Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-01
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
A SKETCH OF COLOR.
A Representation in Brief-A Short story
of a sacramento Institution.

Is there anyone on the coast who has anything to
do with business who has not heard of the Red
House We doubt it. 1t is term as familiar as
household words We invite the reader to dwell
with moment, until we recount something of
the history Of the business and its claims The Red
House is phenomenal business establishment in
Sacramento, Of which C. H Gilman Is the proprie-
tor. 1t has branch establishment of large pro-
portions in the city of Marysvils. 1t maintains
buyers and agents in New York and San Francisco,
and thus it is at all times prepared to present the
novelties OF the season. and the most approved arti
Giles of general merchandise secured and sold at the
lowest possible rates. 1t is Wholesale as well as
retail house, the latter being its especial feature
and fills any and all orders through its country order
department to the smallest amount 1t
was the originator by the way, of the
country order system on this coast which has
had many imitators. Some Of these claim 10
conduct the system in its purity and food the
country with circulars and price-lists Of articles
they do not keep in stock. This system known at
the Red House. has grown to be something massive
in its proportions. Throsgh it, it is possible for
the distant buyer to supply himself with any article
dealt in satisfactorily by mail freight or express as
if present in the b.dY. Goods for the absent pur-
chaser are selected with especial care and even bet
ter judgment is exercised than the buyer, in nine
cases out Of ten, could exercise himself. The Red
House is located at IA and 7l6 street, and 7I3
and us Oak avenue lis depth Of storerooms is
less than 1921 feet, with frontage Of 40 feet.
The four sections give floor of Is, 600 square
feet, as against area Of 1900 feet possessed by
Mr. Gilman in 1852. For so rapid and encouraging
has been the growth of his trade that in the year
just passed away he was compelled to move into
more capacious quarters, where greater room could
be awaited Of for stock and custom pouring into the
establishment on every business day. In February
1874, Mr.. Gilman founded the Red House, adopting
color to designate his trademark and ever since
the business has had steady growth, subject only
to those fluctuations that inevitable. 1t the
first house to invade the old style OF retailing and
bring the great staples down to the minimum in
prices. 1t the first to declare equality between
customers by adopting the one-price system. Itwss
the first TO set up the system by which purchasers
could be supplied by mail or Systematically supplied
with samples free OF cost. The establishment now
employs 60 persons in Sacramento, and so heavy is
its business that additional statesmen and and
est pressure. These employees labor in Is depart
ments. Those on the main floor : l, dry goods;
,, millinery, closks, etc; 3, boots and shoes; 4,
mems and boys furnishing goods; 3, mems and
boys clothing 6, hat and cap department :, fancy
goods silver ware and novelties In the first base
ment story are these departments S, trunk depot,
o. carpets, etc; 10, country order department; II,
reserve stock and jobbng department; y, receiy-
ing checking and distributing department In adj
dtion is the packing department for the dispatch of
supplies The stock Of the Red House is now QSsD
80 per cent greater in value and volume than it
at the opening of the year 1883. This evidences 4
growth of trade that admits Of no DENIAL and no
trade will thus expand that does not commend itself
strongly to the public. The boot and shoe stock Of
the Red House is made at the East, and in some
leading San Francisco factories, especially for it,
and has been for years, and by the same manufac;
urers, and has acquired an enyiabie reputation
throughout the coast. 1t has kept pace with the
improvements in the manufacture OF boots and
Shoes and in most cases has been the leader Among
the new lines adopted into the Red House system is
that OF silverware choice stock is kept hand Of
Rogers celebrated table service, of quadruple plate,
and rare assortment OF fine ornamental s-lverware
of the same grade. 1t is all made for the Red House
by Simpson, Hall, Miller Co, in the Rogers fact
DRY, under contract with Rogers Bros, and is thus
the original Rogers stock. It would be interesting
to pursue this sketch further, but the exgencies OF
space forbid. 1t must suffice to say that the Red
House is representative establishment OF growing
city, and commends itself to the trade
of the coast with force. Bat before closing, the
attention OF the country reader may again be drawn
with profit him, OF the ACCESSIBILITY OF studying
the country order system Of Mr.. Gilman. To do |
this he should send for catalogues, circulars and in
structions. Many an hour may be saved in travel
and to duty by trusting the skilled selecters of
the Red House, who will forward samples and price
lists and furnish any article desired and guarantee
the filling Of the order to its exact letter and in its
tr1le suirit