Page 38 Advertisements Column 1

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21647, 13 November 1933, Page 38 (Supplement)

v\ 30S0I pMajai-li I Rwi^iorwnf^ipff= *fev /;.J ~ ,'|;^Vf> — — W |-rr. A 'i i J y'-'---l ' • : p.j / \ \-!': I# * E .'' : \ i( \ r ffy ?1» 4S,\ .1 A- ■',*-/,.1 i!fI.'jPPPPpP , fi pi: K ; Uup lu LI ! - ,Url-« is®tart ! ill TTT 52 YEARS IDENTIFIED Our First T |~~[T j• 7 y- sj^*~~ WITH AUCKLAND Warehouse Established 1881 I !I1S advertisement is years anead of its time. Its place is properly among the tales that will be told in years to come, when men will <y^b hark hack reflectively to The Great Depression and recount its most vivid aspects. And leading the stories of business failures will * be that of the grim fight bv Macky, Logan's, first to stave off defeat altogether, and, later, bv voluntarily liquidating, endeavouring to meet creditors satisfactorily. It i> because those obligations have still to be honoured that the continued goodwill ol customers, both among the public and the trade, is frankly sought by advertisement. We don't want lamentations 50 years hence! We leant business NOW! It is only of late that Macky, Logan's have come prominently before the public. Comparatively few among the general public know that the firm is strongly identified with the earliest beginnings of Auckland. It has grown with the citv. It has shared its ups and downs. Its founders were men of mark in our community before most of us were born. It has been in existence so long that other men have spent their entire working lives in its employ. A pen more able than this could weave a story around its traditions in keeping with the early struggles and ultimate successes of any ol the great commercial houses of the world. The first warehouse, established in 1881, was a small two-storey place on the corner of Llliott and Darby Streets. The changes that followed as the business grew read like a book; as extra warehouse space was needed shops adjoining the original warehouse were acquired; walls were knocked down and differences in floor levels overcome by means of ramps, until, in the course of time. Mackv, Logan's warehouse was just a conglomeration of shops and warehouses extending from Darby to Victoria Streets and from Llliott Street along Darby Street to old Theatre Lane, all joined up like a jig-saw puzzle! It wasn't modern, but it was effective. So much so that in 1911, when the warehouse was burnt down, the firm had built a business huge enough to justify the erection of the present six-storey building, occupying one of the biggest blocks in the city and with frontages on three streets. By the end of the war, Macky, Logan's had achieved leadership as the greatest Wholesale Draper) - concern in New Zealand; large warehouses in each of the four centres and branch warehouses in the main provincial towns testified to the confidence the Dominion's retailers had in the firm's buying organisation. Then came expansion on the manufacturing side, until finally the assets of the company included the formidable list of nine warehouses, two woollen mills, one large hosiery mill and six factories —a truly remarkable organisation for such a young country as New Zealand. At the zenith of the firm's power there were over 2000 people employed and approximately £280,000 was paid out annually in salaries and wages. To-day the record is not so bright. In October, 1931. direct trading with the public was commenced in an endeavour to offset loss oi trade by the sudsidiary companies which were particularly hard hit by the depression. But even this drastic action was insufficient and twelve months ago the company voluntarily went into liquidation and the process of winding up is taking place now. Where formerly we expanded we now contract. Instead of opening up new warehouses we are now closing down those so hardily acquired in the past. We no longer want to buy factories —we want to sell them. We have bargains in properties as well as in goods. The one fact that remains unchanged and undisputed is that OUR BUYING ORGANISAI lON IS STILL'INTACT AND MORE VIRILE THAN EVER IT I lAS BEEN IN THE PAST. As wholesalers we still do business and get favours from manufacturers all over the world. Our travellers are still on the road. Wt still buy and sell, and the only difference from the old days is that we now sell direct to the public in Auckland and Wellington. We do not do a mail order business because we can still do a good wholesale business with retailers outside of Auckland and Wellington cities and have no desire to compete with them. Factories, properties, shares in outside businesses and so on will all be wound up in the course of time by the Liquidator, but the very last to go will be our BUYING ORGANISATION. That is the heart of Macky, Logan, Caldwell Ltd.. and, so long as it continues to beat, a conclusion can be achieved which will be satisfactory to creditors, retailers all over the Dominion, and the public generally. Meantime ihe liquidation is creating wonderful buying opportunities lor the trade and public alike. Act on it to your ozen advantage. An Advertisement in the Interests Darby, Elliott, Victoria Streets, Auckland.