The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24
GIFTS TO GROcERS.
Tow Retailer May Furnish His Home with
Prizes Given Him with Goods.

1.-THE numerous schemes adopted by manu-
facturers and wholesalers to induce the retail
grocer to buy their goods" said Mr.. Krag of the
hsm OF Schnuh 6 Krag, would appear to yield
TO that individual aSSout everything a mortal
here below could desire. His customers share
n this bounty in pictorial way for pictures go
with soap, starch, roasted cofees, tobacco. bak
Ing powders. blueing, salt, vinegar, in fact, with
pretty nearly everything, except dried beef and
mackerel.
'aThe grocer tells time by a clock given him
with certain amount of baking powder. the
Knives and forks upon his table, as we'll as the
eups and saucers, and glassware are from tobac-
GO and roasted coffee dealers In consideration Of
bis having bought . certain amount of their
goods. He seats himself in an easy chair fur
nished by another enterprising manufacturer to
promote the sale OF his wares, and contemplates
Nth satisfaction his serene countenance reflected
from looking glass received upon like consider
alton. His house is ornamented with bronzes,
mosaic ware and other artistic things which come
10 him in like manner, and his wife and daughter
ara protested from the rain by gossamers that
came with 80 many dozen of this or that COM
modify
'His grocery exteriorly Is gorgeous in decor
alive art beinR artistically painted gratis by
tobacco firm for the privilege of placing sign
shining in at his door by a spreading awning,
presented upon like consideration. When he
sits down in the evening to read the news of the
day it is by beautiful student lamp, prize or
tnducement given by pushing business-house.
His parlor is filled with brica-brac without cost.
Asoap manufacturer gives him family sewing
machine, nominally worth $50, with ten boxes of
soap that he buys, another house gives him de-
livery wagon for buying certain amount OF
goods, ard minor premiums and testimonials
all like Mira TOOdlAaa door nlato handy have
about the house.
Certain brands Of tobacco are pushed by pre-
miums Among these are telescope travelling
eases, smoking cases and work boxes. given with
ak pounds OF chewing tobacco. The tobacco
man also furnishes the grocer with his plated
ware. In cigars the schemes are numerous
and various that it would be as difficult to COM
init them to memory as to learn postal scheme
Among them may be mentioned cash registers.
cook stoves, rocking chairs and musical instru
ments Of various kinds. One of the most in
genious schemes is an offer to give with each
1000 cigars purchased beautiful crayon or oil
painting enlarged from the photograph of the
amiable grocer, his wife, or any member of his
family he may choose. The cigar dealer puts a
heavy gilt frame round the portrait, which is
given prominent place in good light in the
grocers parlor
''The travelling salesman is induced to push
sales of certain brands of tobacco by cleverly de-
vised prizes. There are tourists shaving sets,
dressing cases. razor boxes, backing brush
cases. leather collar and cuff boxes rubber coats,
soft and stiff hats silk hats. silk umbrellas. Jap
snese silk handkerchiefs, gold cable watch
chains, English club satchels, alligator Glad
stone railroad bags and other things as the
auctioneer would remark, too numerous to
mention
'There are some grocers who are not wheed
Jed into buying inferior goods by this prize sys
tenn and their number is increasing Think the
turn In the tide is about here. and people will 60
back to the old way of buying goods on their
merits. without these sugar-coating methods. 1t
will be happy day for the wholesaler, as he will
be relieved of carrying brc-a- brac, pictures and
other rubbish in the way of alleged prizes and
presents The shoddy palace is tottering TO its
fall"