Friendship of the Boys
A TREMENDOUS amount of additional business is brought to the stores of the Rogers Peet Company through their "Order of Ropeco," a semi-fraternal organization composed of the boy customers of the, company. Membership in the order entails no obligation on the part of the boy, nor are there any dues or fees of any kind. As the Rogers Peet Company is careful to explain to each boy's parents or guardians, the "Order of Ropeco" is merely a clever advertising scheme, designed at the same time to give the boy member some wholesome amuse ment.
The name "Ropeco"-—pronounced Ro-peek-o—is formed from the first two letters of each word in the name Rogers Peet Company. The order was established in October, 1913, and is, therefore, six years old. Boys between the ages of 5 and 16 are admitted to membership. There are three degrees in the Order—First, Second and Third. The membership certificate carrries the seal of the Order and is signed by the Grand Ropeco. Every member is known as a Ropec and wears the insignia of his degree. Whenever his name is mentioned in the Ropeco Magazine, a monthly publication of more than passing worth, beside it are placed stars indicative of his standing in the order—one star for a first degree member, two for a second and three for a third. There are now about 60,000 Ropecs throughout the country, some in remote towns and hamlets, the Rogers Peet Company having provided that where a boy cannot come to the store to make his purchases, the shopping can be done by mail and membership in the Order of Ropeco acquired in this way.
