A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921.
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ORDER XXIII.—COMMERCIAL, FINANCE, AND INSURANCE OCCUPATIONS (excluding Clerks)

Sub-order 1.—Commercial Occupations

775.—Salesmen and Shop Assistants



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assistant
see shop assistant.
baker's assistant
a shop assistant (q.v.) in a baker's shop.
blockman (butcher's, fishmonger's, provision merchant's, etc.)
a shop assistant (q.v.) whose chief work is cutting up meat, filleting fish, etc., on a solid wooden block.
bookstall boy ; newsboy
sells books, papers and magazines at a bookstall in railway station, etc., or from basket tray on railway platforms, etc.
butterman
a shop assistant (q.v.) in provision merchant's shop who sells butter, margarine, lard and cheese only.
chemist's apprentice
is registered with Pharmaceutical Society, after having passed a preliminary examination, as an apprentice for 3 years to a retail chemist to receive practical training under a qualified chemist (770) (q.v.) for Society's qualifying examination; after July 1926 must serve under Articles of Pupilage.
chemist's assistant
assists retail chemist (770) (q.v.) in sale of patent medicines, chemicals, druggists' sundries, etc., in dispensing medicine, and in general conduct of the business; until himself a qualified chemist, may not sell poisons or dispense prescriptions containing poisons, except under direct supervision of qualified chemist (770) (q.v.)
counter man, woman
see shop assistant.
demonstrator
gives practical demonstrations in a retail shop or store of the qualities, capabilities or methods of use of some article on sale.
dyer's agent or shopkeeper
see receiver.
frontsman (fishmonger's, fruiterer's, etc.)
sells fish, fruit, etc., from the open front of a shop; is also responsible for display of fish on slabs, fruit in shop baskets, etc.
laundry receiving agent
see receiver.
library assistant
issues and exchanges books for customers of lending library; classifies and indexes books; keeps records, usually on card index system, of books issued and returned.
mannequin, model ; showroom model
displays dresses, costumes, etc., in show rooms, by wearing them and parading before prospective customers.
newsboy
see bookstall boy.
receiver, receiving office attendant, receiving shop assistant ; dyer's agent, dyer's shopkeeper, laundry receiving agent
receives parcels of clothing to be laundered, cleaned or dyed; marks, sorts and packs, cf. packer and sorter (918); re-issues work done to customers; answers enquiries and advises as to cleaning or dyeing.
salesman, saleswoman
see shop assistant.
scaleman, scalesman
has charge of weighing operations in warehouse, large shop, or meat market.
shop assistant, shopkeeper's assistant, shopman, shop woman ; assistant, counter-man, counter-woman, salesman, saleswoman
serves customers with goods in retail shop or store, makes out bill or docket, takes money in payment for goods, where there is no cash desk or accounting system; weighs goods on scales or weighing machine when goods are sold by weight; wraps up goods for customers in bags or with paper and string; takes orders for later delivery; displays goods on counter, keeps goods in shop tidy and in good order.
shop walker
usually employed in departmental stores; does not himself/herself actually serve customers, but directs to different counters or departments; usually is in charge of number of shop assistants; initials their bills and deals with queries; may act as manager of department and sometimes as buyer (772) (q.v.).
showroom assistant, attendant
a shop assistant (q.v.), displaying goods and taking orders in showroom.
showroom model
see mannequin.
systems expert
a demonstrator (q.v.) explaining to customers in large commercial stationer's shop uses and merits of efficiency systems, e.g. card indices, filing cabinets, loose-leaf ledgers; also visits firms' offices and advises as to modification of existing systems and installation of new systems.

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From: A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921,
Ministry of Labour, 1927. Digitised by Peter Christian, August, 2016.   This text is in the Public Domain.