OPERATION OF THE RETAIL STORE
The primary sales outlet aboard ship is the retail store (fig. 2-2). This is not only the most difficult sales outlet to operate, but customer contact is normally heavy. Most ships have one or two retail stores; however, this is dependent on the size of the ship and crew. As the retail store operator, you will eventually become the center of attention among the crew. This is why you will need to learn your job well so you can perform for your shipmates in a beneficial manner. You will perform many tasks, need to know many policies, and familiarize yourself with many procedures before you operate a retail store.

AUTHORIZED CUSTOMERS
Ship's store and clothing stock may be sold to officers and enlisted personnel of all branches of the armed forces, Public Health Service personnel, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel, and foreign service personnel of the United States who are on board for duty, active duty for training, or passage en route to a duty station. Accredited United States technicians (military or civilian) who are assigned on board in an official capacity are authorized customers. Also authorized are the previously mentioned personnel who, while not actually on board, are located in remote areas where armed services exchange facilities are not available. Items purchased from the ship's store by authorized customers must be purchased for the personal use of the purchaser or dependents or

Figure 2-2.-The retail store.

as gifts and must not be resold or exchanged in barter with any other person. All items of insignia, including buttons, have been designated as distinctive items of the Navy uniform and will not be sold to anyone who is not authorized to wear these articles as items of uniform.

Service-Type Ships
On service-type ships such as ADs, ARs, and ASs, ship's store stock and standard Navy clothing stock are authorized for sale to officer and enlisted personnel other than ship's company when they are attached to those ships receiving support.

Survivors of Marine and Aircraft Disasters

Ship's store stock and nondistinctive items of clothing may be sold for cash to the survivors of marine and aircraft disasters, if such survivors have personal funds available. If the survivor is without personal funds, emergency issues may be made according to the procedures outlined in the NAVSUP P-487.

Other Military Activities
Ship's store stock and items of clothing may be sold to ships not operating ship's stores and to armed services exchanges. Ship's store stock and nondistinctive items of clothing may be sold to exchange locations operated on board civil service manned ships of the Military Sealift Command (MSC), private messes, cigar messes; to the commanding officer for recreational purposes; and to other duly constituted clubs or messes that have been authorized by a com-manding officer and whose monthly records are audited.

Official Government Organizations
Upon approval of the commanding officer, cash sales of ship's store stock and nondistinctive items of clothing may be made to representatives of official United States Government organiza-tions at isolated activities outside the United States when the stock items cannot be con-veniently obtained elsewhere and the normal operation of the ship's store is not impaired by doing this.

Foreign Governments
Ship's store stock and nondistinctive items of clothing may be sold to personnel of foreign ships in distress and to personnel of foreign ships visiting U. S. ports.