The Consumer Viewpoint

covering vital phases of manufacturing and selling household devices

by Mildred Maddocks, Director GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE

Department of Household Engineering




It has been Good Housekeeping's privilege to build up, as a source for
reader service, many departments that are unique and noteworthy in the
extent to which they have gone in measuring consumer needs and consumer
viewpoint.

In the following pages are presented some observations made by one of
these departments as the result of years of research and investigation
in the field of household appliances.

Generally speaking, most man-made devices are man-used. Here is an
industry whose products are man-made, but woman-used. It is this
fundamental condition that has placed the merchandising and selling
problems of the industry absolutely in a class by themselves and has
made them of peculiar importance and significance.

It is hoped that the material given herein may be of real service to
those whose interest lies in knowing more about one of our most rapidly
growing and least understood industries and also to those who would
better understand the basic element in all manufacturing and selling.