Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-16
WHOLESALE TRADE NECESSITIES
And How They are met In the Richmond
Market.

Market:
A great desilerd,ltD. in the wholesale trade
of a city aud one that does as much as any
| thing else TO advertise a city is ability to
| fiji orders promptly. To no line of the
wholesale business does this apply with
more force than to the hardware trade.
There are q thousand articles in hardware
which when they are wanted are wanted
quick and are absolute necessities. Rich
mOnd's geographical position and railroad
connections in their relations TO the South
afford her the advantage OF being twelve
hours ahead of any wholesale market north
of her in the matter of delivery of goods to
southern customers, and also give her great
advantages in respect of freight rates. But
there is another important requisite that
must be met before the full benefit OF these
considerations can be reaped either by tho
market or the customer. That requisite Is
summed up in the words complete
stock
HOUSE THAT APPRECIATES THIS.
A house that appreciates this and
gives a most practical demonstration of
the fact is the concern of Cottrell, Watkins
& Co.. No. 1913 east Main street. This
house was established under the name OF
Watkins, Cottrell a. Co. IN 1866, and the
partners in the present firm were all either
members or employees OF the original con-
cern. and are their successors. The active
conductors of the business are o. Il. Cot
trell. William s. Robertson. and A. Sale
Watkins.
From the day the concern started. Just
after the war, 10 was their determination
that none should be able TO say with truth
that Richmond was excelled as hardware
market. and that determination they have
carried out with the result Of building up
for themselves an immense trade. and aid
ing in pushing the city prominently TO the
front as a general wholesale market.
AN ENORMOUS ESTABLISHMENT.
Their Main-street warerooms consist of
three-stOry building, wiIh basement, 160
long BY 30 feet wide, which is literally pack
ed from roof to cellar flooring with stock
embracing everything that can be called
for in the hardware line. In addition TO
this they have in the rear or their ware
rooms warehouse with about 10000 square
feet Of room. and elsewhere another build
ing for the storage OF castings and similar
heavy articles, The house have made
study Of the hardware business,
and their policy has always been
not to wait for but TO anticipate
the demands of tho trade, and as conse-
sequence they are prepared to furnish az q
moments notice anything rom the finest
cambric needles to the la-g sst grindstone.
The quarter OF century OF the existence
Of the house has been quarter Of a GEN.
tury of steady growth in the volume Of
business done and u reputation for ac-
tiyity, enterprise, fair and just dealing un-
I'll the name OF Cottrell. Watkins a. Co. is
patent OF business integrity wherever
they buy and wherever they sell.
THEIR raAyxLIEas.
Tho corps Of travelling salesmen OF the
house are gentlemen who have the busi-
ness al their fingers ends.
Mr.. c. +. Elliott. who travels Western
North Carolina, was raised in the trade.
Mr.. J, w. Ruff represents the house IN
Southwest Virginia and West Virginia
along tho Chesapeake and Ohio railway
lines
Mr.. A. b. Mitchsll's territory is a part Of
Southwest Virginia and Tepnessee.
Mr. Joseph Archer looks after Eastern
North Carolina.
Mr. 4. W. Dixon devotes himself to South
Carolina and Georgia. and the house Is ar
ranging to employ salesman 70 represent
them further South.
The travelling statesmen are under the
immediate supervision OF Mr. Robertson.
one OF the partners Of the firm. who goes
oyer the routes regularly 10 see that tho
Muse Is properly represented with their
customers and that all questions between
the firm and thesear adjusted with justice