New-York tribune., 1874-07-08
BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
A REVIEW OF CITY TRADE.


rposprpIry-PRospECTs FOR SUMMER AND FALL
In summing ND the results of the transac-
Of the pst four or five months In several branches
of city trade there is found wide variety OF expert
,nce among different merchants Almost al or houses
doing an exclusively wholesale trade IN dry goods ana
clothing sue red extensive falling Oh IN theT spring
trade ranging according their own statements, from
Ioto 40 per cent The crippled condition Of the South
tho financial uncertainties and railroad complications of
the West and the hesitation in large Investments shown
by dealers In all parts Of the cou0ry were looked upon
ss the OF the depression In the trade OF
This city, and especially retail transactions, there has
not been SO general and extensive a reduction, but
Yreat many dealers give but gloomy reports OF "u"'
they have been doing the close Of Winter The wet
aud backward Spring made to shoulder great amount
Of blame for diminished sales; and the want Of employ
ment among the abOrug classes, the disposition toward
retirement among the wealthy, and the unavoidable
economy of the people Of moderate means, are among
The familiar reasons assigned to account Tor losses
which the weather did not effect But inquiries among
many of the best-known and most enterprising mer
chants OF the city have shown that a vast amount OF
business has been done by those who have had the
gacty. the energy, the liberal management, and the
readiness for ample outlay necessary TO draw buyers in
dull times. Few OF the men who have been INSPIRED
TO extra by the discomagements Of the sea
son. and who have wisely increased their efforts to
attract public attention by udicous and extensive ad
vertsing, have complaint to make of the financial
results Of the Spring and early Summer trade And the
who have spent the most say that they are best
satisfied with returns One of the best known Of
them told TRIBUNE reporter yesterday, so long as
the people have money I'm their pockets I'm bound
to get my share OF IT." and some OF his competitors
think that he has got much than his share Of it
this year. Several large dealers report considerable
increase in the volume OF sales over the corresponding
months of last year. and assert that, with
the heavy reductions in prices their receipts have been
argera success surprising in She midst Of the
general depression and the bitter lamentations OF less
fortunate rivals, TO those who do consider
the means by which this success was won.
The character OF the sales, which swcled the
receipts Of these tradesmen satisfactory amounts
varies much diereut localities and in different cases
Some dealers that they find very poor market for
fine aud priced goods staple goods are the maiu-
Of such prosperity they have had. In the ex-
perence Of others the people who take medium and
low grades OF goods cramped for means that they
furnish only small proportion of the purchasers while
wealthy patrons have recovered from the economic
thrill which from the panic and have been buying
freely OF the costly fabrics in which their tastes
delight Establishments which minister to the luxuri-
Gus and the elegant like the Gorhdm Manufacturing
Company and Messrs. Starr Marcus, have been by no
means idle.
noteworthy and remarkable feature in the sales OF
dry goods houses has been the great quantity Of
staple aud medium good, sold the middle and poorer
classes, showing that neither the ability nor the
inclination to purchase been restricted among
many have supposed and that the temptations
of unusual opportunities IN the of reduced prices
and of very fun and varied stocks TO choose from have
been strong enough to lead To considerable outlay An
encouraging feature of trade is that II has not
shown a tendency 10 fan away so suddenly and
largely usual with the coming OF vacation months
when many customers are spending Summer leisure
out Of the city. The hestang and tardy way IN which
the spuug trade began, aud the gradual Improvement
o feeling and increase Of TRANSACTIONS put over into the
Sammer part of the business which would otherwise
have done earleT. The recent term OF very hot
gave impulse 10 the demand for Summer cloth
ing and other seasOuabe goods much encouraging GER
dealers who had before been little despondent.
There signs OF promise for midsummer business
equally and perhaps exceeding that OF previous ears
good many country buyers are coming into the city
These generally Broadway stores and 20 Sixth
ave. EiChth-aye., aud TO GranC-st Inc absence AT
the places Of large part OF the usual patrons
of the Broadway establishments makes that thorough
fare less lively with buyers comparison with the
avenues than few weeks ago; but certain
houses are still doing pretty brisk trade In regard 10
the prospects tor activity IN the FAN, most OF the mer
Chauts speak with animation. What has been done TINS
year by leading in the dry goods trade the cloth
iug trade, and certain other branches Of activity, the
managers OF which have shown foresight and enter
prise enough the largest share OF public atten
iou may be understood from the following statements
made TO TRIBUNE reporters.
ACTIVITY IN TIE DRY GOODS AND FANCY GOODS
STORES.
The retail house OF A. T. Stewart Co. has spared no
effort this TO increase Its sales by judcious
reductions Of price and by giving the widest publicity
10 such aclon and spreading information concerning
their stock and the terms at which has been offered
been satisfactory In the last six months
TIN, rm has sent out 5)oO0J packages from It's retail
Ore-an Increase Of CJjbeyOnd the number sent
ou n any half wear The returns have also been
satisfactory although the average Of prices has been
25per cent less than it was two years ago Even the
most expensive novelties chosen by MI Stewart in his
visit TO Europe, have been eagerly taken. The
Of Stewards Spring trade has been marvellous
IN view Of the dscOuraglnG views coming from the
panic. Even after the departure or 50 many OF the
fashionable patrons Of the store there plenty Of life
IN the business and good promise of better trade than
usual 10 July aud August while the indications for
activity IL the Fal are claimed TO be very encouraging
There has been no dulnes for many weeks at either
Of the establishments Of Lord Iay lOr al 9Ol Broad
way, at GIand-st and Broadway, and at Grand ana
Cbrysue-ss The firm claims TO have received ten per
more from sales than last year IN spite Of reduc
Ol in prices requires at least IS percent more sales
10 make up This house has imported little
this year and has sold Of its mportaOns quickly, aud
bought heavily at advantageous terms, OF which It's
customers had the benefit. The firm attributes its sue
the Wholesale trade to pushing certain hines aud
ellargng departments in the retail trade, mainly
TO ample adyertisag Tie character OF the sales has
changed Few silks have been sold at over s. per yard
and there has been great falling of IN the demand Tor
al The cOstlIe. goods. Collections III the wholesale
business now easy, caution having been observed
concerning credits aud healthier feeling is recognized
10 the general trade There is increased readiness the
dIscOuntug OF bills all over the country. For Summer
and Fail trade there declared to be reason for
lively hope.