MARKETPLACE
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PAGE 4, MAY 3U, rn1.:S
NEWSLETTER
What kind of pitching
does it take
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Most embarrassing to any big league pitcher, especially in a 1 to 1 tie ball game
in the last of the 9th inning with the bases full, as the two clubs are coming down
the stretch, fighting for first place, for the pitcher to walk the batter and, thereby,
force in the winning run.
Much cheering, much celebration for the winning team. Much gloom, much despair for
the losers. And unless the pitcher is one of the team's greats, one of the regulars,
if he's just average, a newcomer, he can figure on being traded to another team for
the next season if not sent to the minor leagues.
So it goes in this industry, too. For years and years operators, distributors, man-
ufacturers, have had their winning chance. To pitch themselves to triumph. Some have
done so. Many have failed and faded from the field. Those who have succeeded are still
in there. Still pitching to win.
j-
Yet times have changed. As the expression goes today and has been expressed since
the start of this decade, "It's a new kind of ball game." No longer is success com-
pletely left to chance. Sufficient capitalization plus a keen understanding of econ-
omics, in addition to grand promotion, concerned citizenship, good public relations
and just plain old common sense based on good business judgment, are the outstanding
requirements for operating, distributing and even manufacturing success.
Superior flexibility to meet fast changing, challenging conditions, has become a
definite requisite. Complete reversal of certain policies which have proved incapable
of meeting modern business conditions, is another requisite. Speedy, but logical
decisions, are a paramount necessity to insure continued profitability. The economy
moves much too fast today to be dependant on sheer chance or luck.
,.
No longer can operators disregard locations. Just as distributors cannot disregard
their operator-customers. Or manufacturers disregard their distributors. It's a world
of service. Service that sparkles, that shines out above all others. Costly service.
The kind of service that means greater and greater investment on all levels of the
industry. Operators' investment in their locations. Distributors' investment in oper-
ators. Manufacturers' investment in distributors.
Even with all this comes the time when each man must stand up on the pitcher's mound.
Stand up there to halt adverse conditions with his experience, his skill, his faith, his
belief in his own ability. Must stand up and whizz that ball down the middle with all
the power of his delivery. And, possibly, pray that he won't force in the winning run
for the opposition. That it will be his team that will wildly celebrate victory.
That's the pitching being done by "Marketplace" to help point the way to operating
victory by better understanding of today's economy. Like "1-Play 2-Bits" plus a $10
"service charge" off the top of the gross collection and the balance to be split on
the more equitable 70/30 commission basis. 7a% to the operator.