The Story
of the C P C
A Brief Sketch of the Upbuilding of a Great
Business
The C P C story -- that is, the story of the
California Perfume Company -- dates back to 1886 when the business was
started by our President, Mr. David H. McConnell, in a little office
about 20 x 25 feet in size, at
126 Chambers Street, New York City. The business grew rapidly and
soon two entire floors or lofts were occupied in the same building.
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Continued Growth
Ten years later, Mr. Alexander D. Henderson, our Vice-President and Treasurer, joined the company and helped to shape its policies and assist in its growth. In 1897, the services of the writer were engaged and subsequently he became Secretary and General Sales Manager. The company at that time (1897) occupied four entire floors for offices and shipping rooms, and the laboratory was built at Suffern, New York.
Office Expansion
In 1909, the New York offices were moved to our present commodious quarters at 29-31 Park Place, corner of Church Street, one block from the New York General Post Office and the City Hall, in the heart of the great downtown commercial and financial district of Manhattan Island.
The territory east of the Mississippi River handled from the New York office is subdivided into three parts:
Eastern Division, Edward l. Helmig, Manager, comprising New York, New Jersey, and the New England States.
Central States or Western Division, Alonzo E. Williams, Manager, consists of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Southern Division, P. Henry Brockmann, Manager, contains the twelve southern states east of the Mississippi.
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Branch Offices
The rapid growth of the C P C business has also necessitated the establishment of branch offices and warehouses. In 1895, the Luzerne Branch was opened, with J. D. Tiffany in charge; 1898 saw the opening of the San Francisco office, George J. McConnell, Manager, Gustavus J. Gardner now in charge of the Sales Division. This Branch was completely destroyed by the great earthquake and fire in 1906, but was immediately reestablished. In 1903, Kansas City Branch was begun, P. J. Morgan now managing. With our growing Canadian trade, the necessity of a branch across the border was apparent, and in February, 1914, the Montreal office started doing business, Charles C. Stewart, Manager.
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The C P C Idea
This phenomenal growth may all be attributed to the original C P C Idea which is the manufacturing of a complete line of perfumes and toilet articles, as well as household necessities and specialties, each the best possible article of its kind, to be sold DIRECT TO THE USER, instead of via wholesalers and jobbers.
Our Sales Organization
This plan of selling is the same today as thirty years ago, except that from a small beginning the Company has built up an organization of over 20,000 Representatives, constituting the largest and most efficient selling organization of its kind in the world, and covering practically every city and town in the United States and Canada.
Travelers
A large force of General Agents is required to fill in all open territory. They are constantly traveling from town to town appointing and instructing reputable men and women as our local Sales Managers. A more capable body of men and women cannot be found anywhere.
State Division Managers
The business of each state or province is also supervised by a State Division Manager, who is an expert sales engineer and correspondent, looking after the business of each Representative in such state with conscientious care. These State Managers give each worker every possible encouragement and help, which has been a big factor in the development of the C P C institution.
Easy and Safe
In this way the C P C Idea brings direct to the door of practically every home in America a complete assortment of the finest perfumes, toilet articles and home necessities. The C P C way is consequently not only the easiest and safest way to purchase toilet articles, but it is also the most economical way, because, by selling direct to the user, all middlemen's profits are eliminated, our customers getting the benefit of this enormous saving in an infinitely superior quality not otherwise possible at the price.
Orders Called For and Delivered
Representatives call at regular intervals at all homes in their respective territories for orders, which are later delivered by them, and no one takes any risk whatsoever in dealing with our authorized Representatives. Where we have no Local Representative, ANY ARTICLE MANUFACTURED BY US WILL BE SENT DIRECT, UPON RECEIPT OF REMITTANCE, ALL DELIVERY CHARGES PREPAID.
Applications Invited
In any town where we have no Local Representative we also invite applications from any responsible person who would like to act for us in this capacity. To such persons we can offer an immediate permanent, profitable and dignified position, which will produce a steady income, limited only by the applicant's ambition and ability.
Pictures and Excerpt above from The Story of Perfumery and the C P C by William Scheele, 1916
