The interior of the shop should be fitted, if for a grocer, with provision counter with marble top and tiled front on one side, and with a grocery counter with mahogany top and panelled front on the other. The coolest side should be chosen for the provision counter. The walls are to be lined with fixtures, tea-bins and nests of drawers. Tiling and marble shelves are best adapted to set off the provision side to advantage ; whilst on the grocery side, tea-bins with lacquered fronts, cupboards with glass doors for smaller articles, and a row of lacquered and gilded canisters are the orthodox fittings.
It would seem that a grocer's fittings and utensils on the whole cost more than those found necessary by a draper. With the former, scales, scoops, a butter-block, and the almost indispensable machine for slicing bacon (a splendid adjunct to the provision trade), are matters of necessity. The grocer commencing in business must not lock up too much of his capital in fittings and utensils : he will need to think of his stock and also of the necessity of keeping some capital in hand for contingencies.
Of course, one of the many professional shop-fitting firms will estimate for fitting the shop if requested ; and it is well to get estimates from two or three and compare the result. This method, however, is an expensive one, as although the work done by these firms is artistic and elegant, their charges are high.
If economy as well as efficiency is strictly imperative, it is possible to adopt the following plan : The measurements of the shop having been taken, chalk out on the floor the spaces to be occupied by counters and fittings. Then a visit may be paid to Old Street, London (or some similar centre), where there are dealers who have large stocks of second-hand shop fittings for sale. A selection may be made at a very moderate cost as com pared with new, and the fittings may be consigned by carrier to the shop. Here a local carpenter may he called in, who, under the guidance of the energetic proprietor, will speedily adapt them to the premises.
Whilst the question of lighting is dealt with i n(her a separate head, mention must be here made of uteimils. The grocer should have a platform
scale for weighing heavy goods (the weight of all purchases must be checked as they are received), a larger grocery scale for general goods, and a smaller brass tea-scale. A number of scoops of various sizes will not be an expensive item. A cofie-mill will be necessary ; and if, as he should, the grocer sets out to roast his own coffee, a roaster heated by gas. Both can be obtained very moderately and suitable for any size trade. At first sieves will suffice for cleaning fruit (and currants and sultanas require but little treatment nowadays); afterwards a fruit-cleaning machine may be purchased.
On the provision side, a marble butter-block must be obtained, and a set of butter scales and also of bacon scales with weights. It may be mentioned that scales of all kinds may often be purchased cheaply second-hand. Bacon knives and saw, and butter slices and prints, with some butter dishes, are also required. A bacon-slicing machine is not absolutely necessary, but it is a great help to trade.
In general, various kinds of tickets should be bought, not forgetting the legal tickets for labelling margarine. It is well to set out with a good system for the care of the cash, and a patent cash-till (not of too expensive a variety) is often found a profitable investment. The necessary books arc also an item, including cash-book, bought and sale ledgers, and duplicating books for entering orders and making entries of credit sales. For the rest, circumstances must be the guide of the beginner opening in business ; but before commencing to lay out his money the novice should make a careful plan of the fittings he means to instal and a list of the implements he will certainly need. In estimating the cost he must be ruled by his available capital. He should overstate rather than understate what he intends to spend, and allow a fair margin for the unexpected needs which will be sure to make themselves felt as the work progresses.