New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08

, at least 81. Have it sent to No % West Bank-st
! c. o. D."
| The charming vase with its Dresden shepherdesses
| and garands of flowers in due time finds its way
| TO No. 90 and In due time is transferred thence TO
| the managing referee of big department store
Yes | see now" says the critic. now Acott
| could sell these goods at such a low figure And
| Mrs b. the first chance you get bring us re-
| port of j. & LIS furs. Buy a cape or mum II
necessary and don't feel stnted in the price we
| leave that entirely to your judgment"
j. & LIS clerks make haste to show their
| costiest and choicest goods to Mrs. b.. who shops
in her carriage and who. from the top OF her taste
| fully bonneted head TO the toe OF her smartiy
booted foot is the reflection Of quiet elegance The
attendants are all obsequiousness and her slightest
| whim is law The furs delivered al her residence
are not beneath he- roof long, however, they follow
the 80 vase the private rooms OF the big depart
| ment store.
Every merchant who pretends AZ AL TO keep In
touch with the of trade. and who is alert
as to correct methods of business IS compelled to
know more about the inner workings of rival houses
! than he could learn through mere customers said
one VINO has made merchandising study.
Every day the advertising columns Of all the prin
cpal papers are spread before him. and thoroughly
| canvassed by men of judgment and keen discern
| ment.
Gloves real kid. at 50 cents. reads one OF these
| experts Immediately an electric bell is toucha ed.
|
Is told: and in a few moments of the cleverest
| women in the glove department is awaiting orders
The expert agent simply hands her the clipping
| from the department. Investigate he says la
| concally
"A pair Of good kid gloves" Miss NJ is saying a
half hour Letter the girl at the glove counter Of
| the firm which advertised.
| something at s2?" sGys the the girl opening
| box.
You advertised soves at 50 cents; show me
! those. please
They are all sod.' says the girl.
| Indeed. Well, only came for pair because
| thought them such bargaia"
| Just A fake sale Miss VI. reports on her re-
turn. "All sold before Il o'clock. They never had
them at all"
| IL thought that firm above such devices FOR
| attracting trade"
| cen; gloves and finds them other than represented
OF kid and inferior; in this case she secures
pair and the rival firm examines them at leisure.
| Il is the same with ve.ves. wraps. s.lverware
jewery carpets. laces and indiscrminate articles;
with anything that constitutes an important item
: IN mercha ldise
! How much does , professional shopper OF this
description make a week. authority was asked
! The salary depends upon the ability and tao;
| OF the empoye. s2j week would be paid to n
woman who understood her businessmen $50
| II the woman rad social prestige and commanding
presence sufficient to insure her unusual attention
at the hands Of the clerks and Initiation INTO the
| business moves Of the firm. person 30 situated
in life to evade suspicion as To her real en-
| poyment is of infinitely more value to her en-
| ployers than one who would seem TO need money !;
| the rich woman would b. shown everything, the
poor one would he ignored" s,
| The common custom is TO employ the most tactiui
! and able women in the various departments TO
make these little oXpedit.ons into the realm OF
prices. qualities, etc. These women or course are
paid extra money for their services. Nobody would
! send saleswoman from the suit department 10
! look into the matter of slverware or laces or r-b-
bons and nobody would dream OF employing
person in the ribbon department ~ see now car
| pets furs were going Except IN rare IN
stances il is found best 10 employ people already
Identified with the house. those who could have no
incentive for representing things other than as they
are Occasionally. however, a ilrn gets hoid OF a
} treasure in the guise OF womanhood who has what
they call nose for scouting the movements OF rival
| houses and VINO thoroughly enjoys the work Tact
| Is not the only attribute required. Many women
possess innate tact TO Il degree TO whom anything
! like the sembance 81 double dealing would be I'M
possible. In a certain city there IS woman OF So
erably and steadily by keeping track OF the various
trade movements in the repuI1ble stores She has
sales" but II is desirable TO know how they are
| selling their goods
| pensvely and who has associated with people who
| live sumptuousy Is II better judge OF fine raiment
| and house decoration than Is the best-trained K
pert. Her ideas and interests have centred In such
things all her lie. She Is the woman who loves to
shop loves to see ana examine pretty things; and
beautifully supplied with money by the Arm and the
| clerks in the stores from whom she makes her
purchases never 20 to her house TO note that the
| things so lavshly bought do not remain there.
! A weltrained professional Will know by instinct
| almost when there is be a change made in the
| out what circulars they are going TO send out and
what those circulars viii set forth, She has such
| opportunities well at hand when In the guse OF
| shopping for a large constituency, the firms from
! which she buys pay her commission the sales,
| thus coming In closer contact with her than they
| would under ordinary circumstances Professional
shoppers Hitting from store to store. are as neces-