The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-03
GROWTH OF Il YEARS,
Wonderful Expansion of Shepard &
COmpany's Business.
From Unpretentlous Beginning II Became
One OF lhc GreatsSl in III. Ciiy.

I'm the year 1850 there was opened at the
corner of Clemence and Westminster
streets a small and unpretentiOus store for
the sale Of miscellaneous dry goods, and
notions. Many now in retrospect can see
this little bark when IL commenced IT'S
trip on the uncertain sea OF business, and
marvel much at the phenomenal growth
obtained in the short space OF IL ychrs
today being that anniversary of the found
ing Of the house.
From IA small store, having Il frontage
Of two stories n rear az but one, and "a
depth of scarcely one hundred feet 1t has
grown 10 such mammoth proportions as
to occupy fun city block, a height of
four stories and is now 50 crdmped FOR
space as 90 be greatly incOnyenienced at
times in the conduct of It's business. With
view of relieving this pressure an i'm
mense warehouse is now under course OF
construction that win greatly add 60 the
facilities of the house.
A thoughtful person naturally reasons
as TO the causes of such phenomenal sue
cess in the business world. \ ready eX-
planatiOn can be given In few words:
Shepard x Co. mover under any circuln-
stances allow any Misrepresentation in
their house any employe, no matter how
important his position, viii be iinmcdi-
ately discharged il he is known TO inten-
tiOnally miSrenrcsont any article Every
thing is sold as ii is and for what il is.
called to the same. Ii is through such
methods as this that their enyiable reputa-
tion has been established
Again great inducements and incentives
are offered To each buyer-who has been
selected carefully for thorough knowledge
of the line of goods over which he has
absolute control. He is TO all intcnts and
purposes che owner of the stock which he
buys This supplied with all the imme-
diate cash necessary 20 operate his depart
ment, is encouraged in every way possible
10 gain all information relative TO his
business. Large lots of goods are often
brought 10 him which arc snapped up and
sold at but small margin of profit some
times at "a loss for leader. He places the
selling price on the goods he has to offer.
In fact. were he TO have an independent
store outside he could be no more
thoroughly master of 1t than his posi-
tion gives him at this store.
The question arises what is n depart
mcnt store? A ready and short answer
il, that it is collection of small stores
under one roof, each department managed
by an expert in his respective line and
controlled by one supreme head from
whom is received instructions as TO the
desired management. IL is more. IL is a
bazaar an emporium where one can buy
anything needed without tramping half n
dny 60 find IT, and at prices far less than
small dealers can sell at owing To the
immense quantities purchased at one
time, and the specially low prices that
sales of large quantities insure.
Shepard *. Co Is is such place and
more, not only do they aim To keep in
stock what the public want but they insist
upon honest values mt all times; extraya-
CANT profits are frowned upon. a small
profit system is in operation there, they
believing that in the long run n larger
business can be done, the publc's need
SppypI moro ecppoutitullV and rho hon A. :
business conducted more satisfactorily to
ALL Progression is the rule Of tho house.
Conservatism is thrown to the winds.
New ideas, now methods, everything
new are either given birth here or are first
used In Providence nv thcm. They dare
TO risk but will not follow and therefore
they arc deservedly entitled to encourage
ment for the indonitable pluck and
courage for which they arc so well known.
How often it Is that after Shepard *
Company INTRODUCES an arti Gle IL becomes
Immediately popular in the city. Why?
Simply because they will not allow any
thing to be sold or displayed in the store
that is not reputable. they fully appre-
ciating the fact that their name is guar
antee OF the article as soon as il is handled
by them. Consoquentlv, what is bought
there you can have every confidence in.
Further as the demands of the Gus
toners required IL, new departments were
added from time To timo. Everything
tending To promote the comfort Of the
customers of the house is anticipated, cx-
pense Is secondary Ii is "a well known
fact that complaints are appreciated there,
as Ii enables them TO mere thoroughly
more perfectly systcniatize their business,
aud it IS their aim 20 reach as near per-
fection i'm methods as possible.
AS the growing popularity of anything
Increases 1t will be- found there ana
when necessary other departments will
be- added. Everything will DO done to
make the store one of the greatest won
ders of the city, as IL is now, and TO
more than keep abreast If the times.
Furthermore since the founding of the
house the use of printers ink has been
considered as one OF the greatest mediums
of quickly reaching the general public.
The sum expended yearly for this purpose
alone amounting To fortune in itself
1t Is also the only means employed in
calling attention to their store and its
great bargains.