Mel Crawford (Canadian, B. 1925) "Family in Department Store" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. America's economic system has long been accustomed to the competitive pressures that call for greater business effectiveness, and to internal company pressures that call for greater business efficiency. Only recently, however, have our producers of consumer items experienced the intensity of external pressures that call for greater business responsiveness to the consumer. Indeed, consumer education has made its mark on business. Consumer education, although not of recent origin, has grown substantially in magnitude and impact in the past decade due to an emergence of numerous federally legislated and private consumer awareness groups. In general, a number of government bureaus aid consumers in making prudent and economical purchases, stimulate interest in the problems of consumers, and give information concerning the use and care of consumers' goods. In addition to federally initiated consumer education, various private consumer organizations promote consumer education by testing and rating merchandise, preparing and distributing materials to be used in consumer education programs, lending support and lobbying for legislation favorable to the consumer, providing films that deal with consumer education, and directly advising consumers what items to buy. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 16.75 x 15.25 in. Unframed. (B07019)