Greenbelt Cooperator

GCS 'Operation Milk' Endorsed By Board

The GCS board of directors last Friday passed a resolution "heartily commending the food store manager, George Spellman, and the staff for the excellent way they met the milk needs of the consumers during the recent milk strike." When Mr. Spellman believed the milk strike was imminent, he began negotiations with out-of-town dairies. The food store, as part of its agreement, was required to pick up the milk and pay for it in advance, with one dairy. Other dairies delivered the milk. One shipment which was expected around 4:30 Friday afternoon didn't show up until 9 p.m. All the customers who had waited in line since late afternoon were served, while the store staff stayed on duty until 1 a.m. unloading the milk, putting it on refrigeration so that it would be accessible for Saturday's demand.

"OPERATION MILK" took a huge bite out of last week's net margin, it was reported, but GCS officials felt that it was in the best interests of the consumers.

An architect's drawing of the New Hampshire food store was shown and suggestions were made by the various directors regarding its proposed architecture, location of its sign, and general appearance. These suggestions will be given to the architect and other drawings will be made and submitted. The store is still in the blueprint stage.

During the meeting, a visit was made to the variety store with Manager John Shaughnessy present to answer questions and explain the store's policies and method of operation. The store is departmentalized according to merchandise. A salesperson may sell in several departments, but is required to keep the sales receipts separate. This enables an accounting of sales for each individual department and simplifies inventory-taking. There are 27 departments altogether. The most important department in the store is toys, and next in sales is stationery.

On the basis of 99 items that are sold by variety stores, a recent area survey showed that GCS variety store ranked second with 87 items, while a Silver Spring store was first with 93 items; Bladensburg third with 85 items; and a store in Hyattsville last with 73 items sold.

Shaughnessy expressed the opinion that "there could be a greater variety of items sold, if there were more traffic in the store, but it's impossible to stock everything" when there might be only one case on an item.

The question of comparative prices was raised. Generally speaking, the prices on the variety store's items are as low as those of other comparable stores on the same quality items, according to Shaughnessy. About 70 percent of the merchandise is purchased direct from the manufacturer. These purchases are assisted by two buying offices, Consumers Drygoods Distribution Corporation and Consolidated Merchants Syndicate.

At the present time the variety store has English bicycles which were obtained by a most advantageous deal, having been purchased directly from a sister co-op in England. The bicycles boast a gear shift for three speeds, with front and back wheelbrakes, and are being sold for less than other retail outlets. The variety store is in a position to save its patrons money by taking special orders on major appliances, Shaughnessy said.