Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-14
WHOLESALE NOTIONS.
The Large EstabIishmeat OF COEan q

me Large establishment or COHan a
Co.
No hsuse in the city is better known TO
the trade Of this and adjacent States than
the one named above. It conducted, too,
by gentlemen who evidently have a eorrect
appreciation Of the times in which we live.
Not only does the firm recognize the neces-
sity of sending its commercial travellers
abroad, but through the columns Of the
daily press Of the city, in a we'll displayed
card, il announces TO the reading public
that its mission is not vet ended-On the
contrary, that now, as for years past, it
seeks trade. We don't propose, however, a
dissertation upon advertising in the con
crete or abstract, however much we would
like TO see all our iObbeTs follOWShe ex-
ample thus set by COWan & Co; our mis-
sion is Of a different nature. One day not
long since UNION AND AMERICAN re-
porter strOlled into their place Of business
in search Of items. y courteous reception
followed, and We employed both eyes and
ears in noting facts.
The house was established in 1866, then,
as now, an exclusively wholesale notions
and white goods house, the style Of the
firm at that time being COWan, Bradshaw
& Co. The following year the present firm
was formed, comprising Samuel COwan, 5.
A. Handy, r. 5. Cowan, Ross Handy, and
S. Z. McCreeTy. Messrs. Samuel COWan
and 5. A. Handy were two of the original
cO-partDers Of COWan, Bradshaw a Co.;
the other gentlemen have since been ad-
mitted.
The attempt to establish an exclusive
house Of this character had been made pre-
vlOus to 1866, but had never been success
full. Such a charge cannot be laid to the
doors of this house. Its first years sales
were in the neigbbOrhOOd of 100000, and
fer the past four years they have remained
in the neighbOrhOod of 500, 700, and at
times considerably exceeding that sum,
fluciuating somewhat, and feeling the de-
pressing or elevating effects Of the times
perhaps IN even to greater degree than
other lines Of trade.
Messrs. COwan & Co. are located al No.
81, west side Of the Public Square, and at
No. II Cedar street, the stOrerOOms thus
forming an immense L and affOrding two
very desirable fronts. Three fuD floors Of
both buildings are occupied, the second
floors, in common with the first, being reg
ular saleSrOOms, and in these apartments,
displayed upon innUmerable counter tables,
are shown goods Of every kind that by any
possibility may come within the wide
reaching definition Of white goods, fancy
goods or notions. Furnishing goods for
both gentlemen and ladies is perhaps the
great specially Of the house, as an immense
stocks carried; but there is almost every
thing else,-the whole range Of white
goods, hosiery, gloves, watches, clocks,
iewelry, tOys-an endless variety, than to
stake stock of which, it seems to US, no
harder task can be imagined. There is
world in miniature presented to the Obsery-
er, and a right fascinating world, too.
All of the firm give their personal atten-
ton 10 the business. some Of whom are
upon the road more or less Of the time, the
house usually being represented by five
travellers. All are workers, too, and are
practical business men.
Before the war, Mr.. Samuel COwan was
one of the firm Of ". g. Eakin & Co., job
bers of dry goods, and Mr.. Handy was
formerly in the retail trade at winchester.
After half hour spent right pleasantly
in conversation and observation, the writer
took his leave, and here gives the result Of
his observations and inquiries.