Proceedings at the conference between the deputation from the London Chemists' Association, etc., etc., and Burroughs Wellcome & Co. : held at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, London, June 21st and 28th and August 2nd, 1906.

Date:
[1906?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Proceedings at the conference between the deputation from the London Chemists' Association, etc., etc., and Burroughs Wellcome & Co. : held at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, London, June 21st and 28th and August 2nd, 1906. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/64 (page 9)
    MEETING HELD AT THE HOLBORN VIADUCT HOTEL ON THURSDAY, 21st JUNE, 1906. Mr. TRUMAN (Chairman of the Deputation) : I wish to say in the first place I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Wellcome, for your courtesy in receiving the deputation. We not only represent the London Chemists’ Association, but also the other Associations who have asked us to move in the matter. We thought if we could meet you and talk the matter over in a calm and sensible manner, we might arrive at a satisfactory solution of the situation different to that at present existing, which is not quite satisfactory to the trade. Mr. WELLCOME: May I ask you, Mr. Chairman, who and what your deputation represents ? Is it a deputation from the London Chemists’ Association alone ? Mr. TRUMAN : The London Chemists’ Association directly, but indirectly most of the Associations in the United Kingdom. They have all passed resolutions more or less to the same effect; more particularly the Eastbourne Association have asked us to take the matter up, feeling that a personal interview would do so much more to clear up any misunderstandings there might be than any mere written communications. Mr. WELLCOME: But in what way have the other Associations asked you to represent them ? Mr. TRUMAN : They have sent us circular letters in reference to the matter and asked us to take it up ? Mr. WELLCOME : Will you, Sir, as Chairman, make your statement on behalf of the deputation ? Mr. TRUMAN : Will you allow me to say a few words afterwards ? Mr. Watkins will introduce the matter. Mr. WELLCOME: Certainly. Mr. WATKINS : I am sure we are very pleased indeed that you have allowed us to come this afternoon. I think it is a general fact that the prices here listed [exhibiting a B. W. & Co. price list] are those at which your products are sold retail by the store chemists throughout the country. There is an uncertainty amongst chemists as to the amount of discounts allowed from these prices—different statements are made as to them. Chemists feel that 15 per cent, off an article is hardly sufficient. We have no wish to dictate to you, but we thought a friendly talk over with you on the matter would be the best way to come to terms. Take, for example, Cascara Sagrada. The profit we get on that is only practically id. or |d. You see 15 per cent, is practically about fd. The time occupied in serving Cascara Sagrada is quite equivalent to that taken in selling “ Kepler” Solution, so that we feel particularly the 15 per cent, is not sufficient, especially in the small articles which we sell at 6d. or Is., which make up the bulk of the articles we have to sell. So that if you could see some way to divide your discount I think it would meet the case, or perhaps you could see some other way out of the difficulty. We feel anyhow that the amount of a £5 order is such that we are unable to avail ourselves of it to obtain 20 per cent. We know 20 per cent, on the outlay is a reasonable one, ( 9 ) Who the deputation represented. Opening statement. Question of Profit.