Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-14
Phillips Big Store Has Overcome
All Obstacles.
INVOICE SHOWS PROFITABLE TRADE
Mr.. Phillips Announces That the Ma
jority of the Departments have Paid
WeIl-somethins of the Man Who
Has Brought This About

Ottumya people, especially those
who have the welfare of the town at
heart and believe in seeing others sue
coed, will read With pleasure the an
nouncement that j. A. Phillips pro-
prietor of Phillips Big Store, has just
completed his first invoice since open
ing and finds that twenty-five of the
thirty departments in the store have
made money, which means that the
store has been a success. Mr.. Phillips
says that the losing departments will
be put on a paying basis at once
When Mr.. Phillips first began his
plans for his new store, many people
were skeptical-believed that Ottum-
wa was not large enough to support a
department store such as are located
in all cities. But those people better
acquainted with Mr. Phillips, those
who have lived in Ottumwa for years
and have Lad occasion to note his pro-
gress from small merchant, have
watched him climb over almost insur-
mountable obstacles, who know bis
bulldog determination, his wonderful
business ability and his capacity for
work know that with such man
failure is almost impossible.
A keen-eyed visitor to the store
will note the following little maxim
pasted in Mr.. Phillips desk: THE
longer | live the more certain I am
that the great difference between men,
between the feeble and the powerful,
the great and the insignificant, is en-
ergy-invincible determination "a
purpose once fixed and Their death OF
victory. This quality will do anything
that can be done in the world, and no
talents, no circumstances, no oppor.
tunities will make a two legged crea-
ture a man without it.'-Thomas
F. Buxton.
In answer to our inquiry Mr.. Phil
lips stated that this little maxim of
Buxton's has been his guiding star
That many times when success seem
ed impossible he has read over again
these lines, worked with renewed Ell
ergy and succeeded. AS a business
man Mr.. Phillips is credit to the city
Of Ottumwa and that his department
store venture has proven success
will be good news to all.
There are many advantages pos
sessed by the Big Store that enable
Mr.. Phillips to make the close prices
that have been the principal reason
for the success Of the venture. A rail
road track running right up to the
door has made saving of hundreds
of dollars on drayage in year. Its
two elevators, it's five floors of desir-
able merchandise, it's army of oblig-
ing clerks, it's waiting, rest, music,
writing and lunch rooms, all arranged
for the convenience of it's patrons, are
other elements that have made the
store popular. Mr.. Phillips, by in
structing his clerks not to urge sales,
has made the people feel at home.
Town people come and go at will, far
mers and people from the surround
ing towns make it their headquarters
and usually go direct to the Big Store.
ifhus in five short months Mr.. Phillips
has overcome prejudice and made his
store popular Fashionable people
trade there because it carries the lat
est novelties; the laboring people
trade the not only because they buy
cheaper, but because they get the
same attention as the rich. The far
mer trades there because he likes The
honest, one priced method of doing
business, he likes to trade where
goods are marked in plain figures, and
where he can buy his clothing or
shoes while his wife is buying her dry
goods, and where china, carpets, fur
niture and stoves can be bought under
the same roof, where he can drive ND
to the front door, back door or side
door, as he prefers, have his things
packed in his wagon or carriage, and
not have to drive all over town pick
ing up bundle here and package
there. He also appreciates the lunch
and waiting rooms where the women
folks can. rest while he transacts his
business about town.
Altogether, the store is credit to
Ottumwa and the fact that it has prov.
en- a success speaks well for the peo.
pie.