Much has been said and a great deal written about the closing of the drug store on Sunday.
In these days of hurry and the commercial character of the modern drug store business, with its responsibility and arduous labor, the matter of shorter hours is a question which must give us pause, and Sunday seems to me a good day to begin with the shortening process.
The bright, ambitious young man of today, who could be moulded into an efficient pharmacist, is not drawn to the profession because of the long hours. When he investigates the proposition of studying pharmacy and is up against the problem of a collegiate education, four years' practical experience in a drug store, together with the Collage of Pharmacy curriculum, to receive a diploma which fits him into the position of an eligible for a State Board examination, which he must pass to permit him to practice pharmacy, he naturally asks: "What is there in it?" Under the usual regulations, what does the "practice of pharmacy" mean to the young man with education and training, the young man with brains and efficiency? Seven days per week of about 14 to 15 hours each day, afternoon and evening off and every other Sunday--an average of about 85 hours per week, and often receives less salary than the man with brains and efficiency in some other vocation that requires 50 to 60 hours of his time. The good Lord never intended man to so labor. He provided a day of rest.
I believe in the drug business, and I believe it can be successfully conducted in six days each week; and that the druggist, as trained for the modern drug store business, ought to be above the plane of a slave to Sunday hours.
The people for all time have been educated to expect the same service of the druggist on Sunday as on week day. Conditions years ago made this, more or less, necessary, when the province of the pharmacist was to prepare and sell medicines. These conditions do not exist today. The dispensing physician, the dispensary and the hospital have changed this. I would like to ask this question--are majority of drug stores opened on Sundays, these modern days, to prepare medicines for the sick, to relieve the suffering of humanity, or for business and profit? They are run full blast in the sale of soda water, candy, cigars, sundries, etc., for profit. Many a proprietor will tell you that Sunday is his biggest day. A grocery would do business on Sunday if it were open. I remember when such was the case. Is the druggist better than the grocer? Do any more grocers fail since they closed on Sunday? I think not.
I submit, that as a necessity, as a business proposition, it is not required of the druggist to open shop on Sunday, and as a moral proposition, it means something to a neighborhood, for the druggist, who would enjoy the confidence and esteem of his people, to maintain a good principle in living.
Just to help along someone who may be wavering along this line of Sunday closing, permit me to relate my experience with my concern in Camden.
We started in business in 1897 and form the start closed on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4 o'clock in winter, and 1 to 6 o'clock during the summer months. We sold anything during open shop. We finally discontinued the sale of soda water and cigars, then stamps Sunday evenings. We found, however, that this discrimination began to cause dissatisfaction with our people. About this time--during the summer of 1906--the lid was "put on" in Camden by the enforcement of the Blue Laws.
We welcomed this, as we could then fall back on "the law" in carrying out our plan to sell only medicines and necessities. When "the lid" was finally "lifted" we made a law of our own, closing the store on Saturday night and opening on Monday morning; in this way, the writer, who had the dwelling part of the building, would remain at home to rest and placed a sign on the glass of the front door like this: "For medicines only, right bell." For some time he was bothered with trivial calls, and once in a while for stamps and perfumes, etc., but persons were promptly refused anything except medicines, or something to alleviate suffering, so that today the Sunday calls amount to very few.
When we started to carry out this "law" of ours, everything was not plain sailing. We were often criticised and told it was a mistake. We did not ask any other druggist to join us in the movement. Instead we talked it over with our best customers--we felt their pulse as it were. We asked their co-operation to assist us in carrying out a principle to allow our help to take Sunday as a day of rest and recreation, and to allow the firm to enjoy Sunday evenings in an outing. The sign on the door comes down and off at 6 o'clock.
By consistent and persistent effort we believe we have pretty firmly entrenched ourselves in the good graces of our people for introducing and carrying out a movement for no Sunday work for our help.
Now, is the forfeiting of Sunday's business a monetary loss? Let me answer this also. We are pleased to note a steady, health increase in business each year, and we feel a considerable pride in that we were the first to close all day Sunday, also in the fact that we have succeeded in establishing a drug business in six days each week.
Anyone can close a part or all of Sunday. It is up to the individual. Study your people, their character, habits, likes. Make up your mind you are going to do it, and stand pat. Formulate your plan and talk with your customers about it, take them into your confidence; tell your physicians about it. You will be surprised how most of them will help you. First of all, be sure of yourself--don't be weak-kneed at the first assault from a kicker. Stand by your principle. If it is a good one, if there is any reason in it, the public will help you.
One thing more--which is an immense and powerful lever to pry the public into position of accepting your law--make the six days' service valuable and worth while to your particular locality. Don't fail to demonstrate your ability to serve every work day. Just simply keep serving your patrons the very best you know how, standing solidly on your good principle, and you will hold their good will and get their business.
Let your motto be--Best Service, and live up to it. You do not have to do business on Sunday to help you pay your bills.
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