EMPIRE BUYING CENTRE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21010, 11 November 1933, Page 11

EMPIRE BUYING CENTRE

BRITISH INDUSTRIES HOUSE AN AMBITIOUS PRIVATE ENTERPRISE (rBOJI OCR OKU COSSEarOHDJSKT.) LONDON, October 5. About three years ago Messrs Gamages West End, Limited, completed a great building at the corner of Oxford street and Park lane, near Marble Arch. The companyfailed, and except, for the flats at the top of the building, the place has been practically empty. A group of men considered the place suitable for an Empire buying centre—a permanent British Industries Fair—and got together an organisation for making use of it in this way. After overcoming difficulties they have got to the stage of issuing a pamphlet explaining the objects of the enterprise. The board of directors consists of the following:—Mr H. M. Trouncer (chairman), the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, Sir Francis W. Goodenough, and Sir Felix J. C. Pole The joint managers are Mr Gordon Brown and Mr B. H. Winder. It is explained in the pamphlet that British Industries House is designed to make good what has long been a deficiency in British industrial equipment, a central market to which the buyers of the world can come to buy, secure in the knowledge that there, without loss of time, they can find what they want. The manufacturer, as he is working 011 a sufficiently big scale, may have .his own showrooms. But that does not meet the buyers' needs. The busy buyer is reluctant to go round a dozen or 50 showrooms. He wants; a central depot in which he can find all that the British manufacturer has to show him. To meet that need, and in the process, to improve the selling equipment of British industry, is the purpose of British Industries House. Only Empire Goods. British Industries House is a private enterprise, and is sponsored by six great insurance companies which have subscribed £450,000. The various branches of industry are offered an opportunity of making a permanent display of their wares. Only goods from Great Britain or from the Dominions and colonies are to be shown. Six floors are available to manufacturers, who may engage showrooms or erect showcases, and in addition, have their own offices. Storerooms, too, will be available to exhibitors who desire to keep stocks of their goods on the premises. Two floors of British Industries House have been set apart for use as a club. This is designed to meet one of the greatest needs of the pre-sent-day buyer, namely, a place where he can meet manufacturers in comfort and in an unrestricted atmosphere, and from which he can operate as from a permanent address. Membership of the club will be free to all exhibitors at British Industries House, and to all registered overseas buyers.