Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-10-08
A PROSPEROUS JoBB1Ne HOUSE.
Have BuiIt up Very Satisfactory New
England Trade in staple tines OF Foot-

. bOchttu NJ hFattieDOfOs W. Nhere Ihey
Have Butt up n Very Satisfactory New
England Trade in staple tines OF Foot-
wear.
From the Boston Boot and Shoe Recorder, SEPT.
81, 1891
One Of the brightest New England
| jobbing houses Of whom readers of the
| Boot and Shoe Recorder have not been
| specially informed, is the firm of Durham
Brothers of Bratteboro, Vt.
This firm is composed of Messrs. G. W.
! 6. L., and l.. l.. Durham. They are
| Maine boys, having come from oxford
] county in that state, county, by the way,
which was the birthplace of Hannibal
! Hamlin, Secretary of the Navy John d.
Long, and other distinguished men in
public and private life. The Durham boys
were educated at Paris Academy and Colby
! University, and were all successful school
teachers. They received their business
education in a country store, which, in
connection with their school teaching, gave
them some excellent experience in various
| directions.
About thirteen years ago c. W. and G.
| l.. Durham came TO Brattleboro and pur-
chased a retail shoe store. The retail store
prospered, and the Durham Brothers began
! years ago they began jobbing shoes in
small way and increased this branch of
their business in very satisfactory manner.
! Some three years since they decided to
separate the jobbng from the retail bust
ness, and TO conduct a wholesale shoe es-
tabishment In the same manner as is done
| by houses in the larger cities.
Durham Brothers now occupy, on Main
street, in BrattlebOro, two stores from base
ment to attic. They have four floors for
J their business, all of which are well
arranged, fully stocked, lighted by cleo
! tricity, heated by steam, reached by ele-
vator, etc. Leading manufacturers in
| Brockton, Lynn, Haverhill and other shoe
centers, are represented in the stock of
! goods carried by the firm. They purchase
| their rubber boots and shoes direct from
| the Boston Rubber Shoe Co. and the
| United States Rubber Co. This means
That in rubber goods as in the leather foot
wear the firm carry the very best that is to
be purchased.
The firm are exceptionally well situated
| 10 look after the trade TO which they cater
Being somewhat removed from the large
cities they are able 10 secure almost any
! line of goods which their customers desire
as they are not encroaching on the ground
/ 7
Durham Brothers pay spot cash for all
the goods which they buy. This, it is IN
necessary 10 add, is advantageous TO their
customers, inasmuch as il gives them the
advantage of the lowest possible prices
| from this concern. They employ two
travelling men who are on the road through
I on, the entire year. In addition to this
| one OF the members Of the firm looks after
several of the larger TOW rs. The principal
| part OF their trade is in Vermont, New
/ Hampshire, western Massachusetts and
/ Connecticut although they sell goods in
| every state of New England and part OF
| New FORK state.
/ They are New England agents for the
/ Mishawaka ball brand knit boots, as well
as the socks and combinations. BY the
way, there are some seventy different vari-
| cites in the combinations made by that
! concern. The Mishawaka goods are well
| known TO the trade in all sections OF the
country. Durham Brothers make a speci-
atty OF these goods for fall and winter
trade. Although this is the first year they
have had the agency, they are reported to
be selling more of the Mishawaka goods
than any other concern in New England.
Durham Brothers have increased their
! business steadily since it was established.
! Their shipments since July Of the present
! year have been more than double those Of
the corresponding season of 1896. The
| firm take special pains to look personally
after their trade. They have never lost
customer since starting in business, and
are always able TO give their retailers who
] deal with them entire satisfaction. Every
member of this firm having been engaged
in the retail business they are able to
| decide Immediately what lines are best
suited for the retail trade. II at any time
! they receive goods which are not in their
| opinion suited TO the needs of their Gus
| toners they Immediately discontinue the
sale of them. G. W. Durham has charge
of the financial end of the business, q. L.
| Durham does The buying, and L. L. Dun
ham is in charge of the firms branch store
at Bellows Falls, Vt. In addition to their
! large stock of boots and shoes, they carry
full line of findings for the accommoda-
| tion of their customers.