Show he adopts grocers technique to help folks shop for homes A X al 5 CHICAGO CHICAGO you can shop for a suit of clothes or a box of crackers but as for shelters shelter Kwell well different its been bothering percy wilson nationally known housing authority so long this comp lexand abstract business of shopping for a home that hes done something about it in hope of quickening the lagging pulse of americas construction industry and providing the new homes he thinks the country needs his complaint with the exception of hou houses ses practically every requirement of man is sold by well known and proved advertising and promotional aids because you have to show e em in to sell em cm but the building industry is so big and complex that it strangles itself material firms purposely avoid launching large scale construction programs since they would then be in competition with contractors to whom they sell their products As for the contractors essentially craftsmen and are neither expected nor equipped to sell homes so chos going to do it his solution A more integrated merchandising plan 8 mr wilson believes a puzzled prospective spec tive home builder should be able to visit a museum of miniature homes point at one and say ill take it 10 1 ABOVE mr wilson examines his brainchild come true a shopping place for homes his idea developed while he was organizer and regional director for the federal housing administration has taken shape in just such a house museum in the merchandise mart at chicago where v visitors can not no only on Y examine miniature homes but see every conceivable item that goes to make up a home from cellar to attic the exhibit mr wilsons Wil sons personal brainchild shows all modern materials used in building construction together with all home services and equipment huge rooms are devoted exclusively to lumber brick stone marble terra cotta and other materials with sidelights on their general values and particular uses the village of model homes designed by architects from all parts of the country includes all section ally popular designs cape cod colonial english cottage spanish modern and ultramodern ultra modern types not only is each tiny detail incorporated but floor plans and prices are given its just like a grocer would do business says mr wilson were simply transferring to housing the technique used by merchants in selling other needs |