Manufacturers Asked To Heed Consumers

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32052, 29 July 1969, Page 14

Manufacturers Asked To Heed Consumers

The wave of “consumerism” worrying many American manufacturers would come to New Zealand, said the president of the Christchurch branch of Sales and Marketing Executives (Mr T. G. Leighs) in his report to the annual meeting last evening.

He said that in Christchurch and throughout New Zealand there were many manufacturers who were sitting on the fence hoping the consumers and related pressure organisations would get off their backs.

“Far too many marketing people are not consumer oriented and will scream blue murder when the Government

brings down legislation to protect the consumer,” said Mr Leighs. He said that many manufacturers had no excuse for their shortcomings. They should now begin looking at their products, packaging, and price policies with a view to putting faults to rights. Improvements could be made in many areas, he said. Mr Leighs said that many firms could market good products and could stay clear of the Government and pressure groups and still conduct their businesses successfully. One of the jobs of the local branch, said Mr Leighs, had been in trying to overcome the stigma attached to selling. “There is more to selling than standing behind a counter looking gormless." He said that the branch had asked the Department of Education to scrap some of its literature for schools on selling. The following officers were elected:—

President, Mr T. G. Leighs; vice-presidents, Messrs M. Masur, D. Stewart, and J. Runciman; directors, Messrs M. Mather, J. Belick, M. Manhire, T. Downey, B. Osborne, J. Blackwell, and A. Jackson. The New Zealand Institute of Management nominees on the directorate are Messrs D. Graham and C. Hunter.