Friday, November 1, will be a big day for food shoppers in Whitehorse. That's the day Tourists' Services opens its big, beautiful new supermarket on Fourth Avenue, next door to their former premises.
Doors open at 10:30 in the morning and it is expected there will be many eager housewives on hand earlier to get a chance at the many free offerings being made to celebrate the opening.
The king-size supermarket will offer the very latest in equipment, convenience and design. Specially tailored to local needs, yet offering all the features of popular outside shopping centres, Tourists' Services Supermarket will bring one-stop shopping to residents of this northern community.
As up-to-date as the globe-circling Sputnik in design, decor and merchandising methods, the new Supermarket is bound to draw opening day crows and a steady through-the-week clientel in the days and months that follow. Every measure possible has been taken to ensure the busy housewife (or the shopping duty dad) pleasant, quick and convenient buying.
It will be easy to get the shopping done quickly, but many shoppers at first especially, probably will want to linger in the attractive surroundings just enjoying the big city sensation.
The Supermarket contains many innovations developed by top North American designers. The entire store, from loading platforms to checkout counter has been engineered for the purpose of making shopping there a pleasure.
DEPARTMENTALIZED
All merchandise will be displayed by departments which will be clearly marked for ease in location - no more wandering around looking for a bar of soap or a bottle of catsup.
Shelves, coolers and containers have been designed for the specific goods they hold.
The food merchandising equipment was designed and manufactured by "Hussman," formost designers of self-service equipment in North America,
The new store, the Yukon's only Supermarket, is 60 feet x 100 feet measured by its inside dimensions, containing 7,200 square feet of shopping space. Big and airy, the Supermarket is gracefully decorated in shades of yellow and chocolate which contrast with gleaming white fixtures and row upon row of groceries, neatly waiting purchase.
NO TRAFFIC JAMS
The systematic stocking and wide passageways between rows of shelves will eliminate traffic jams during rush periods.
The new Supermarket policy of self-service was first introduced in the United States where high volume and low operating costs were sought. Savings effected by this methods permit lower markups on food items which, naturally, mean lower food budgets for the householder.
Jim Smith, manager says "Introduction of modern, self-service merchandising means we can bring prices down lower than anywhere."
Behind the well set scene that greets the shopper's eye is a jam-packed warehouse where simplified handling and storage methods help keep costs down. Modern meat cutting facilities behind the meat counter, manager's office with a window on the food floor, shipping room for deliveries and accounts office all will function smoothly, assisting the even flow of customer traffic.
Low prices which will prevail in the new Supermarket raised even a few Tourists' Services staff eyebrows. Their comment on the rock bottom deal which will be offered shoppers led to adoption of a nickname for the new shop.
While revising food prices for the opening the staff became concerned over the new, low figures introduced by the manager.
"How can we afford it?" they asked.
"Low operating costs," explained Jim Smith for about the fiftieth time.
"Oh, that's us - TSS, The Silver Saver!" quipped a staffer,
"Not silver - they'll save dollars here," snorted, Jimmy.
"Yes, but dollars would not fit initials of Tourists' Services Supermarket," was the reply... The Silver-Saver it stays.
Baby can ride while mother shops at the Supermarket.
The wheeled baskets into which the mother puts the groceries she selects are equipped, for those who need them, with a seat for baby. This will keep the young child out of his mother's hair and, at the same time, will give him a good view of all that's going on around him.
For those who are in a hurry with just a few small purchases, one checkout counter will be for speedy service which will mean no long waits, for those in a hurry to leave.
Handy feature of these checkout counters is an endless belt onto which groceries go to eliminate double handling ag they move by the cashier... it all adds up to more pleasant, easier shopping.
A team of food equipment experts flew into Whitehorse recently to supervise installation of the latest "Hussman" food service equipment. Modern freezers, coolers, heating units and self-service display units are included in the array of modern facilities designed for Tourists' new Supermarket,
The equipment is technically the most advanced type in the merchandising field. The senior member of the team supervising installation commented the store is "one of the finest of its type."
"They haven't missed a thing." he stated.
HANDSPRINGS !!!
Turning handsprings, that's what Jimmy Smith feels like doing when he looks over the spanking new Tourists' Services Supermarket.
Those who know Jim wouldn't be too surprised to see him doing it either. Hardworking and energetic, it's hard to find him when he isn't on the go - and if anyone does catch him at rest he's elther just finished something or just about to start something else.
In both his business and civic life Jim Smith has always been an enterprising and determined worker for the improvement of this community. Opening of the Supermarket Friday will mark the high point and culmination of much of his years work in the North.
It reflects his and his firm's faith in the present and future of this great and growing country.
Came To Atlin
The 37-year-old manager of Tourists' Services came north first in 1940 when he joined the old-established firm of Louis Schulz Ltd. in Atlin. He made his start in the food business some years before at the age of 14 when he was given the job of part-time helper in a meat store. There he worked his way up to become a qualified meat cutter.
After working In Atlin for seven years in the meat and grocery business, Jim came to Whitehorse where his was the responsibility of first opening Tourists' Services store. Since that time the store has grown continually, always straining at the seams, until the idea for the modern Supermarket was born.
Mr. Smith has been active in civic life here for many years. A keen member of the board of trade in the past he was that organization's president in the years 1952-53. Previous to being elected president, he had served on many committees concerned with the the city's development.
Important amongst these was a successful radio week which raised more than $4,000 to purchase new equipment for the hard-pressed volunteer staff of CFWH.
Alderman
Going all out for city affairs Mr. Smith ran for city council and was elected alderman in 1955 and still sits with the town fathers. He has been forceful in his views, urging departmentalization and streamlining of council business.
"It's been hard work." he says, "but it's been worth it."
Glad to see completion and operation of the big, new store will be Mrs. Smith, who came here from Atlin with her husband. She is the former Dorothy Matson of that community.
Glad, too, will be Jim's young son and daughter who hope their dad will be able to steal a little more time away from the duties and details of getting the trim Supermarket ready for the November 1 opening.
