Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-27

| McElroyS all of last week in order to
keep them as close to the store as pos
| sible and to wait upon our customers
as fast as they desired.
One thing that is very noticeable
this year is the fact that people are
buying a much better grade of goods
than usual and are willing to pay a
better price. This fact also helped
make the sales larger than usual We
bought an extra heavy stock for the
Christmas trade and were very agree
ably surprised to find we closed it
completely out. The volume of sales
was much heavier than heretofore.
For the year of 1900 as compared with
1899 our business is far ahead both in
dry goods and in shoes.
We gave out 1900 Courier coupons
and we have every reason to believe
that every cent we have invested in
Courier advertising was we'll spent.
Hub Clothing Co.
Our business during the whole Of
the past year has been steadily on the
increase, and we are completely salts
fed with the showing we have made.
Our holiday trade was extremely good,
and is ahead of any holiday record we
had previously made. Every month
has been an increase over the previous
one. and December will make fine
ending for a roseprous year.
Hale Shoe Co.
During the past year the increase
in our business has been very notice
able and entirely satisfactory. There
was not month in that time that
did not surpass any previous CORES
ponding month. The trade has been
steadily on the increase all the time.
and altho the pleasant weather we
have had in December makes the shoe
trade small. December will make a
good showing. AS a matter of course,
there is little of what may be called
holiday trade in the shoe business.
but the increase in business in other
places could not help but bring an in
crease in this line, and the Christmas
season was very satisfactory.
Pierce Studio.
An examination of the books show
that our business in the last few
months has been double that of the
corresponding time last year. and we
are decidedly satisfied with the bust
ness we have had, including the
Christmas trade, which was very
heavy. The holiday trade this year
was the heaviest that this concern has
enjoyed for at least four years, and is
not decreasing now, altho Christmas
is past. We are satisfied that we
have received full returns from our
advertising in the Courier.
John Fleming.
Trade was far better this year than
it was last year, and especially was
the Christmas trade good. attribute
it to the fact that people are buying
better goods now than they ever did
before, and to the further fact that
conditions are better than they have
been for several years. / advertised
well, and am cetrain that the result
was shown in my excellent holiday
trade. think that if we had had
more snow Saturday the trade
would have been even better; but /
have no cause for complaint. Courier
coupons were frequently called for by
purchasers.
J. X. Dysart.
l had better holiday business this
year, by one-third, than ever before.
think that the present existing con-
ditions, the prosperity that prevails,
and SO on, together with the fact that
people have some money to spend and
that they are willing to spend it, is
accountable for the fine trade that
merchants had and are having this
winter. do not attribute everything
to advertising, but do say that if
had not advertised I would not
have had nearly SO large business.
j. B. Sax.
| / had an unusually large holiday
trade this season. It commenced as
early as December 1, and for weeks
before Christmas customers called
selected and paid for articles which
they had laid away for delivery on the
oath. The trade we had the six OF
seven days before Christmas was ex
EXCEPTIONALLY heavy-in fact the largest
we have ever had. Saturday before
Christmas, even with an increased
force of statesmen, we found that we
could not wait on more than two-thirds
of those who called, and on Monday
fully one-half went away, being I'M
able to receive any attention at all
Naturally, I attribute the large trade
due in great measure to the excel
lent quality of goods / always carry
and to my prices; think also that
judicious advertising had great dea
to do with the large trade which en-
ioyed, and in fact which | always have
One evidence that had to the effect
that my ads in the Courier were read
was that / received numerous calls
for Courier coupons.
l CA,ei< C%nJ;a
Our holiday business has been ex
ceedingly heavy, and entirely satisfac
tory. Even since Christmas trade has
not fallen off, as we anticipated il
would. The business for the veal
1900 will undoubtedly make a yer,
good showing, better than fer some
time. We can say that the advertis
ing we have done in the Courier has
been thoroly satisfactory and we have
received ample returns from it. Oul
business is very good and is steadil!
increasing.
The new Baptist church at Bedford
was dedicated Sunday.
THE MARKETS.