New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
SHOPPING MADE EASY.
DEVICES FOR INCREASING TRADE AT The GREAT
DRY GOODS HOUsEs-TnE ELECTRIC ASNUNcI-
AroR All RIpLEy's-IMPRovE AT STEW

DEVICES FOR INCREASING TRADE AT The GREAT
DRY GOODS HOUsEs-TnE ELECTRIC ASNUNcl-
AroR AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AT STEW
ARTS.
People of all classes will be interested in the
ements tnat are being introduced 70 make shop
ping both simple aud attractive When the cash sys-
tenn and the cash boys first established In the large
re all stores the uprOar for time was not dispieasng
There were cries Of "cash," and scramble among tho
bows 10 see who should first answer the call This soon
became resome the ear and the delay was annoying
10 customers and clog 10 business Electricity that
noeless agent and swift has been turned 10
good account once At stewarts for some time
nas electricity has used for lighting the hndredsof
gas lets IN the retail store Tiffany Co.. Unionsdnareare
about 10 introduce electricity for lighting the gas and
also for informing the cashboys who remain at the
cashiers desk 40 what counter their services may be
needed This latter system IL in successful operation at
tine store of T. Ridley Son, In Grandst IL Is novel
aud simple and great saving OF time and labor Rldey
employed over 200 cash boys before he Introduced the
cash.boy "anunnciator" His sales are large, but
mostly In small amounts. Under the old system, the
noise delay and confusion q serious imedimentt to
busincs With the annunciatOr" l40 boys do all the
work quietly and quickly. There are two caslers 10
each OF the three annuncators the main hOor which Is
divided into many sections and each section ito about
twenty subdivisions. There Is a drop number In the
aununcator for each subdivision cord runs In staples,
along each line OF shelving At the end OF the shelving
s flexible piece of brass, TO which the cord is atache
nv drawing lightly the cord. anywhere along the
shelyue the brass strip 10 pulled against another brass
piece ct.ng the electric circuit ana the number IN
The aIcatOr corresponding with the number OF tlnt
mari of the shelving drops nsantane0usy boy SIT
ling I'm front of the annunciatOc gives cash boy the mum
her To half minute change Ia made without noise or
confusion. At Stewards, where they have twenty
cashiers in different parts OF the store, ore
and perfect discipline among the cash boys the OLD rys
teln gives good satisfaction still An innovation OF re-
cent date At Stewards Is the reception room In the nftn
siory This is elegant business parloT decorated III
tie most costly manler me carpe;, sette9s, aIse
,nirrors wall decorations. oil paintings japanese
bronzes and Chinese vases give the reception room no
anIrcarancc During Mr.. StewaFts time there was
main reecpton where ladies might Try on dresses
is easily departure is IN accordance with what Juuse
io considers the demands OF business when prOVides
a. 900 haWs and imported dresses for wealthy patrons
Tic nur vases recently placed IN this room are worth al
least 81 600 On one side OF the reoeptio-roOm are
6ress,g cabinets, and in the corner dark room, III
which costly dresses displayed on lay SuF Dy gas
light ON Tuesday Stewart Co. delivered 9OoO parcels
16e wrappng and addressing II zone WIN caIe, the
systen being perfect Every parcel passes fOugh one
mans hands who marks !" or e. " " on each one;
m he kows The customer 20 be good Is the initial
employed Unknown or doubtful customers are re
oulred 10 pay charges delivery. macy 20, ~
sxthavc aud Fourteenth-st, have ~ cashleIs and he
eash girls are distributed among tue clerks Last Dc
ceInber Macy delivered 10000 parcels ana only QUO was
lost This year they expect 10 deliver 6OOOO parcels
and they think their system viii again prove 70 DC