retailer.  The 
time  saved  in  ordering  and  receiving  goods  makes  for  a  quicker  and 
more  satisfactory  service,  and  service  is  the  superstructure  of  all 
retail  trade. 
"  Consider,  too,  the  time  saved  in  keeping  accounts  with  a  single 
company  instead  of  a  large  number  of  concerns.  There  is  less 
likelihood  of  a  mistake  in  adjusting  claims,  and  difficulties  of  any 
nature  can  be  settled  more  readily  and  with  much  less  effort,  if 
the  retailer  is  dealing  with  a  single  company. 
"  Turnover  and  quick  service  are  the  potent  factors  in  making 
the  retail  business  a  successful  enterprise. 
"Another  point  is  the  advantage  to  the  retailer  of  the  whole- 
sale drug  salesman.  The  1  see  you  next  week '  representative  of  a 
wholesale  concern  is  of  vastly  more  value  to  the  retailer  than  is 
generally  realized.  In  the  salesman  the  retailer  has  a  warm  friend. 
The  interest  the  salesman  has  in  his  trade,  his  good  advice,  his 
trade  tips  on  prices,  advances,  declines,  market  conditions  and 
what-not  make  for  a  splendid  cordiality  and  help  to  build  up  an 
'  over  the  top '  spirit  which  is  bound  to  win. 
"  The  retailer  is  not  entirely  dependent  upon  his  own  judgment 
in  placing  orders  for  goods,  for  the  knowledge  the  salesman  has 
of  the  goods  and  demands  of  the  retail  trade  may  be  depended  upon 
in  those  matters.  The  wholesaler  keeps  up  the  quality  of  goods 
for  the  retailer.  He  makes  it  his  business  to  make  a  study  of  the 
quality  of  his  goods.  Thus  the  wholesaler  and  retailer  cooperate 
to  give  the  best  possible  service  to  the  patrons  of  the  retail  trade — 
the  consuming  public. 
"  Every  retailer  is  dependent  upon  some  system  of  credit  in 
purchasing  goods.    If  there  were  no  wholesale  drug  concerns  the 
