Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

CIGARETTE COMMUNIQUE
by
GEORGE CLEVELAND ~
So Fully Packed
Sans Cellophane
A communique is customarily news from
the front. Just to be different let's ~tart this
one off with something about the rear. An
operator we know says some girls in slacks
remind him of Lucky Strike's new slogan:
"So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed."
The reduction of cellophane allotments
for cigarette makers of ten per cent has
now caught up with most of them. As you
know, Pall Malls have already shed their
j ckets (possibly temporarily) and Luckies
are coming with one pack in each carton
without cellophane. Others will drop cello·
phane for the summer while some will just
dig deeper into inventories and hope that
something will turn up before their stocks
are exhausted. Luckies Suggestion Slip to
Patriotic Customers is going to be a head·
ache for route men-an extra motion on
every carton.
,
Removal of cellophane will also make
the problem of handling pennies for change
a difficult one. Some think pennies can be
inserted in the outside paper of the pack-
some are going to try postage stamps (auth·
orized by OPA in one of its Questions and
Answer Bulletins last May). This column
will be very much interested in hearing
from operators as to how they solve the
penny situation without the help of cello-
phane.
Unusual Trade Names
Cigarette vendors quite often hit on a
trade name that clicks. We can think of a
couple that are really assets. Nick Ranells
of Glendale, California uses the name Nico·
tine Nick and do people remember it. An·
other vendor calls his business Cigarettes,
Unlimited-not bad either. Do you use a
di'stinetive name--or do you know of some
operator who does? If so drop us a line and
we will pass the news on to the rest of our
readers.
Salesmanship
To address a location or a prospect by his
or her name is one of the primary rules of
salesmanship. You do not even need a good
memory to do this-just a good pencil and
some simple way of keeping the information
quickly available. If you know your loca·
tion only as Jack-ask him his full and cor·
rect name and write it down in his pres·
ence. The attention will please him and you
will always have the data on file. Prospects
are even more important. Get all the facts
and do not be backward in asking for
them or in letting the prospect know you
value his name enough to record it in your
files.
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
14
fOR
JULY
7943
JO the Operators
Ln
the West:
Weare still Western Representatiyes for
NATIONAL
CIGARETTE & CANDY MACHINES
Although we have no new machines to sell until the War
is won, we do have an ample stock of parts for National
Candy and Cigarette Vendors.
We cordially invite out-of-town operators to drop in
and see us whenever they are in Los Angeles. You'll find
us at the same old address.
E. C. McNeil.. Inc.
713 South Westmoreland Ave.
Los Angeles. Calif.
FTC ys. Cigarette Makers
The Federal Trade Commission, popu·
larly (or unpopularly as the case may be)
known as FTC, has issued complaints
against Lucky Strike, Camel, Old Gold and
Philip Morris for extravagant advertising.
Be sure to get a copy of the July issue of
Reader's Digest and read the article about
it on Page 17. It will interest you no end.
Chesterfield's modest claim that "They
Satisfy" seems to satisfy FTC as no com·
plaint has been made against them. In an
entirely different field FTC is also shooting
at Willys and their Jeep advertising. Some·
one suggests that FTC should take a half
interest in Sherwin·Williams slogan "We
Cover The Earth" and then issue a joint
complaint against SWP and themselves.
(Prediction: Sooner or later FTC will have
to spit out a lot of hot mush).
Service Men's Recreation Centers
Some of these, such as
Hospitality
Houses, etc, are fairly good cigarette loca·
tions. If you are soliciting some spot of this
type and have not been able to convince
them of the value of a cigarette machine
try this: agree to put a notice on the rna·
chine reading "Profits from sale of cigar·
ettes goes to purchase free smokes to give
away at our Canteen." Most all Canteens
do give away single cigarettes and the sign
referred to will usually clinch a sale with
the Manager of the place.
usa,
Commissions
Since last November 1st commiSSIOns
have been a difficult point in location rela·
tions. Here is a scale used by a number of
(See CIG. COMMUNIQUE, Page 16)
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