New-York tribune., 1901-01-06
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.
LESSONS THAT MAY BE LEARNED BY
THE YOUNG MEN OF TO-DAY FROM
EXPERIENCE OE OTHERS

Possibly the success of no individual move
ment in the retail development of the retail trade
OF this country has been so rapid or so unique as
the growth and progress of the and 10 cent
stores The tale of success of this commercial
enterprise has in it bit of encouragement for
the humblest beginner 1t bears a lesson that
may be learned by the young men of to-day
from experience of others. F. w. Woolworth,
whose . and 10 cent stores strung all over
the Eastern seaboard, began in 1879 without
enough to pay his months rent. and the rent was
only $50. To-day he has sixty stores in the
territory east of Pittsburg. Naturally Mr.. Wool
worth thinks there is just good a chance to-
day there ever was for the man who is con-
tent to begin at the bottom He began without
any more exalted aim than to make a simple
living. without any thought of making fortune
But MIR. Wooworth is not given to generaliza-
tions. His version of just how he did it is in
structive, however. 1T was about twenty-three
years ago that the idea had its inception Of
establishing stores where nothing should be
sold exceeding in cost of 10 cents. These stores
have assumed an Importance and the mag
nitude of great commercial industry whose
conduct involves the expenditure of millions of
dollars annually"
In the old building erected by the great mer-
chant prince. A T. Stewart at Broadway and
Chambers-st., New-York City. a capacious suit
of offices is occupied the headquarters of the
Woolworth stores. From his private Office here
Mr.. Woolworth keeps his hand upon the pulse OF
the large commercial fabric he has reared With
| the telephone he talks with the managers of
his sixty stores whenever occasion requires,
hears their verbal reports and gives orders for
their guidance He employs a local manager,
| who is responsible to him for the conduct of
each store; one man who does nothing but look
after the fixtures of the various properties, an
| inspector who keeps constantly on the move
and arrives when least expected and six buyers.
two of whom operate entirely abroad, besides a
large force of office employees.
HUGE FOREIGN PURCHASES.
Mr. woolworth himself goes abroad on busl-
ness every year, and so large is the bulk OF the
| engagements he makes there that the population
of several German towns are entirely employed
in filling his orders and when these are given
and the price is named they know where their
bread and butter is coming from for the next
year. These large purchases direct from the
manufacturers go far 70 explain the large value
| received by the purchasers of the Woolworth
goods. Cash is paid and there is no middle
mans profit to be added to the price the buyer
must pay. An approximate notion of the hulk
of the business may be gathered from the state
ment that Mr.. Woolworth imports larger tom
mage of toys and tree ornaments than all other
United States buyers put together over one
half Of the product of the world.
When the newest of the woOlworth stores was
opened June 80 1900 in East Fourteenth street
no less than $4,000 people entered this huge
building during the day. So great vas the crush
that. jammed beneath the maroon and gold sign
that distinguishes all the woolworth stores
and which many rivals have copied. several
women tainted. while many others found re-