Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-09
ArrER TWENTY rsARs.
A Very Encouraging nit 81 Businsss His
tory.

tOkys
One of the busiest whclesale-houses in
the city at present--a house thatis ainonu-
ment TO the energy and enterprise OF ite
founders and Richmond's trade-is that OF
Wingo. Ellett d Crump. This great shoe-
Eve States, was started in 1870 BY the pres
ent partners. Charles 4. Wingo, John >.
Elicit, and James ID. Crump. OF their pres
ent stand, 1903 east Main street. me
capital of the concern was mere bagateiie
compared with it's present volume OF busi-
ness and present capital, being tho Vost-bet-
ban, savings from the clerks wages OF the
three, who when the war ended were
in the condition OF the pocket-took after
the elephant had trod upon 1t.
SEnvY VENTURE.
/. was a nervy venture, so the Dispdtch
representative thought at the time. and 80
thought many Others. But self-deniai,
business sagacity, confidence, and, most OK
all, right IDEAS of what business methods
should be. won, and now any man IN the
shoe-traie, from the manufacturer OF the
North and East almost TO the retailer on
the Gull Of Mexico, who does not know or
Wingo. Elicit Il Crump argues himself un-
known.
HAD TO Pc ABlNpoSrp.
As the business was originally begun 1t.
was both Wholesale and retail business,
but the demands Of tho Wholesale trade
soon began so TO crowd upon the time OF
the firm that the retail department had TO
be abandoned. Just in proportion as the
railroad connections of Richmond extend-
ed throughout Virginia and the rest OF the
South the business of the firm extended:
for with characteristic energy Its members
did not allow themselves to be behind IN
entering any new field that was opened.
UPON RULE.
Yet from the beginning the house work
ed upon a rule. That rule was 70 study
carefully the needs of everv separate piece
of territory their commercial men entered,
as regards STYLES of goods, suitability to
climate. &c, and this has been one of the
secrets of Wingo. Elicit h Crump's success.
The house pays particular attention to.as-
sorting goods for the southern territory.
and when one of their commercial travel
lers starts out upon his route he invades
his territory with Just the ammunition that
will secure the best results.
FILLED TO REPLErIoN.
The store of Wingo, Elicit 4 Crump con-
ssts Of three stories and basement and
at all times is stocked to repletion with
every grade and variety OF goods adapted
10 their trade. Some idea of the extent OF
their stock, which Is ever changing-for
they keep no shop-worn g0ods-may be
formed when ii is stated that they employ
a number of men in the stock department.
TIE ROAD FORCE.
The road force of the concern are coun-
terparts in energy. push, and accommo-
dating manners OF the partners OF the con-
''Sh: Mr.. E. FL. Wright h As charge of Western
North Carolina, with headquarters at Ashe-
vile. He also attends to aportion of South
Carolina.
MIR. A. w. Hankins caters to the wants of
the people in Eastern North Carolina. his
route being along the lines OF the Atlantic
Coast Line, the Raleigh and CASTOR road,
and the Carolina Central. He goes to the
South Carolina border.
Mr.. G.. w. Belt has his headquarters IN
Scott county and looks after East Tennes-
see, Kentucky, and the extreme southern
portion of Virginia.
Mr.. NJ. II. Calfee accommodates the Gus
toners of the house on the Norfolk ana
Western system between Roanoke and
Abingdon.
Mr.. W. J. wingo represents the house in
South Carolina and Georgia.
Mr.. A. McDonougn has charge OF SOUTH
side Virginia and the trade along the
Piedmont Airline as far south as Green's
boro'. -,
Mr.. E. f. Hills territory is West Vir-
ginia.
Mr.. J. w. Kyle follows the loop made by
the connection of the Chesapeake and
Ohio main stem and its Allegheny division
at Clifton Forge.
Mr.. r. l.. Mills devotes his attention to
the counties contiguous to Richmond.
II is easy to understand that when this
force starts out they make matters pretty
lively for the home house. for each man
A 4. ,I.. ND
goes TO work with the determination ia
shoe if possible every man, woman, and
child in it.
The firm buy from the best manufacturers
at tho lowest prices. They are expert
buyers and their capital and credit afford
them the best of facilities for obtaining
close prices. This not only enables them
to give the lowest figures and ell reason
able accommodation consistent with safe
business principles to their customers,
but long work under their rule TO which
we alluded places them in n position 70
suit the southern market as no north
ern house can.
When an order comes into tho house Of
Wingo, Elicit d Crump the customer does
not get the run of the kiln" but stock
assorted with view to the necessities and
taste Of the section of country from which
| il comes. Proprietors. stockmen,. clerks,
and statesmen keep this in mind. All make
study of the shoe trade.
CALCULATION.
When we consider the territory the con.
Germ cover in their trade and remember
that each adult will average two pair oi
shoes per year it takes but q simple cslcu.
lation to see that this concern brings an
enormous amount of money into the city
annually. Then consider the advantages
they can give the country merchant IN
| freight rates and close prices. and it Will
be understood what an egregious mistake
the country merchant makes who goes
further north than Richmond to buy.
Such concerns as Wingo, Elicit d Crump
are pillars of the trade of city. They
keep things moving in place, and are
constantly advertising its advantages as a
market They are a stimulus to other
young men and credit TO the State and
| the community.
The members of the firm are not as young
as they were twenty years ago, when they
| launched their bark on the perilous waves
of the then Wholesale trade, but they are IN
! the prime of life and better prepared than
ever to steer the craft along the course OF
progress, and upright dealing they have
followed from the beginning to thei,
Il