The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26

money in the city"
Has cards out, hasn't she9' inquiries
the other clerk.
"Oh, yes. She shops regularly for people
out of town; makes something like $50
a month"
Shopping for out-of-town customers
isn't her only business. I happen to know
that she's engaged regularly to keep a
certain firm informed on the way the
goods run in other houses. Her manager
will know by tonight all about our line
of rugs and carpets. How do 1 know she
does that kind of work? Well, / couldn' I
take an oath to ii before jury, because l
have never heard her make her reports
to the firm, but you watch her movements
the next time she comes in here and /
rather think you will agree with me-"
Every merchant who pretends at all
10 keep up with the times, and is alert as
to business methods, is compelled to know
more about the inner workings of rival
houses than he could learn through mere
customers" said business man. who has
made buying and selling a lifelong study.
Each morning the advertising columns of
all the principal newspapers are SPREAD
out before him, and thoroughly gone over
and discussed by his assistants men of
good business judgment. silk at 9S
cents; gloves, real kid, at SO cents" read
one OF these experts. A messenger is sent
at once to the firms own silk and glove
departments, and a clever employe from
each is despatched to investigate the grade
ana quality of the 98 and 50 cent silk and
gloves, wherever the sale is.
"A pair of good kid gloves" the glove
scout asks for, when he reaches the rival
counter.
Something at $1.50?" is the inouidv. as
a box is taken down for her inspection.
Here is hand glass. Now, seei Why ii
couldn tit you better if it had been made
for you
Il don't fancy it," is the decision. LET
me try that half-ftting one with the
blocked-out collar"
These coats are all really a bargain .
says the saleswoman as she tucks in the
shoppers dress sleeves for the fourth time
1t true, they are not silk lined but
the inside finish is neat, and they are a
good cut. Shall 1 send this one. 1t is a
perfect fit?"
ooh! 1t fits well enough. The sleeves
draw little about the elbow
We will alter any little fault like that
free of charge" puts in the saleswoman,
eagerly.
But there is flaw in the material right
on the shoulder, where it will show most"
objects the customer.
Another coat is tried on with no better
success, still another, and eventually the
customer goes away unsuited.
You didn't make a sale?" the forewo-
man inquired as her best saleswoman
picks up the discarded coats and puts them
back in place.
mo, and nobody could sell to her." is
the answer. shes spotter Two of
those coats she tried on fit like wax. She
just wanted to see the exact quality of
make We were putting up at SS.9S so as to
tell her employers"
It's a pleasure to wait on Mrs. Den
yer. She has such nice taste and talks
so intelligently about the goods remarks
the clerk who has just escorted an ele-
gant-lool1ing woman to the elevator
did she buy that handsome rug?" one
of the other statesmen asks.
mo. She's afraid to risk taking 1t IN
til she sees again the draperies that she
has picked out for the room she's fitting
''You advertised gloves at SO cents, show
me those"
"They are all solo, is the answer.
"Just a fake SALE" the glove scout re-
ports at headquarters. "All sold before
II o'clock. They never had them at all.
II thought that firm was above such
tricks for attracting trade" is the COM
ment, and the knowledge gained on that
4score is slowed away for future benefit
1t is possible that the professional shop
per who examines the rival line of silks
bought and brought away with her a dress
pattern of the 9S-cent quality, and pro-
duced it for inspection in the consulting
room of her manager. The same espoin-
age is pursued in all lines of goods, from
bath robes to stationery, kitchen utensils
laces, bric-a-brac, and underwear
How much is a professional shopper of
this description paid?" the department
store authority was asked
''The salary depends upon the tact and
judgment of the employee" is the answer.
twenty-five dollars week would be the
salary of a woman who understood her
business, even $50 if the woman had social
prestige, and was distinguished enough in
appearance to insure unusual attention
from the shop people. In a certain city
there is society woman who supplements
her slender resources considerably by
keeping track of the various trade move
ments in the reputable stores. She has
done this for years. There stores have no
special stales, but it is desirable to know
how they are selling their goods. Her So
cial acquaintance have no idea that she
has an occupation.
"A woman who has always lived and
dressed extensively and who has associ-
ated with people who live well is a better
| judge Of fine things for personal wear
and house decoration than is the best
| trained expert, no matter how faithful a
worker the expert may be- The society
woman's ideas and interests have center
| ed in luxury and sumptuous things all her
| life. She knows all the little ms and outs
and has an instinct for values. She is
| the woman VINO loves to shop loves to
| see and examine pretty things, and to
! fancy that she is making them her own.
! Such a woman is plentfully supplied with
money by the firm employing her, and she
| need never go personally to the Office of
the manager if she wished not to do so.
| All business is transacted by letter. or the
| manager calls on her.
Eyes, I'll take that vase at 49, The
| work on ii is so good it looks to be worth
more this kind of shopper will say. Have
! it sent to 80 West Blank street The vase
is sent to 80 Blank street, but in due time
| it is transferred to the rival house to be
examined by the rival business manager.
Yes, I see now he says. how Alcott
could sell those goods at such a low fig
ure, and it would be well to advise Mrs.
Brown, the first chance she gets, to send
some report of Oilout & Lindheim's furs.
! Let her buy cape and muff, and not feel
| stinted in the price
| 'Ollout & Lindheim's clerks made haste
to show their costliest and choicest goods
! to Mrs. Brown, who shops in her carriage,
! and who, from the top of her head 10 the
! toe of her boot, is the impersonation OF
quiet elegance. Tho attendants are all
| obsequousness. The furs delivered al her
residence are not there long. They follow
! the SO vase, with It's Dresden sherherd-