Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-01
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
WHAT A REPORTER THINKS REGARDING A
SACRAMENTO BUSINESS HOUSE.
Some Account of Remarkable Evolution
in Trade In Sacramento.

In the past few years the press Of Sacramento has
recorded In the annual reviews OF the business Of the
city the steady rapid growth Of firm, the naIne OF
which is known the uttermost parts OF the coast
The progress OF the house has been phenomenal,
and has been the cause of no little conjecture and
criticism. We refer to the
REMARKABLE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
OF the Mechanics Store, under the administration
of its founders and proprietors, Messrs. Weinstock
& Lubin. Probably no business house in the State
has been written about more than this one. 1t has
has been the theme of speech, essay, assault, de-
Tense, lsudston, criticism, jealousy and admiration
it has been one of the liveest factors in the bust
ness growth OF Sacramento, and has done vast
deal to add to the volume of the retail trade of the
city.
THE BEGINNING
OF the firm it is not necessary to refer to now. All
the people remember for the story has been often
tod-how but few years ago two J Dung men, in
mere cupboard OF a storeroom, opened the Me-
chancs' store, and all the people know TO what
immense proportions the establishment has grown.
Said one of the proprietors on being consulted
relative to the propriety Of making reference to the
business in this issue dwell, do not attempt 20
puff us. We are content to have the truth spoken
for u.s. am aware that the iteration about our
business Is apt to pail on the public ear, but in
truth there is something to say about
our house every day, for We have
had ne day pass without some interesting
development, something learned, something gained
worth preservation and repetition. Speak the truth
OF US for we do not fear it, but would prefer that
you be modest regarding our success. We have
done no more than others may do by proper appli-
cation Of business principles and good degree Of
courage aud will power. There may be such
thing. you know, as saying SO much that some may
doubt its verify. So we prefer that you draw it
mild" But while attempting to respect the wish Of
the partner referred to find it difficult to do SO
for whatever is said OF the establishment must be
with liberal of adjsctives. We may, how
ever, without trespassing, remsrk that the Stats
tics show the business of the heuse TO be steadily
gaining The number of employees has also aug
mented. With the increase of the volume of the
trade and the Importance of the business the house
has nos lost any of its distinctive features 1t is the
same ia conduct, principle and method to-day as it
was in its incipiency.
THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN EVOLUTIONARY.
But none Of them have departed from the great gen
eral principle underlying the whole management-a
republican principle by the way, and representative
OF democracy Of the purest Order-eGusl treatment
to all perfect equality of all patrons when dealing
with the house. interchangeable price for each
article for all persons absolute and strict adherence
To tba ~ adj
crees against credit in any guse form whatsoever
uniform urbabty and attention to purchasers, no
matter what their station or how great or how small
their trade strict attention to duty the part of
every employe, the nsistence that every person
in the establishment should keep IN view the fact
that his or her advancement depends solely upon
him herself; the certain progression of all en-
poyes who prove deserving; sale by country order,
by which the distant buyer is enabled to order by
catalogue or sample the most ordinary or the most
costly article, with the that the selection
will be made with equal and discrimination as
if were present in person the perfect system of
recording the history of the order and dispatch OF
goods, together with the correspondence relating
thereto whereby the minutest detail may be ascer
tanned on Hstant's notice regarding tine transac
ton the admirable system BY which the history Of
the sale OF all goods is kept and the equally admira
BILE system of checks and balances and division into
department of all the work Of the house. But the
features Of the establishment not all revealed by
this much Of outline. 1t has systems within sys
tens, as, for instance, the method OF importing
THE LATEST, RICHEST AND MOST APPROVED
Fashionable goods, made and unmade for the MILL
NARY nd tho keeninp ofs uch a ed
account Of the make OF every unmade article, the
cost Of each and every part, to the minutes OF
labor bestowed, SO that at glance the forewoman
can tell to a cent what it will cost the house to
produce fac smile OF any article Of millinery for
any customer. So, too, regarding the small army
employed in the dressmaking department-such IS
the perfection of the discipline, that any article
made can be reproduced perfectly and at an exact
figure OF cost and the to all purchasers. Here
too the fashion importations can be duplicated with
out the necessity Of sending back to the original
mart. This system, it must be seen by the most
apathetic is a ssvng to the patrons Of the house in
a large way So throughout system is the rule,
and the best business methods the law In all these
years it has never been said that the house has had
one price for one person one day, and another for
another person another day, nor has it ever been
charged that an advantage has been allowed to rich
or poor, or the slightest distinction made between
customers as 10 their social standing Our own idea
is that this is
THE GREAT CENTRAL SECRET
OF the success of weinstock Lubin, supplemented,
of course by shrewd bold and daring operations by
taking risks Of large transactions ct small profits,
trusting to the faith of the public in the representa-
tons Of the house. And this latter by the way, is
matter OF vast importance. The firm has been one
of the best users Of printers ink. 1t has advertised
in the most liberal manner, but we are prepared to
say that no man or woman can be found to say they
have ever detected the firm in misrepresent
ing in a single line in reference to the
goods offered the price asked. This public
has implicit confidence in the statement OF the
house. II it announces the importation Of lot OF
goods and their display upon the counters at given
hour at given price, and, coupled with the note
that they are fine medium or poor quality, the peo-
pie desiring articles Of that class place perfect con-
dence in the advertised representation, and go to
purchase, or remain away, confident that there has
been and will be no deception In short, these men
have illustrated in a most striking manner that it
pays deal fairly and that the keenest critic in the
world is the general public, and at the same time,
the most responsive of all to fairness is this
same general public. One further remark, and we
close The house has each year raised the standard OF
the goods in which it deals. While still supplying
all demands, it has advanced all the time into the
higher classes of values and fabrics until now there
is found in the establishment the representative
goods of the best marts of the world and the finest
products ia fancy goods dry goods, notions, boots
shoes, hats caps, millinery, clothing, cloths fur
nishing goods, cloaks robes suits, millinery sup
plies, satins, laces, woolens, etc.
THE TOBACCO BUSINESS.
What Can Be and Eas Been Done by