Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-01

A Review which Should be Read-I
markabie Business-They eshods
Capacity Of the Red House lEsfabli
menfs.

A Review which Should be Read-I
markabie Business-TheJ [eshods
Capacity OF the Red House iEstablL
ments.
SACRAMENTO AND hARYsvILLE.
There is scarcely a man, woman or chi
of intelligence in California but has hea
Of the Red House, Sacramento &c. H. ca
man, proprietary. ] street, between Sew
enth and Eighth. Its growth has no
parallel In the commercial annals
Of the State. The success with
which this house has met clearly demon
strates the advantages OF Sacramento as a
desirable and natural trade center. A
further sketch of the history of this "bee-
hive" of industry "that bought the
prices down 4" may not prove uninteresting
to the many readers of this journal; and
for the benefit of such the following
sketch will be given The name Of
this house indicates enc of the
most successful of dry goods, boot and
shoe, hat and cap and clothing houses
west of the Rocky Mountains. The man.
agement and ownership of the Red House
Trade Union has always been in the hands
sof Charles II. Gilman. whose able and sfli-
cent methods OF conducting the business
of this establishment, and whose tact and
energy combined have built up for the Red
House a trade which is excelled by no
house in the same line Of business. The
trade union system, which comprises one
OF the business features of this house, rests
its claim for pablo consideration upon the
following simple proposition, which pre-.
sents IN clear and comprehensive manner
the advantages gained by the public An
invoice book is kept by the manager, and
In this Is entered the cost price OF all goods
and merchandise carried in stock, together
with the freight charges, insurance rates
and other costs. On the first OF each month
parties desiring to become members of the
Union shall pay IN one dollar, and no one
is allowed to become member for shorter
period than one year. Such members are
then entitled to make purchases at the
store-for themselves and family-at the
original cost price Of the goods, with moth.
ing but freight and charges for transfer.
ring the articles purchased from the place
OF purchase to the store, together with a
pro rata of taxes and insurance. The bust
ness is managed by three Trustees, who
report monthly as to books, and who are
not permitted to have any interest in the
proceeds of the Union. The success of the
plan has been most marked, and where one
dollar per month was at frat charged mem
bers, the sum of fifty cents only is now
collected from them. Never before has the
Red House enjoyed such an extensive bust
ness.
NO OTHER MAN,
Outside of the proprietor, Charles H. Gil
man, ever put dollar into the Red House
business. He originated and made
the Red House Trade Union what
it is today. Mr.. Gilman is direct
importer. He expends no money on
solicitors experience having shown that
the expense of them is equal to from five
to eight per cent. upon the goods. He has
several buying agents-one constantly in
the San Francisco market, attending trade
and forced sales one agent in New York,
to secure advantages in the dry goods and
fancy stock lines, in hats, caps and other
specialties and an agent in Boston, whe
attends to the Red House boot and shoe
stock
THE COUNTRY ORDER DEPARTMENT
Is almost the most important OF the whole
business. Thousands of dollars worth of
goods are sent weekly by mail Chiefly and
by freight and express to every part OF the
country, to fill "letter" orders. Skilled
men are engaged constantly in acting for
buyers not present in person, and have
orders to act in every case as if buying for
themselves or families. Thousands of people,
from Washington Territory all the way to
New Mexico, send orders for goods by mail
and many by express, trusting TO the iudg.
ment of the Red House. Samples of
goods are sent out by mail or other
wise. Here, too, all orders are received
and invoices made out, and here all inquir-
les by letter as to prices are answered free
of cost. Thus are distant buyers, either
by the dollar or by hundreds of dollars,
placed on level with city buyers. The
proprietor has added another feature to his
country order delMment which is meeting
with great success and commentator by
those who are daily availing themselves of
its advantages. 1t is this If a person
who resides at distance, wishing suit of
clothing made to order, will write to the
sample order department for samples, they
will send line of the latest styles in
French, English and American cloths, and
from this ne can make selection, and have
his measure taken according TO instruction
sent, or otherwise, and return both meas
ure and sample and have suit made to
order, thereby receiving a perfect fit and
one that will give satisfaction.
THIS EXTENSIVE ESTABLISHMENT
Is located at Nos. FOG, ia and ZIG j
street. It is dry goods, boot and shoe,
clothing, hat and cap, fancy and variety
store. The wholesale and retail department
occupies three hoo!s, each 20 by 100 feet.
The clothing department is 20 by go feet in
area. The hat, cap, boot and shoe depart
ment has 20 by so feet of floor space, The
country order department has been re-
moved from it's old quarters into entirely
new apartments, which have been especi-
ally prepared. The space occupied, in
Guiding office room, is 20 by so feet. This
change was made to meet the demands Of
the increasing trade. In the basement
goods are stored and bulk broken on the
main floor ia the retail dry goods and fancy
goods department and on the upper floor
is the wholesale department for cotton,
cloths, cassimeres, hosiery, wooden goods,
furnishing goods, etc. TIE wholesale trade
of the Red House has nearly doubled DUR
ing the past year, and extends throughout
northern and central California, and all adj
jacent States and Territories, clear to the
Texas line.
THE MILLINERY.
The millinery department of this house
is first class, and one of the finest to be
found anywhere. The proprietor imports
all the latest novelties as fast as they make
their appearance in the fashion centers of
Europe and Americs; and any lady who
desires a beautiful bonnet or hat, can al.
ways find large assortment to select from.
The department. is under the charge of the
most skilled milliners, who take great
pride in their work, and are always atten-
tive to the wants of their patrons. The
showcase and fancy goods departments of
the establishment have always very fine
and full lines of goods.
THE JoBBING TRADE.
The Red House jobbing trade is an ex.
tensive and important branch Of It's vast
business livestock 10 always sofull that the
jobbing is never checked for want of sup
ply. The house does not require that or
ders should be made of given quantity, but
sells by packages to dealers to accommo-
date. The business is cash business on
both sides. The house buys only for cash
and sells onlv for cash and thinking peo.