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Saturday, July 23, 2016

LEGENDARY COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 7-23-16

The Sport Coat


Back in 1972 I worked at Ralph & Gaskill’s Men’s Store in Salisbury. From when I started there in 1968 I learned a lot about merchandising and the operation of a retail store. I eventually became the manager of and buyer for the Stag Shop. This was located on the second floor of the downtown store and catered to the teen crowd. I developed a good following of both boys and girls. Realizing that a boy’s size 16 would fit a girl that usually wore a size 7, I pointed out that the boys shirts were only $7 and were made much better, if they didn’t mind having to button them the opposite of what they were used to. The same held true with the very poplar jeans of the era. A simple tuck at the waist of a pair of 29-29 jeans and you had a perfect size 7.

The days of the Stag Shop ended when the new Mall was built on Civic Avenue. It also ended my dream job. I lost my manager’s position and became a salesman on the floor at the Mall. Two big differences were the hours were much different and so was the pay ($1.00 an hour plus 6% commission). Being a commission salesman was not what I envisioned for my future. Being the “young guy”, they would put me at the front of the store where I only had a chance to sell socks and underwear. The big ticket items, such as suits and sport coats were in the back.

Well, we had moved the entire Stag Shop inventory to the Mall so I was very familiar with it, since I had bought it in the first place.

One night, this smallish man came in and wanted a sport coat. He didn’t look very impressive but I decided to give him my best effort. There was a nice wool sport coat that had been in inventory for about four years but, since it came from the Stag Shop, it was a size 36 and cut a bit smaller than a regular men’s cut. I tried it on him and it fit perfectly. He said it was fine and that was what he wanted. So, I took the coat up to the counter and asked the man if it would be a cash or credit transaction. He said he would have to take it home to get his wife’s approval and he would let me know. I explained that I couldn’t just let him have the coat and he said “Clem (Mr. Gaskill) always let him take something home for his wife’s approval”. I figured if he knew Mr. Gaskill he must be O.K. to charge. After all, the coat had been marked down to only $28.00, so I wouldn’t be taking that much of a risk. I told him that it was all right for him to take it home for her approval, but I would need a name to keep track of the coat. When he told me it was A. W. Perdue, I nearly died. He could have afforded anything in the store and I sold him the least expensive sport coat we had. But he looked good in it and it fit him great. At least I got that satisfaction. Needless to say, his wife liked the coat and he kept it. A small sale, but better than the guy I spent two hours with and dragged out about $250.00 worth of merchandise before the office said his credit was kaput and I had to put everything back. That was retailing – good days and bad days.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember shopping with my dad at Ralph & Gaskill (probably in the 1970's). He always wore a hat & he would buy his fedoras there. I think the downstairs back door opened up on Camden St. facing the parking lot & the upstairs front door opened up on the plaza. Then when they moved to the mall, they were across the corner from Hess Apparel & Vernon Powell.

Anonymous said...

It's all in retrospect now, but the building of the Salisbury Mall spelled the end of downtown. Think how vibrant downtown could be now if all those shops that moved were still downtown. We called it "progress" then; now we see our folly.

Anonymous said...

My husband worked ther at the mall with Geroge, Doc., Bill Herb, Mr Gaskill.
David was new so when a farmer came in Mr Herb told David go wait on him...the other guys laughed knowing the man would probally buy a handkerchief..well this man bought suite, ties, shirts, underwear and that package of handkercheifs. Biggest sale probally of the past two months or so. He paid cash.
Bill told my husband "dont judge a book by its cover". Good lesson. Those who laughed were laughing out the other side of their mouths. Maybe they learned something that day also. Mayabe.

bob pinto said...

Good heavens! I had forgotten about Ralph and Gaskell's and the upstairs dept. My mom bought me a pair of purple paisley bell bottoms with a hot pink shirt!

Anonymous said...

R&G brought the "leisure suit" to Salisbury and that gave Jos. Banks many new customers.

Anonymous said...

Did Mr. Lew Carman work there? I think there was also another mens store on the plaza called "Frank Farlow's"- or something like that. Don't remember any details of that one though.

Anonymous said...

In the late 60s, high school boys HAD to have clothes from R&G. Your socks had to match your sweater too!

Anonymous said...

Lewis Carman worked there and is still living and doing well

Anonymous said...

I am amazed at how few young people know what a Paisley is.R&G sold the best of everything.

Anonymous said...

"feathers"!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Let this guy RIP. Find another to write about the old days.