Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-08
NOT A HUM-DRUM LIFE.
Tho Wholesale Dry.Goods Trade Of kieh-
mond and Its Methods.

u
mond aud Its Methods.
The wholesale dry-goods business Of
Richmond Is factor in the annual mer.
camille exhibit of the city the proportions
of which are but indiGerently appreciated
by those outside of trade. There Is .
striking contrast between the Wholesale
and retail dry-goods business. The ave-
rage citizen who passes ono OF our whole
mense stacks Of goods In it, which seem
never to grow less, has, no doubt, an idea
that life Ia one of these establishments II
rather hum-drum sort of existence. Were
he to enter one Of them. however, during
the busy season this idea would soon be
dissipated. and what would come under
his observation would be revelation to
him.
A WORLD WITHIN IrsgLr.
A big wholesale dry-goods house is q
business world within itself, and under the
present mode of doing business is the per-
lection of system. IL is base OF supply
for an immense area Of territory and It or
ganizes regular campaigns which are con-
Quoted in the country by men specially as
signed to certain territory. Yesterday Q
Dispatch representative took look into
the immense establishment OF Drewry,
Hughes 4 Co.. Nos. 8. 10, and II south
Twelfth street, and found the house or
ganizing for the spring campaign. The
house is representative one in every par
ticular, and landmark of which
every citizen has reason to be. proud.
Were its history fully written up
it would ill volume OF interest
ing facts and personals-facts touch
ing the business deyelopmentaoft Of the city
and personals regarding many who have
figured prominently in that development.
The firm of Drewry, Hughes q Go. is the
legitimate successor Of London, Welling
ham Il Drewry, organized IN 1910. and has
therefore passed the half-century line
With the exception of o few years after the
close of the war it has been in active ex
istence since the period named steadily
extending its trade and strengthening 10
hold upon the public confidence, until to
day it IS known from one end of this coun
try to the other and Is the synonyme for fan
dealing, energy, and business enterprise.
THE PRESENT MKNBgRs.
The present members of tho firm ar,
Messrs. Clay Drewry. 8. b. Hughes, ant
John G. Freeman, who with their clerks
and commercial travellers form httl'
army in themselves. The establishment
occupies three stories, covering On area o.
about 10000 square feet, and in addition
the firm use the basement OF the State
Bank building for storage purposes. I've
of the stories of the store proper are de
voted to dry goods and the third to no
tions, and in both these departments tn
stock seems almost limitless as regard
quantity and endless az regards variety. 4
stroll through the establishment cause
one not initiated to wonder how on eartl
the concern ever know what they have o.
what they haven't got. Yet, a. has beeI
said, everything is system, and when thu
busy season commences that system move
like clock-work.
THE SPRING CAMPAIGN.
BY getting ready for the spring cam
paign is meant preparing to send out tn
commercial travellers, without compile
ment of whom no Wholesale house can ex
pect to keep in the front in this era. Thai
tho corps of commercial travellers 9
Drewry, Hughes Il Co. none are more efn
Gent and popular, and their names an,
territory are as follows: w. +. Woods
along the line of the Chesapeake and Obi
railway; p. Voolfolk. Eastern and Middl
North Carolina; +. 8. Cardoza, Southsid
and Southwest Virginia and Tennessee
NV, A. Powers, South Carolina and Georgia
4 b, G. Nelson, counties around Richmon,
as far west as Charlottesville; Rober
Chappell, line of Richmond and Danvill
railroad; Clay Drewry Jr., Western Nortl
Carolina; s. B. Hughes, line of RichmOn,
and Allegheny railroad. One territory
to be supplied.
UNExcELLED
When one reflects upon this it will b
readily understood that the house mus
carry stock that is unexcelled. Fac
commercial traveller must know the want
and the needs of his particular territory
and the home depot must be able to sur
ply 1t at moments notice. That Drewry
Hughes & Co. can and do this not onl!
speaks well for the enterprise of the firm
but speaks equally well for Richmond as
wholesale market. Covering such an are
of territory means successful c0mpetitio
with any similar house north OF Richmond
It means indeed that the concern can an
does offer superior Inducements to tn
merchants of Virginia, North Carolina
West Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina. an
Tennessee, and States further South i
all the important essentials Of accommods
ton, low prices, and promptness in tn
delivery Of goods. II means that Rich
mond can give the country merchants ad
yantages in freight rates.
CAN STOCK zIs STORE.
From the concern of Drewry, Hughes
|. Co. the country merchant in any Of tn
States named can stock his store wit
everything known IN the dry goods an
notion line from pin to highest grade q
staple dress goods. That there is no deman
| that can be made upon them that they wi
not be able to meet Is fact that must
apparent to any one who will 60 throug
Their establishment and examine its dine
| ent departments. What Is more importaF
| AZ rsa ~ n ;xapack <ha an ov,rloa rf tha Yru
| commercial travellers can rest satisfied thi
| if they buy their Purchases will como U
| TO sample in every respect. The concer
| has reputation TO sustain, and all wh
| know its members and their employees kno
| they will sustain il. The DispGch repr
sentative was gratificd to learn that u
past year had been Q most successful on
kwith the house, and that it entered upon Il
second half century OF its existence with
| outlook for increased business that IVES q
| encouraging prophecy not only OF its ON
development, but Of the further develol
ment Of the general Wholesale business I
Richmond. The business methods an
popularity of such house cannot fail
rebound to the good Of all branches !
trade and enhance the Importance OF kicl
mond as o market for Virginias southe!
sisters. The history and success OF q
firm since its revival IN 1870 furnishes Y
contestible proof of the fact that the VI
ginia or southern merchant who goes fu
fher north than Richmond TO buy his eoot
stands in his own light. and that Richmou
is abreast of any northern city in theinduc
ments she offers ~ distributing mar
All that Richmond asks Of the countl
merchant is that be give such houses
that Of Drewry, Hughes 4 Co. = trial. y
him do this and he viii be oonyiosed th