CHAIN SHOPS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1929, Page 5

CHAIN SHOPS

A visitor to Wellington at present is Mr. H. P. Christmas, managing director of Woolworths, (Australia), Ltd., and also of the New Zealand company which enters the business world tomorrow, when its shop in Cuba street will be opened. Mr: Christinas told an "Evening Post" representative that the system of chain stores was proving popular in Australia," tvhe. it had been adopted by finns trading in tobacco, groceries, and fancy goods, etc. In Ms opinion the foundation, of tlie chain, store system simply rested on scientific management. In earlier days the scheme of multiple shops was common, but that meant separate management of each with the unavoidable attendant overhead expenses. Under the chain scheme there vras one overhead over many stores, and that had been found to be the most practicable form of business and the best from the point of view of the purchaser. It is five years since Woolworths opened in Australia, and -the business has been extended rapidly. With the opening of the Cuba street shop tomorrow the firm's operations in New Zealand begin, and soon a branch is to bo opened in Auckland.

The immediate programme of tho company in New Zealand is to open in Cuba street to-morrow, in Auckland about the first week in November, and in addition two leases have teen secured in other cities. No shares in either the Australian or New Zealand organisations are held by other than Australians and New Zealanders, and there is no connection with the American company of similar name.