CO-OPERATIVE SALES GAINED

The semi-annual report of the Co-operative Society for the first six months of the current fiscal year, July 1 to December 31, 1915, showed an increase of more than $15,000 over the sales of the first six months a year ago. In only one department, that of men's furnishings, have the sales fallen off to any extent, while several have made substantial gains. The total sales amounted to approximately $230,000, the increase being due to the improvement in general business conditions.

The Directors have authorized the Superintendent to develop, if practicable, the small mail-order business which the Co-operative Society has been doing for the last few years. It is hoped that a considerable business of this sort can be secured from Harvard graduates throughout the country and also from students at their homes during the summer months.

It is expected that the Technology Branch will be opened next fall. A committee of the Directors was appointed to secure premises and to make the preliminary arrangements.

The total expenses for the half-year amounted to $30,345.20, as compared with $33,344.88, a decrease of $2,999.68. This has been obtained by various strict economics, in spite of the increased business which has had to be handled.

The net profits for the first six months are $22,792.36, as against $12,841.12 a year ago. This large increase in net profits, amounting to $9,951.24, is due partly to increased sales, partly to reduced expenses, and partly to the fact that improved business conditions have made it unnecessary to resort to mark-down sales in order to clear off stock as was the case with all mercantile concerns during the depression of 1914-1915.

The total stock-on-hand on December 31, 1915, was $74,580.07, as against $75,067.09 at the same date a year preceding. The volume of business by departments was as follows: Sales by Departments.   Jan. 1, 1914  Jan. 1, 1915 Men's Furnishings,  $39,147.37  $35,228.96 Books,  57,488.58  57,043.05 Stationery,  49,077.31  51,113.08 Furniture,  23,149.32  36,999.24 Tailoring,  18,891.05  20,783.44 Coal and Wood,  14,919.16  15,361.74 Branch Store,  12,291.09  12,581.79   $214,963.88  $230,111.30   Increase, $15,147.42