Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1963)

NEW SERIES VOL. 3, No. 41 TELEVISION DIGEST-7 C onsumeir Electronics • • • • MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTION, FINANCE DISCOUNT 'MENUTEMEN’ MAP QS FIGHT: Influential, well-heeled, and apparentiy fastmoving "Committee for Competitive Prices," formed Oct. 1 (Vol. 3:40 plO) to battle pending Quality Stabilization legislation, already is at work via Ruder & Finn PR firm formulating anti-QS crash program. War chest of $125, 000 was set as initial goal, and already "a good percentage of that has been pledged," we were told by CCP spokesman, and there's every indication that additional funds will be available if needed. "We are not a trade association," spokesman emphasized. 'We are an emergency group of the discount industry formed to develop a crash program to defeat Quality Stabilization. That's our only target. When the QS matter is settled, we will disband. " CCP organized initially with representatives of 31 discount stores, but "we're getting letters every day from companies that want to join us," we were told by Martin Chase, organizing mainspring of CCP, chnrn. of its executive committee, and treas. of Ann & Hope Factory Outlet, Cumberland, R. I. (Vol. 3:31 p7). "The more the merrier," he said. "The more people we can get into this fight against QS, the more effective we'll be." Complete CCP crash program is being funneled through Ruder & Finn, who told us: 'We're in viting the entire discount industry to join us and hopefully, in the next week or so, we will represent the industry to a large degree." Membership roll already reads like Who's Who in discount field, and CCP 15-man executive committee includes such discount leaders as Spartan Pres. Stanley Maer, Arlan's Treas. Herbert Palestine, Zayre Pres. Stanley Feldberg, Gamble-Skogmo Vp Henry Fro me It, Virginia Dare Vps Abraham Jacobson & Harold Gottfried, Interstate's Frank Beckerman, dir. of Topps discount operation, Dixie Mart Pres. Harold Waller, Apex Pres. A1 Tilavin, Lechemere Sales Pres. Maurice Cohen. Also represented on board is influential, California-based Allied Consumer's Council, representing closed-door discount houses, which joined CCP this week. 'We're going to get the facts to the public in every way we know how," CCP told us. 'We're going to alert them to just what QS will mean to them in terms of increased prices. We have only one target— to defeat QS." Meanwhile, 5-month-old National Assn, of Mass Merchandisers (Vol. 3:23 p8) intensified its anti-QS activities, issued call for more members and funds. In Oct. 9 letter to membership— 22 companies representing 169 member stores and 596 leased depts. — exec. dir. Roger Courtland opined QS bills "will not become law during this current session of the Congress," called for budget of $55,000 to carry on fight. He said $55,000 "would be adequate to defeat the proposed bills," would spend $20,000 for "lobbying activity," $10, 000 for "legislative activity in Washington," $10, 000 for promotion, including distribution of 1,000-2, 500 anti-Fair Trade kits, balance for overhead. Commencing Nov. 1, Association will issue monthly NAMM Newsletter to update members on latest QS developments. NAMM's membership roll also is impressive, includes such giant store chains and lessee organizations as GEM, GOVCO, Gamble-Skogmo, Zayre, Family Bargain Centers, Gateway Sporting Goods, Carter -Overton, Marrud. Courtland emphasized that NAMM is a permanent trade association, told us "we have offered our complete cooperation and assistance" to new CCP group, noted that "5 of our members are on their 15-man executive board." In another QS development, FTC Chairman Paul Rand Dixon, appearing before Oct. 9 Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing on S-774 QS bill, reiterated FTC's opposition to the legislation, said, "if you really want to help the little man," QS legislation should include private label provision. "K a manufacturer wants to offer a product of similar make and quality to that he is price fixing," Dixon amplified, "then he has to fix a standard price on that, too, and offer it for sale to everybody." Dixon said resale price maintenance would cost American consumers some $5 billion a year.