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

W SouliCi ItpOIIclS wiz HCihC ClS
incoming daily trains, which brought
car load after car load of people here
on Friday, Saturday and Monday.
This is a step in the right direction
and Ottumwa merchants can yet in.
crease their trade radius by effective
advertising, along the lines of that
done the past year.
Courier reporters this morning in
terviewed a number of Ottumwa's
merchants as to their holiday bust
ness and the replies are cause for con-
graduation. Here they are:
J. E. Scase Co.
We have had no time to make a
comparison of our business this
Christmas and last, but are sure that
last Saturdays trade was larger than
that of the corresponding day last
year. Our business, both during the
holidays and during the present year,
has been highly satisfactory, despite
the added competition in the city.
Our Christmas sales were very large
and our stock OF Christmas goods was
nearly exhausted. This is very salts
factory to us. On the whole, our bus
mess has been very large and no COM
plant can be made of it.
People took much interest in the
Courier's contest, as was shown by
the number of calls we had for cou-
pons. 1t would often happen that peo-
pie would make their purchases and
leave the store, then come back for
their coupons. Don't know how many
were given, as we did not try to keep
count of them, owing to our large bust
ness.
r. S. Field.
Our holiday business has been
far beyond our expectations.
1t has been about double that
of last year, and it was a
larger business than we have ever
done in the same length of time. Our
business has been steadily on the in
crease for the entire year, and, altho
November was a little "off" the year
1900 has been the best one we have
had since we have been in business.
AS an illustration of the size of our
holiday trade there might be cited the
fact that last Saturday one man in the
store sold more than was sold by the
entire force of clerks on the cores
ponding day last year. Our trade has
time to pay much attention to the Cou-
when they were asked for. The num-
large, and showed that the people read
the advertisements and were interest
ed in the contest. One of the greatest
illustrations of this fact, however, was
the calling for articles which we had
cd inc aaI ~; f,'
ed Rogers silverware among other
larger this year than ever before. MI
merous little articles we advertised,
such as pocket eases containing comb
cause they were advertised in the Cou-
rier," and we could not but be pleased
with our business and the result of
ing the past few months has been
more systematic than ever before, and
we see the wisdom of such course
when we compare our business this
year with that of last.
Wyman-Rand-ker Co.
Our Christmas trade has been high
ly satisfactory We did double the
holiday business this year that we did
last; and had so much to deliver that
the last wagon load was not delivered
until o'clock yesterday afternoon,
despite the fact that we had three and
part of the time four wagons. We have
been in business, six years and the
year just closing has been the best
that we have had since going into bus
mess. We are highly satisfied with
the holiday trade we have experienced,
and consider it fit climax to the mag
nificent year.
Our sales before Monday were very
large, being on heavy furniture large
ly. The holiday trade began about
two weeks ago and continued until
Monday night, but on Monday, altho
the sales were many, the furniture
sold was nearly all light, such as
chairs and small tables.
We had several calls for Courier
coupons and are satisfied that the peo-
pie read the advertisements and took
an interest in the contest. AS a proof
that the advertisements are read how
ever, there can be nothing better than
a glance at our two Morris chairs,
which are the only ones left out of fif-
ty. We advertised them extensively
in the Courier, and people bought
them accordingly. There are only two
left, and these would have been sold
had they been of a different color.
Ed. Poland.
Last Saturdays and Mondays bust
ness was far ahead of that of last
year. If the weather had been cold with
snow upon the ground as it is today,
we would have done the largest bust
ness in our history. AS it was trade
was heavy and very satisfactory, and
it will run far ahead of that of last
year. Monday was an especially heavy
day, and think it was by far the larg-
est of the year.
Our business for the year of 1900
will be heavier than that of 1899 but
am unable to state yet just how far
ahead it will run. We distributed
quite large number of Courier cou-
pons, but the class of customers with
whom we deal did not as rule call
for them as extensively as at dry
goods and other stores, where pur-
chases were smaller.
j. w. Neasham.
am well pleased with my Christ
mas trade. 1t was in fact, the largest
that boya bod of tbic Soc0n in tho