The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-12
wANAMAKER,s REAL BUSINESS.
He Attributes His Success to Selling
"An-Wool Goods"
From the PHILADELPHIA Times

He Attributes His Success to Selling
"Ap-Wool Goods"
From the Philadelphia Times.
Tuesday celebrated the twenty-eighth
anniversary OF Wanamaker & Browns
Oak Hall, at Sixth and Market streets, and
the big building was tasteiully decorated
with flags and bunting in honor of the
event. Busy statesmen fitted through the
immense establishment all day long with
satisfied smiles upon their faces and beau
ful flowers in their button-holes. The
army of order, shipping and entry clerks
were just as busy as they could be, and as
Mr.. w. b. Wanamaker surveyed the scene
OF activity proud smile lit up his face as
he said: "What change from twenty
eight years agol" The immense business
transacted by the firm is due simply to the
enterprise with which they went to work
to build up trade in ready.made cloth
ing that today has no equal in this coun-
try. The secret OF their success, as OK.
pressed by Mr.. Wanamaker is; 1--WE sell
nothing but all-wool goods"
In 1861 Oak Hall consisted Of only one
store, on the ground floor OF the southeast
corner OF Sixth and Market streets. The
firm began by manufacturing its own goods
and nothing but wool was used in their
composition. They represented their goods
fairly and honorbly and their trade in.
creased until their quarters were found to
be too small. Then the store next door was
secured and still the trade increased.
Then they went along buying additional
property from year TO year until they had
obtained the present cOmmodious struc-
ture. The place has frontage Of siXty-six
on Market street, Il depth OF $50 leet on
Sixth street and is six and a half stories in
hight. The filth and sixth floors are u,cd
as cutting, sponging and receiving depart
ments There is huge machine on the
top floor, by means OF which flaws are de.
tected IN the cloth. The flaws are then
marked in such manner rs will enable
the cutter to give them wide berth.
The latest appliance is used in sponging
the cloth, and immense rolls of material
are steamed with perforated barrel until
it is almost impossible for them to shrink
any further. The firm has peculiar
method OF detecting cotton in cloth,
which they use in all cases OF buying
goods. 4 small stick of prepared potash
is placed in a cup OF water and clipping
from the cloth is then placed inside. II
the goods are all wool nothing will be lait
OF them. Ii, however, cotton is mixed
with the wool /; will lie on the bottom Of
the cup in such manner that il can read
lily Ice seen. ON the lower floors are the
salesroOms with their various departments
for military, Childrcn's and custom cloth.
ing
One room is put apart for returned
goods" The firm has an immense trade
in the Western and Southern parts OF the
country. When suit Of clothing is ordered
and sent 10 its destination sometimes the
purchaser is dissatisfied either with the III
or cut OF the suit and IL is sent back 20
Oak Hall. IL is then put among the re
turned goods" and sold at sacrifice.
Several hundred suits are at present In
this department, and, rs Mr. Wauamaker
SAYS, ii person could only take the time
TO look over them thoroughly he could get
ilrstclass suit OF clothing for a mere song
In speaking OF the wonderful growth OF
Oak Hall during Us tweniy-eight years Of
existence, Mr.. Wanamakcr said yestor-
day 81 can only attribute II 10 the way
in which we have sold our goods. We
always represent fairly and honorably that
our clothing Is made OF wool aud not cot
ton. At present We have agencies in every
State in the country, and branch stores IN
pittsburg, Chicago and other large cities.
They send In large orders continually, and
our retail business in rcady-mnde suits
amounts 10 S2,000C00 year. We make
military suits for companies all over the
United States, and institution uniforms for
various cities. Our business IL still on the
increase, aud II present circumstances are
any prophet We will continue for some
/ time 10 come"