The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-26
The Merchants of Norfolk must Be-
STIR


On the 2sth June last, we penned second
article on the subject of extending our trade,
one Of great interest to our merchants, in
which we said 'The great establishments in
New York and Baltimore are Represented ali
through the South, by vigorous and active
men, who canvass for their principals. Then,
could not our merchants afford something
like this continuity of effort, on a scale in
proportion TO our trader The surrounding
country and small neighborhoods, promise us
handsome returns, if we cultivate these rela-
tons with them, and the solid Scotch maxim,
many micke makes a muckle,' will not
wait long for its illustration, after this system
has been once fairly inaugurated 1t is proper
for us to observe just here, that we under
stand the Weldon and Petersburg Road ex-
tends complimentary tickets to merchants
travelling down that line on this special bust
ness, 1t is wise order, for all the trade
brought through the agency Of any merchant
on that line, pays both ways "hEa s's's9g D.. ss
1--we now rscur to the subject The counts
in the counties of North Carolina will soon
convene The custom prevails in tbe Old
North State among the, country people: from
all parts of each county, to go to court--to
attend court, Upon these court days large
number of persons, mostly substantial farm
ers, are to be met They are men who re-
quire supplies from their natural centres of
trade. But, like all other men, they are apt
to give their custom to those who seek it and
manifest a desire to have it, and who seek
and manifest a desire to have it, BY fprnish-
ing the evidence Of personal application for
it who take the trouble and incur the ex-
pense of leaving their places of business ia
the city, either in person or by representa-
tive, jumping in the railroad car and pre-
senting themselves among the country people
upon these large ,comt-day gatherings, ming
ling among them, making their acquaintance,
making known their business, making known
their claims upon the country custom, and
explaining to the country people the advan-
tages, not only of the mutual trade they de-
sire to establish, but the facilities and advan-
tages their local habitation may have over
other points, with which the country people
may have been trading, by reason of the SUI
peripr energy, foresight, and enterprise, of
more active merchants from those compare
lively established points of intercoinmunica-
ton. yJJ&gJ .sasdg7pq poy s1eled leo ~
There is nothing like PERSONAL contact with
a people whose trade is desirable, This well
known fact has long formed the basis of ac-
ton of enterprising merchants, who have
| made it an essential in their endeayors to at
tract the trade, Of a. people. The, people in
| the country must be called upon-nthey must
be approached by our merchants if they ever
| hope to extend the area of their operations.
Advertising and handbills are an admirable
expedient, and form valuable means of in
creasing trade and attracting custom. 1t is
Indispensable. But personal presence Of
the merchant himself, OF his representative
among the country people at these large
court-day crowds, when he can enter more
largely and infinitely into his claims, and the
4 mutual advantage to, be derived by trading
with his locality, whose claims he can so fully
set forth, may be regarded as, essential tc
mercantile success Itshas been and is Illus
trated elsewhere by merchants in thriving
cities, who never fail to go among the country
people and "drum" for the trade .
1 =