Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-04
A WOMAN SUCCEEDS.
SHE DOES SHOPPING. RUNS A HOTEL.
AND cHAPERoNss GUESTS.
How IL All Was Done, and How Quickly
She Had Private Hotel for
Ladies' In Operation.


open to women.
The field Is that Of a commission shopper
with the usual percentage from the stores
and every advantage>in the way OF favors
from the best firms.
This much has been done by women
often. but II remained for an end-of-the-
century woman, whose name by the way
may be Nichols. II you should happen to
know her-to find a way of perfecting the
business until in her hands the business OF
professional shopper has taken on great
added dignity.
1t began I'm this way. There was
money needed. Mrs Nicholas, who was
spending the winter in Washington--under
another administration-used her pulp
to reach Cabinet ladies and senator's
wives and to get permission to do some
shopping for them ION approval"
At first the business Jagged. People do mol
rcadily give the selecting of choice gowns
into hands OF which they know little, ex-
ccpt willingness TO do well. But the en-
ergetic woman persevered, and for n long
time insisted that all purchases be regard
factory. She also asked her customers as
n special favor to send sample OF the
goods back to the store with an inquiry as
TO the price, so that all concerned might
be sure that only store rates were being
charged, and that the commission really
did come ont Of the dealer and not out
OF the purse OF the buyer. Thus in good
time her buying arrangements became
established as perfectly satisfactory.
Il. III.
through the year; and during the long
summer wait-a wait OF more than six
months-busness was slight. Advertising
brought n little, but the valuable part OF
a commission business must, as every
business-woman knows, come through
personal acquaintance.
STARTING A PRIVATE HOTEL.
One morning tbs mail brought letter
| from u patron In Baltimore. The letter
| read:
II am coming 10 New York for my
winter outfit as l shall travel northward
| until spring. and shah need all the latest
| ideas In New York for garments. l am
sorry that / cannot remain In the city
moro than day, as 1 do not Ike to stop
/ at "a hotel alone"
/ After reading the letter twice Mrs
! Nichols sat down and wrote. Her letter
bore the following leading lines:
II have taken = large house and can
accommodate you with lodgings, while
you are shopping with me-"
Then she flew TO her landlord and In
n few hours had possession OF the Hat
overhead. which, with the parlor-hat and
! the middle one she already occupied, af-
/ forded sufficient space and dignity TO nl
the title of "a large house"
| Furniture bought and bargained for on
| the instalment plan, and a maid who
would wear cap and add tone to nle
I establishment were the work of only a
couple OF days-th!ngs go quickly in a
large city-and when the out-of-town
customer arrived she found large hand
some room awaiting her, with every
thing as convenient as at the best hotel
= Breakfast would be served In the room
II desired, and luncheon at any time;
/ dinners were as yet not TO be attempted
/ a batch OF letters carefully written
/ upon stationery with the address stamped
upon IL were Immediately afterward sent
| out to her patrons and otter well-known
| families; and, before the first shopper had
departed, there were letters from others
O. - of the city who wished 20 visit town,
/ 20 shop. and who were willing to pay
| upwards OF 81 r.r day for tho privilege
| OF a comfortable room and breakfast. For
| two IN a room the cost would be less,
/ the letter stated; and arrangements at
/ reduced rates might be made for week
or moro.
! Thus did the shopping agency suddenly
/ spread it's wing and soar away far out OF
its prescribed regions. II became practi-
cally "a woman's hotel " with all the
/ advantages OF a public stopping-place, but
4 with more of its unpleasantless. 1t was
Ill l.g.sef- lifaf
/ h~se-the rates were much too high TO
/ suit such nomenclature. only those peo-
/ pie were received who intended TO shop"
THE SHOPPING FLAN.
| Arrangements for shopping were made
I To suit the customer. II there was little
money to be spent, and the visitor felt
equal to making her own selections. and
being her own shopper she was privileged
| to do so. All the agency asked was the
/ liberty OF introducing her. At the hour
/ for starting out, a cab was called and
| both the visitor and the professional shop
| per entered and were driven To the best
houses-milliners, dry goods. and shoe
stores. There th., visitor was introduced,
and the shopper. by an arrangement
previously made with the store-keeper.
had It understood that all purchases made
during the week by this guest were TO
come under the head OF commission
shopping"
After the introductions. the buyer was
left at ary shop she might designate. and
was permitted TO make her own selections
and do as she pleased in the matter OF
buying or not. But. II any unsatisfactory
goods were purchased. the professional
shopper who did the Introducing became
responsible, although her work stopped
long before and she was not even present
when the things were bought
This way OF managing became highly
successful. Mrs. Nichols has continued
It. II is going on still. It Is really part
Of big city's work. and is entitled by
its success to be classed among It's busi-
ness enterprises.
II you know any body who is one OF
Mrs. Nlcholss customers you will find
that four times year--at each change OF
seasOn-your friends Is in receipt OF
business-like little "hand-written" note to
the effect that Nichols & Co. are doing
business at the old stand, and VIII be
glad to see you II you visit town. In the
corner OF the note-paper will be the ad-
dress OF the house; also, the telephone
number at the nearest corner. which for
a small sum takes long-dlstance mes
sages and delivers them promptly. Be
Sides there Is a printed line mentioning
the express company which handles goods
on the railway which the customer would
use for sending goods or receiving them.
EVERY CONVENIENCE.
The letter closes with reminder that
a cab will be at the station, II desired, and
that seats for anything and everything
will be obtained at the lowest possible
rates, and a chaperone will be provided
II desired. II the customer has pre-
ference for male escort messenger
boy in black clothes will be In attendance.
Inside the envelope there is type
written slip OF the bargains" just then
obtainable in town, and Glst OF the hest
goods to purchase at that time or the
year. and their prices. Also catalogue
OF the newest colors.
This makes work for the commission
shopper; but, as she often remarks, she
-