example, have most interesting histories that would well illustrate the success that is to be achieved by dint of hard work and perseverance. So, too, in Akron, Dayton, Lima, Mansfield, and many other towns there are florists who have achieved a well deserved reputation in the trade. But I must pass on.
The Credit System, Its Uses and Abuses
A few years ago, I had the privilege of addressing the Philadelphia Florists' Club on a topic that aroused at the time some interest and discussion in trade circles. The late Alexander Wallace, editor of The Florists' Exchange, was especially enthusiastic in his advocacy of the principles that I brought up.
The subject involved was that of our credit system, its uses and abuses. It seems to me now, as it did then, that we have made but little progress in this direction. Our credit system is still in a great measure antiquated, and badly in need of modernizing. It is surprising, when one considers it, that the retail florist who has done so much to improve upon the methods of old, and has modernized the general system of doing business, should neglect the very foundation upon which a successful business is built. While giving his attention to details of store arrangement, quality of flowers, discussion of prices, and even co-operative advertising, it never occurs to him to take up the question of credit, a question that should above all else present itself to his mind as of primary importance. The custom prevails among the retail florists, as every one of my friends will concede, to extend credit to their patrons, often indiscriminately and without imposing any limitation of time upon the best of them. If Mrs. Brown gives a pink tea and wants a table decoration that will be just so, and in the nick of time, the florist expends his best efforts to satisfy her. He often takes rebukes if the box of flowers which she ordered to be delivered at nine should reach her at ten. He does his utmost to give her the very best flowers, for Mrs. Brown is a very particular lady, and will have nothing else but the best. He meets her whims and caprices and injunctions and orders without a murmur. To be sure, Mrs. Brown is a society lady, one whose trade is well worth having.
And now let us see how Mrs. Brown conducts her end of their business relation. After having run up an account that totals into a considerable sum, it never occurs to her that Mr. Florist might well use the money. The fact that he must pay his grower, or commission man, and that they in their turn must pay for labor and coal and other overhead expenses, never presents itself to her. The gaiety season being over, Mrs. Brown quietly departs for either her Summer home or for Europe, leaving her florist bill unattended to. It would be the height of folly, of course, on the part of Mr. Florist to call her attention to such trifling matter as her flower bill. The very idea of it! Why, Mrs. Brown is a leader of society; and Mr. Brown is a prominent man in town, a successful manufacturer, a member of the leading clubs, and what not. To present a bill to such people would mean nothing short of offending them. And so Mr. Florist bears the burden of his financial troubles; and of necessity must put off the grower or the commission man, who in his turn must bear his part of the burden.
Now and then it happens that a florist loses his patience, and then, lo and behold! his patron is lost to him, for his competitor saw the chance, and swooped upon it like a vulture after spying its prey. The consequence is that the lax credit system is thus perpetuated, and the loss to all is apparent.
I recall an incident that may well illustrate the situation. A number of years ago, a florist (whose name I need not mention here) lost patience with one of his liberal patrons, who ran up a considerable bill during nearly two years. The florist asked him several times if he could not oblige him with a little money, for he had his coal bill to pay, and other pressing obligations to meet. His requests were entirely ignored. The patron happened to be a lawyer of prominence. One
