The Morning herald., 1877-09-08
THE MILK IN THE COCOANUT.

: Every car which reaches Wilmington is
crowded with shoppers, who have spent
lots Of money in Philadelphia-some Of
our citizens even 60 to New York. Why
is it? The fault lies primarily with our
own storekeepers. Take up one of the
Philadelphia papers, and you will find the
wares of dealers fully advertised, if spe-
cial line of goods have been bought cheaply,
the first thing the Philadelphia storekeeper
does, is to advertise them fully as to quality
and price. Our ladies' see the advertise
ment, or hear Of it, and off they go, if|
they need such goods, to Philadelphia to
buy them. The same line of goods may
be here; but they are not advertised, and
of course overlooked by the buyer. The
retail trade Of Wilmington is decreasing,
year by year, and must of very necessity
continue to do so, unless our storekeepers
change their mode of business.
We venture to say, that if live, active
man, who would open store in Whining
ton, keep the run Of the sales, advertise
every day his specialties, that he would
tap very large part of the trade that goes
to Philadelphia, and by compelling rivalry
help all of our storekeepers in their bnsi-
ness, and greatly increase the retail trade
Of the city.
1t is not the steady advertisement of
where your store is located, and what your
business may be, which will bring large
trade. Such advertisement operates upon
the class who always, either from princi-
pie, or necessity by at home. The trne
shopper must-like trout in brook, be
attracted with something to rise to, and
bite, or buy. 1t is amazing how retail
dealavs here stand in their own light, ard
sigh a. customers pass their doors.
There "an be no doubt, that a frst-cla,s
nra.4ts, @a fashionable people call dress
makers, who would keep up with her cialt |
in the large cities, and through the local
and country press, from week to week, in
form the ladies of the "newest things OUT
would do well. If Worth, from Paris,
were to settle in Wilmington, and open
rooms, and failed to let his fame be known
through the press, Miss Nancy would turn
up her nose at him as ono account"
These are views of the situation, which
cannot be controverted; aud being true the
blame of bad business lies at the door of|
the people who complain. The same way
with amusements-they are about one
fourth advertised, an announcement cur
tailed to such scant dimensions, that the
general run of readers do not see it; it is |
no unfrequent thing, when good company
have visited here, and when it is men,
toned, stare of astonisbment follows,
"Why, I never heard of their coming ("
showing that their coming was insuficiently
announced.
Take Every Evening and Commercial off
yesterday, 1--WE have not the Gazette or Re-
publican at hand, but presume their COL
umns bear the same ratio,) and look at the
foreign and domestic advertisements, there
are about five columns Of foreign adver-
tisements in it, and if this calculation had !
been made on Wednesday, when large
advertisement from Wannamakers was in,
the paper would have contained almost as
many foreign as domestic advertisements.
How can our storekeepers hope to keep
up their business, with such facts staring
them in the face. If they hope to keep
shoppers here, they must let them know,
by daily bulletins, that goods can be had
here as cheaply as in Philadelphia.
A handbill announcing a negro picnic |