CARl LLON Drug Stores As Locotions
DYNAMIC
-A REVIEW LOCATION SURVEY STUDY-
The trend in the drug store field is toward
fewer but larger stores, according to a
spokesman for the Na ti onal Assn . of Retail
Druggist. The decline in numbers has
brought the total from about 60,000 stores
some ten years ago to abou t 54,000 at the
present time. Of the current 54,000 stores,
the number of chain stores is put at 10,000.
Tbe NARD represents independent stores
and locally owned chains and claims that in-
dependen ts do about 75 per cent of the total
business done by drug store.
THE REVIEW Location Chart, published in
Oct., 1947, listed the total number of drug
stores as 52,800, an ollicial estimate on the
total number of uch stores in 1946. A Feb.,
1948, bulletin by the Dept. of Commerce
We claim that CARILLON-DYNAMIC
puts the tota l number of drug stores at 55,-
100 as of June, 1947, a figure that is pre-
needles are SUPERIOR to ANY PHONO-
sumed to represent a number of new stores
GRAPH NEEDLES IN THE WORLD. And
started in the postwar Rush of opening up
new tores by veterans.
we want YOU to prove it YOURSElF on
The ollicial report of 55,100 stores in June,
location. That is why we are offering you
1947, shows a nice gain over the official num-
ber of 52.800 a year earlier. At a trade meet-
this amazing guarantee.
ing in 1947, the president of a large dru/!:
manufacturing firm emphasized the Ion/!:-
term decline in the number of stores by ay-
ing that within a few years there would be
. only one drug store for each 3,000 persons.
At th e pre ent time, it i estimated there
is a drug store for each 2,600 people. From
the estimates on th e total number of stores,
it will be ga th ered that, except for a period
of opening new stores right after the war.
the total number i still declining. Cost of
modern equ i pment, co t of labor and com-
petition from super markets are given by
Purchase 100 or more CARILLON-DYNAMIC
trade spokesmen as some of the reasons for
decline. Competition is forcing moderniza-
needles . . . all of one type or an assort-
tion of stores and some of the weaker ones
ment of the Famous Four. We will send
are closing as a result.
On hasis of total number of the different
you FREE an EXTRA ten needles for each
types of locations for coin machines, TH E
100 purchased . IF YOU ARE NOT COM-
REVIEW Location Chart puts dTllg stores a
thirteenth among abou t 35 different types.
PLETELY SATISFIED THAT CARILLON-
Restaurants, tavern, etc., are far ahead of
DYNAMIC NEEDLES ARE ALL THAT WE
drug stores on basis of total numbers in the
United States.
CLAIM, return the needles which you pur-
In a check among a cross-section of read-
chased and we will REFUND YOUR MONEY
ers of THE REVIEW, about 51 per cent of the
operators reporting had machines in one or
lN FUll AT ONCE. You may keep the
more dTllg store locations. In the check,
free "bonus needles." We reserve the
drug stores ranked seventh among the most
popular types of locations on a numerical
right to limit this offer.
point system. Taverns led the Ii t on a basi
of points, with restaurants as second.
Among th e operators reporting drug store
THE FAMOUS FOUR
locations, the average number of such loca-
ti ons per operator wa seven.
No. 544, Rigid . For loud play and heavy pickups.
Territory, the type of machine and the
tist, $1. 100 to 250 needles, 27c ea.
personal preferences of the operator all en-
ter into the placing of machines in drug
No. 549, Semi-Flexible. For Medium tone and
tores and it is not easy to determine from
average pickups. List, $1. 100 to 250 needles,
a survey what is the chi ef factor. Bulk vend-
30c ea.
ors and scales are assumed to be th e mo t
popular types of machines for drug store
No. 547, Flexible. For Soft tone and high fidelity
locations, and in recent years postage stamp
vendor have spread rapidly in such store.
t'eproduction. For use with lightweight pickups.
NEEDLES IN YOUR
COIN PHONOGRAPHS
MEAN MORE MONEY
IN YOUR POCKETS.
List, $1. 100 to 250 needles, 35< ea.
Special Mentions
No. 1003, Sapphire.
Among the reports, an operator in Wash-
ington, D. c., has ten dTllg stores as loca-
For the PEAK in tone and
tion . He operates a large number of games
and phonographs.
An operator in Kentucky has five drug
store locations in a route of over 300 cigar-
ette ven do rs.
A small operator in Maryland. ju t get·
ting started, has two dru/!: locations in a
route of bulk vendors: in Oklahoma another
operator with over 100 bulk vendors has
only two drug store location. A n operator
in ew Mexico, with 20 hot nut vendors and
over 100 bulk vendors, has machines in only
three drug locations, while an Alabama op-
erator reports machines in seven drug stores
in a route of 80 bulk vendors.
A California operator, reporting over 200
bulk vendors and 150 stick gum machines,
has equ ipm ent in 22 drug stores. An Idaho
operator of over 250 cigarette, ca nd y and
stick gum vendors reports only one drug
tore location.
One of th e large cigarette operators of the
countrv reports having machines in 25 drug
stores· in a route that has about 2500 ma-
chine~. A West Virginia operator, with mu-
sic and pin ball machines, has equipment in
.
six drug stores.
An Indiana operator, who goes 1I1to the
smaller towns of his territory with bulk
vendors, phonograph and games, has ma-
chines in 15 drug stores. An upstate Ne:w
York operator, with a large route of ~USIC
and pin ball, reports three drug locations.
A Vermont operator, with music and games,
reports 10 drug locations.
.
From these individual report, It would
appear that drug store locations are not an
impressive part of the great total of thou-
sands upon thousands of locations of all
kinds that contain the coin machine in u e
over the nation.
But there are many outstanding excep·
tions in which the proprietor of a drug store
welcomes coin machines as a decided ad-
junct to his business. In some citie~ drug
stores have an impressive number of pll1 ball
games, somet im es almost giving the appear-
ance of a game room or arcade.
In Washington, D. c., a recent report to
THE REVIEW told of a drug store th at re-
moved some of its booths and had 15 pin
ball games put in th e space. The operator
also set up three coin changers and the
druggist feels he reduced h!s investm~nt and
at the same time boosted hIS over-all 1I1come
on the space. These spectacular examples
can he found in many cities over the coun-
try and suggest that maybe operators do not
alway do a good selling job to dru/!: store
proprietors.
Just as drug stores differ, the propric.tors
are different and so do operators dIffer
widely in their experiences and views in re-
lation to drug store loca tions. In the same
area, one operator may pass drug spots by
while another operator comes alon/!: and spe-
cia li zes in such locations.
In Chicago, one of the pioneer operat?rs
of bulk vendors says he has never been Im-
pressed with drug store locations. He has
no particular reason except that he finds
factories much better paying spots for his
needle life. May be used on all lightweight pick-
ups.
List, $1.50.
100 to 200 needles, 48c eo.
M. A. MILLER
MANUFACTURING COMPANY
1169 East 43rd Street
Chicago 15, III.
14
COIN MACHINE REVIEW