Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-05-05
INnrnrEnENGE May < 1871

Mr.. EpIroR:--Thefch has been so much
said Of late through your paper, and by
the laxative people, concerning the
New York Store of Lawton Bros. s. Post
took it upon myself to make the store a
visit, and have to report the following as
noted down while there: On entering,
was first met by the senior partner, who
has lust returned from the East, where he
has been for the last two months seeing
to the buying for the house. l informed
him of my business for the day and was
politely told to make myself at home.
Every one seemed to be busy waiting on
from one to three customers. | first be
came interested in sale that Mr.. Post
was making in the dress-goods depart
ment 1t was very evident to me that he
was the right mar in the right place, and
had not mistaken his calling. 1 no long
or wondered acAy the ladies bought their
dress goods at this store; he not only had
the quality and styles they wanted but
was able to tell those who were unsettled
in their mind, the latest styles, and how
certain qualities should be made and
trimmed; and to those who knew what
they wished, he could suit at once 1t
was surprising to see with what ease he
could pick out, trim up, and have out OF
THE way several dress patterns, and ready
for the next customer. AS soon as
could get up to the counter l examined
the quality of the goods he had been cut
ting from, and, asking him the price,
must admit was astonishcd, and was
inclined to retract little from the high
opinion had been forming of him as a
salesman, and say the goods sold them
selves. They were certainly the cheapest
goods l ever saw. l next became inter-
ested in sale that Joe Sullivan was
making. He, without doubt, had num-
Der of customers that had been running
the gauntlet, as they were talking about
the various prices Of about every store
in the city. Joe soon pleased them, how
ever, and they went away evidently
knowing that the New York Store was
the place to buy clothing. On speaking
to Mr.. Sullivan concerning the clothing
trade, he informed me that in order to
close out their stock they were selling at
remarkably low prices, which accounted
for the quick sales. was about to make
some other inquiries but was prevented
by his having to leave to wait on custom
ers who were more profitable ones than
l. l then started for the rear of the store,
and after being jostled one way and an
other I got to the shelves OF hats and
caps Mr. Jerry Burr was here, fitting
up, as l should have thought, several
families in head gear. They seemed sur
prised that he should offer them equal
qualities of other houses for about half
the price. He satisfied them as well as
myself by explaining how they were
bought From that conversation learn
ed that there was much more in buying
goods than in selling, and from that mo-
ment resolved to make It rule to trade
at the store which had the advantages of
buying, for all stores will put on about the
same profit, and it consequently follows
that the store which buys the lowest will
sell the cheapest. Hearing the rattle Of
sewing machines behind me, | looked
around and found that Mrs Sullivan had
taken little room and was busy with
her assistants, cutting and making up
ladies' garments. She showed me the
latest styles and patterns, and some very
beautiful goods she was then making up.
This struck me as very good idea OF
the New York Store in having Mrs. Sui
Ivan with them, for it frequently hap
pens that parties from the country have
not the time to run over the town for
dress and cloak makers or styles, and
here they can not only purchase what
81, 1,rt ,,sfl- nj tyins hnv n1ttprOS
and have them cut or made up, which
ever they wish While East last season
l noticed that all first-class dry goods
houses have such department i'll con-
nection with the store. In this respect
the New York Store is certainly city-like.
Next to the dress department l found
Mr. N. O. Lawton selling some beautiful
shawls l am not good judge but was
informed by the lady who purchased, that
they were the best quality for the price
of any in the city. then started for
the Cashiers desk, being determined, If
possible, to learn the secret of their doing
such a large business. I found him busy
making change and seeing to various lit
tie matters Judged likely he was try
ing to write up something for the papers.
l told him that I saw it was true that
this store was all that it claimed to be,
and that they werc as advertised, "the
live house of the West" | further said
that, if not asking too much, | would like
to know why they were enabled to DO SO
much better than other houses, who, ap-
parently, had equal advantages with
them After learning that was not
pulling an underhand string, or intending
to open new dry goods house, he told
me several things that will be of interest
for me to remember, Among many
things said l noted down few, which
will chronicle here: First, he let me into
the secret Of buying explained to me
how his brother was enabled, by remain
ing fora couple of months in the market,
to pick up rare and desirable bargains,
which could not possibly be done except
by constantly being there. l spoke
about the great expense that must arise
in such case That seemed to amuse
him, and l learned that by their arrange
ment of the two it was rather saving.
He then showed me some goods pur-
chased at auction and some bought reg
ularly; the quality was the same, but
the goods purchased at auction cost less
than half the regular price. l then was
shown some goods purchased for cash
and shown the bills of 30 and 80 days,
as purchased by most merchants, the diff
ference was greatly in favor of cash buy
ing. You can scarcely imagine what a
satisfaction these facts were to me, for l
am one of those persons who do not be-
lieve everything they see in print, and
had partly concluded that the New York
Store was an exception. The facts, how
ever, found as put forth by them. l
told him there was one other point, their
''cash trade" He soon settled that in
my mind. From experience they had
found that any reasonable persons would
prefer to buy for cash if they could see
it to their interest, as they always did
when comparing prices with credit stores.
He said, and l have since learned that
there is plenty of money in the country,
the only fault was the credit system had
been abused. He said they solicited none
other than cash trade, and by buying as