| Show more gifts for overseas servicemen based on increasing demand for gift items it is estimated that overseas servicemen and women will receive 20 per cent more christmas presents per capita this year than last and the home folks may expect an even larger percentage of reciprocal gifts mostly of the luxury and sentimental type this forecast was made by john C goodall general manager of the merchandise mart chicago following a checkup among gift item manufacturers and distributors including those who sell r 4 XI N i V VV Q art ernest J kleutgen Kreut gen chicago postmaster left explains to george mccarthy foreman in charge of foreign mail how packages should be wrapped and addressed to get favored delivery service to men in the armed forces overseas to retailers and army and navy post exchanges reasons given for the expected increase in the number of gifts sent this year overseas are 1 the moved up official mailing date september 15 to october 15 extended to november 1 for those in the navy marine corps and coast guard will stimulate early shopping and the five pound limitation on gift packages means more will be sent 2 more stores have installed special gift counters or departments which means more display advertising and sales 3 the home folks are now better advised on the gift preferences of servicemen and women and know more specifically where they are stationed hence can make their selections more intelligently 4 the overseas forces operating on more fronts and facing more varied climatic and geographical conditions become eligible for a wider variety of gifts the tendency to send more gifts to those furthest from home also favors increased sales while shortages at home are developing in such items as watches leather novelties and jewelry it is thought heavier purchases of more available items will more than offset these the number of gifts to come from service personnel abroad to relatives and friends at home is expected to be larger per capita because manufacturers rs and distributors who sell to army and navy post exchanges particularly in the mediterranean area already report rising sales to servicemen and women more post exchanges greater opportunity afforded servicemen to buy direct from the natives who also sell to is a factor now boosting sales other sales stimulants are that overseas servicemen and women in high spirits themselves are not so sure about the morale of the home folk and seek to bolster it by gifts flusher with cash and conscious of accumulated favors from home the overseas contingent find themselves in an ideal spot to reciprocate among american made gift items most popular at overseas post exchanges jc are pins clips earrings vanity cases many bearing the insignia of the various branches of the service ornate pillow tops and hand handkerchiefs chiefs which embody delicately worded sentiments come to the aid of thousands of less articulate servicemen such items are prime favorites overseas as well as at post exchanges at home necklaces embroideries pipes laces opal and topaz jewelry metal and leather handicraft of latin and oriental origin is also in high favor watches one of the top preferences among all in the service are relatively easy to get in the mediterranean area since many of them come direct from switzerland servicemen may from the home folks parallel somewhat those sent last year although there will be a wider selection to choose from furlough bags small carryall carry all and sewing kits duffle bags wallets religious medals identification bracelets photo cases pen and pencil sets shaving equipment insignia pieces and of course cigarettes bettes ret tes are high on the preference list of servicemen money belts are not expected to be as popular this year as last while watertight pocket size holders for miscellaneous personal things are in high vogue Pocket sized games such as checkers cribbage gin rummy backgammon and acey ducey are similarly popular while these gift items have general popularity among the forces overseas as well as at home a variety of gift preferences is developing A large number on the pacific front for instance show partiality to such articles as knives sun glasses and anti sun and bug lotions I 1 the growing number of service women is dictating the installation of women departments in post exchanges heavy orders for tollet toilet ries apparel items more I 1 esthetic type of guts gifts are reported |
