Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-24


Novel Form of Shopping ON Commits
sion Operated I'm Philadelphia.
A woman in Philadelphia is making a
comfortable income Cor herself by a novel
phase of shopping on commission" As a
matter OF fact, she does no shopping Of any
kind herself. but she is registered at all the
hrst-class stores as a professional shopping
agent and gets 10 per cent commission ON
all goods purchased there in her name. She
began business in a modest way, having
saved $3.50, which she entered as security al
one department store as a start. Now her
business has grown to such proportions that
she has obtained credit at many shops and
will take no more patrons upon her list.
This list contains the names of women
drawing fair salaries in almost every pro-
fession and field OF endeavor open to the
business woman Of today. Each patron fur
nishes the agent with satisfactory references
as to her reliability, and is thereupon given
a list Of the stores at which the agent has
accounts and receives permission to buy
goods at any of these in the agents name
and charge them to her.
If a large article, such as a piece Of fur
niture. is bought the agent will accompany
the patron and arrange to have 1t sent at
once to its Anal destination. But ordinarily
the patron goes shopping any day abe wishes
and allows the packages to Dc sent to the
agents house, where she calls for them
later. The agent keeps strict account of
everything bought by each ~patron-when
and where purchased. At the end of each
month she pays up her bills at all the
stores promptly.
In the meantime her patrons are returning
her the money they owe in weekly INSTALL
ments varying from so cents to several dol
lars, according to the whole amount due. In
addition to this each patron pays the agent
10 per cent Of the amount advanced for her
in return for the accommodation. Thus the
agent makes 20 per cent-l0 from the store
at which II is procured and 10 from the
woman who ordered it. She does not. how
ever, lead an idle life, even though she does
no shopping for her money. At present her
list of patrons numbers 500 and this entails
such al amount of bookkeeping that she is
obliged to have the services Of an assistant
for the work.
The woman who would make a success
Of this credit system" the originator of
the scheme said in speaking Of her work,
must be one Of shrewd business ability,
no nerves and not too much heart. There
are a great many dishonest people in this
world. One soon learns that. In spite Of
the trouble l take TO assure myself Of the
reliability of every one I TAX upon my
list, not half of them pay up as they
should. There Is no end to the tricks
which even the women holding the most
responsible positions will play one. And
YOU rave 10 be on the alert and con-
stantly investigate. or they may lose their
positions and afterwards run up large
bills with you without mentioning the
fact. Then you have 20 call week after
week on some OF them to collect what is
owing you. When this happens once with
any patron, however, / promptly drop her
name from my list after collecting the
first amount due. Il doesn't pay to deal
with such people, no matter how many
customers one loses. There are always
plenty more to take their place. have
as many all the time as I can possibly ac-
commodate and dozens waiting.
1T Is a business which pays splendidly
II conducted on strictly business princi-
pies. On a bill amounting to S25 / ask IS
down, and the remaining $40, with the Sc
added as commission, is paid In weekly in
Of 81 each. So ain 20 per
cent ON the money advanced in eleven
weeks time. That Is at the rate Of IS
per cent on every dollar invested for the
-ear.
Last Christmas time l netted over
1000 have to limit all my patrons to
a certain amount during December or the
hiiis which the stores would send on jan
uary 1 would be more than / could stand
never allow my patron unlimited
credit at any time. regulate the maxi
mum amount for which one can draw
upon me according to her work OF posi-
lion.
The spring season. when the women
lay in their summer wardrobes. IL another
rush season with me. Indeed. l don't know