The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-01
OUR MERCHANTS REPORT DECIDED
IMPROVEMENTS OVER 1897.
HOLIDAY TRADE VEaY BRISK
General Expression That the Fnst
Year Was Decidedly che best I'm
the Last Fonr-rhe Outlook for
1899 Very Encouraging.

ception they report larger sales than IN
either 1886 or 1897, and 90 not hesitate 70
say that the profit sheet on their registers
has larger figures for 1898 than in any
one Of the three preceding years.
The Dispatch Is in position 20 make
this assertion after one Of its reporters
has made careful canvass OF the retail
stores Of the city and had interviews with
the proprietors. Conservative estimates
as to the business done in 1898 were
sought and obtained. and those fully
Justify the claim here made.
WITH THE LARGER STORES
without exception. the proprietors Of
the department and dry-goods stores,
in which every citizen Of Rich
mond should feel pride because no
city OF its size IN all the coun-
try can boast OF moro complete es-
adjustments of the kind. reported that
they had an exceptionally good year.
one OF the most CONSPICUOUS figures in
the local mercantile world said:
1--WE have had a most satisfactory holi-
day trade. In fact business has been
good all the year. The volume Of busl-
ness has certainly been much larger than
for a number OF years. Regarding hoil-
day buying. we found that useful pres
ents wer more in demand than ever be-
fore II has been noticed for several
years that the demand for toys WAS be-
coming smaller and smaller every year,
and We have been reducing our pur-
chases accordingly, and putting tae
money In useful presents. Nowadays the
toys we sell are mostly OF American
make, when IT has not been 10 many
years since most all the toys came frcm
across the ocean. There are various
reasons for this, none of which would be
OF interest TO your readers, except the
hon e-made toy is more substantial.
observed a tendency 10 buy a cheaper
grade Of goods However, this did not
affect our treasury. a. our sales OF
single article were larger than heretofore.
Where we sold q few articles at
higher price q year ago We sold number
this year at a smaller profit. and in con-
sequence made az much money as we did
I'm 1897. IL not more. Greater oBslaughts
were made on our stock during the holt
day-buyng season just ended than ever
before, and our stock Is smaller, thou
we had made larger purchases anuci-
pating/ big business. On tho whole
we have had a grand business year
Markell1.St StlN one o. AAt ti"hA'N-
tors OF another big store, is The word
that expresses the business We have done
I'm 1898. We made no mistake in prcpar-
ing for the biggest holiday trade in the
history of our nrm. We ara encouraged
10 make even greater efforts for 1899. All
through the year business Was exception
ally hne."
THEY BUY HERE NOW.
For veors the proprietors Of the big
stores have made tho cOmf2int that
considerable portion oe the local retail
trade had como to New York. a numoer
of ladies'. who have the almighty dollar
In abundance. have labored under the de-
fusion that they could make better sclec-
tons In New York than they could right
here al home. and o. the same time save
money enough 10 pay railroad fare TO and
from New York and hotel bin. fnese
ladies' are beginning to find out that they
can have all their wants better supplied
I'm Richmond and can save money BY
buying here. which Is just as much an
inducement 10 them a. TO the lady with
out money enough to think of undertake
ing q trip t0 New York. Prices are much
higher I'm New York than in the local
stores. In fact there IS scarcely am ar
ticle that cannot be bought at much less
price here, and the quality win be equal, Il
not superior 10 the same article displayed
I'm the marts Of Gotham A merchant
gave q reporter an Illustration OF this.
re said that on one occasion he Went TO
tre various department stores in New
York to buy piece OF lace for one Of
nis customers 4, was of kind that the
frm sold at 35 cents a yard. The lowest
price quoted In any OF the New York
stores was 80 cents and some had II mark
ed as high as T. cents.
The consensus o. opinion among the
merchants was that there was more
money in circulation during the recent
Christmas-buying season than for years
Those merchants who 10 largely a credit
business said the 'lcctions We're bet
ter than they had In a leng time.
The local department and dry
goods stores, which would be credit
able to a city of twice, or even
are as follows The Cohen Company.
julius Meyers Sons. Kaufman 4 Co,
Temple, Pemberton Cordes & Co., Julius
Sycle & Son. rhalhimer Brothers, J. NJ
Fourqurean & Coz Miller &. Rhoads d.
& Il. Mitteldorfer. A. Hgtzlers sons, Jacob>
Levitt & Son. and Meyer Sycle
CLOTHING MEN JUBILANT.
The clothing firms and the mer-
chant tailors are jubilant over the
fall and holiday trade. The year 1891 had
IN store for them larger sales aud better
collections for those who do a credit bus-
ness than In the last three previous years.
The reporter interviewed o. H. Berry AZ
Co, Burk x CO., the GLOBE. j. r. Shep--
pard, Jacobs & Levy. A. Groantree. Nor
ton c. Stout, j. T. Ewig, X. Fisher & Son.
and others. From managers OF the sev-
eral houses he learned that great num-
bers of suits Of clothes and overcoats
were bought for Christnas-gifts. and on
the whole the men and boys Of Richmond
and vicinity were we3nng better clothes
than year ago. II larger sales IS a safe
criterion TO 90 by.
FURNITURE MEN HAPPY.
The furniture dealers are in high glee
over the business Improvement In lS3S.
Each firm visited by the reporter said
that business had been more than salts
factory, and that the holiday trade had
eXcelled that Of any preceding holiday
season in years. All OF these firms do d
considerable credit business, and the,
were able to report vast Improvement n
collections. The expressions resaPdine
the furniture trade were obtained frorr
Sydnor & Hunoley, Rothert & Co., ana
James w. Martin.
THE JEWELLERS PLEASED
The jewellers Of Richmond make as
handsome displays as are 20 be found Pr
much larger cities. For their enterprise
they reaped q handsome reward du.n
1888. and particularly during the holidht
season. Nowlan & Co.. c. Lunsden e
Son, the Bear Jewelry Company. u
buchanan, sahnke Brothers, ]. f. Alien
& Co., and William Tobaiu. Jr.. ali repor,
an excess OF business over 1897.
GOOD YEAR FOR THE SHOE MEN.
The welI-known shoe hrms-the c. L