Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-03-14

goods too cheap and that they are all
time losing mohey, &C. Now
where is the FAULT?
If the great body of grocers
throughout the United States are do
ing business upon a plan suicidal to
success, it means injury and heavy
losses to their creditors. The evil of.
''cutting'' has fastened itself upon
the Wholesale as well as the retail
trade. So prevalent has the custom
beeome that leading grocers are COM
PEELED 10 handle the best known pro-
prietary ARTICLES at avery small profit,
and many at an actual loss, il we
count the expense Of handling goods.
There are here, as in New York, sue
cessinl grocers, who enjoy large in
comes from their, business. They
started in business with little or no
capital. They have had their share
OF the tr'ups and downs of business,
but by energy, eeouomyiand courage,
have won position and trade. 1t will
he q very difficult matter to point out
from among the Number of leading
grocers in this city many who have
acquired success by carrying out the
s'cntting" policy. How then have
they done it? H., being thoroughly
lsitaile. Their word with customers
was atsayslspt they always bought
ant geld reiaahle articles. Cheap
guoals were discountcnanced unless
the possessed The real merit. Conr,
tesv to their trade. cptemptneBs, strict
attention to- the details, "a heartfelt
sHterest in amt respect for their work,
were the qualities bronght into play
to Jain O feothold. A a rule, peo-
pie love tn trade al one store; the
bahit once formed OF purchasing sup
plies at one place il not easily broken
up. How often in Mexico snn hear,
II aIways-buy my notions at -"
or II am satisfied tn trade tt
81 have bought my tea At IS ior
ten yosrs," II never use anything
nut IS hams " II slways get good
butter at --s." We sac the same
thing exemplifed every day in our
dining saloons. The low prices only
attract the transient customer. IL is
q fatal error to think, that a business
can he stlstained on q transient trade.
The only exceptions are III crowded
5ities and amongst the, middle and
lower class people. A person who
teahy loves II good cup OF tea knows
it ia worth IS cents to 81 per pound.
Such a one finds nothing attractive in
q sieH-''Three pounds OF nice tea
for ST." A lover OF fine Old Gov
ernment Java, Mocha, on choice
Msracaih0 is not weanea away from
paying the trmler that furnishes him
a firSt!elass artichr at q fair price Ivy
some neighhor flaming sign OF som
Best Coffee, 81 cents pen pannd. -
aansh and .'hloR'' and ''sellino
cheap" the true road Ia saccess In
building mp a pcrnantnt trade lies in
following out the characteristics mo-
ticed rs belonging TO successful gro.
GERS. Really, doesA't it seem folly
liza sells raisins at Is cents y pound
for yon TO follow suit by offering
them at IA cents, causing him TO re-
|~taliate and get bis back up and Offer
them sth12 ceht4s The onif gea,,l il
does 10 to rob both OF q profit: wllere-
as by passihs the matter by, keeping
first class r~aisihs, and settling npoa &
good profit yda would get a lair share
or the trade and make some money.
Almost every Reading salesman in
Meyieo holds a soAd portion ~ his
trade by what We may 'e nileWsl tn
call ''Seciaf tics" or ''acqus.ntance.
ship" They show an imerast III the
welfare OF tiIeir dusinm%y, they win
his confidence, be IT, til iaahn u rood
follow shd liGte yariationa in price
arc passed osef, IA the time passes
and ereves his f~aitt,frlness the tic il
strengthened, and habit rvct3 the
link. Il not this the real sstyet OF
suceess In gaining q permanent ADD
nayfuqtrsae? s