The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-06
REBATE PLANS SUCCESS
FIFTEEN THOUSAND PERSONS TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF 1T In 1902.
Merchants Association Also interest
Plant and Other Matters.

The Coliseum movement, now well under
way, is only one of several important public
movements which have originated with the
Merchants Association of Indianapolis.
The Association, now in its fifth year, is
composed of sixty-seven of the leading mer-
chants in this city. Everything calculated
to advance the interests of the city is in
cluded in the scope of its work. 1t not
only originates ways and means TO bring
trade to the city, but it lends hand in
every movement that is designed to make
Indianapolis a more attractive place in
which to live.
A short time after its organization the
association devised a plan for drawing
more retail trade to the indianapolis
stores, The plan is the well known one of
refunding railroad fares TO persons who
come TO Indianapolis and purchase SIS
worth of merchandise from stores holding
membership in the Association. Persons
living within forty miles of Indianapolis
may have their round trip fares refunded,
and persons living at a greater distance
may have their fares refunded for forty
miles going and coming. lnterurban pas
sengers are refunded entire fare for entire
distance travelled. In addition one per cent
rebate is allowed all purchase in excess
OF S25. Shoppers may buy all their mer-
chandlSe from one member OF the ASsOcia-
ton or from all combined.
The result of this plan, as shown by John
L. Saulter, business manager of the as
ISOLATION. is already far reaching. In round
numbers, 1900 persons took advantage of
the rebate plan in 1912, spending at low
estimate over $600.000 This is an increase
of GA per cent over the year 1901. There
is every indication that 1903 will see almost
as large an increase. for systematic adver-
Using, new interurban roaos. and the grow
ra n O
in favor of the plan. Manager Saulter 5
books show that people as tar away as
Buffalo, n. Y, Springfield, o., and Burling-
ton, Ia, have taken advantage of the re-
bate. OF course, these We're persons who
came to Indianapolis for other than shop
ping purposes but the local merchants Sc
cured their trade as the result Of the re-
bate plan.
REBATE PLAN WORKS WELL.
In Indiana the rebate system has brought
trade from cities and towns that formerly
patronized the stores in Chicago, Cincinnati,
Louisville and St. Louis Five years ago
the well-to-do people of Lafayette. a city
which has an unusual amount of wealth.
bought everything from fancy ices to seal
skin sacques on State street, Chicago. To-
day the larger share of the Lafayette trade
comes TO the big stores on Washington
street Practically the same thing can be
said of a score OF other cities There are
now, indeed, few towns in Indiana which
are not represented on the books of the
Merchants Association.
1t is pointed out that there are few pros
porous families in the State who have not
relatives, friends or business interests in
Indianapolis. Persons coming here to shop
can nearly always combine business with
pleasure. Friends can be seen, business
transacted, purchases made and the visitor
can return home all at more expense
than If he had made his purchases on the
inevitable Main street In fact the Mer-
chants Association believes that its rebate
plan is such an attractive proposition that
its use has only begun. When ten electric
roads connect Indianapolis with every i'm
portant city in the State man who will
buy SIS worth of merchandise can travel
lO0 miles at the expense of the Association.
Not only is the rebate plan a benefit to
the merchants behind 1t, Mr.. Saulter says,
but nearly every line of trade receives some
benefit from the people 1t brings to the
city. The theaters are patronized by the
shoppers, and in return the notable attrac-
tons at the theaters help draw trade. 1t
is said that the three weeks run of Ben
Hur. coming just before Christmas.
brought one of the best shopping crowds
that ever visited the city.
ANOTHER INSTANCE.
The organization of the Merchants Heat,
Light and Power Company is another in
stance of the associations enterprise The
smoke nuisance was damaging the exterior
of stores and high-priced stocks were being
matter over at one of their monthly din
ners. AT a subsequent dinner plan tor the
organization of the heat, light and power
company was submitted and the capital
stock-$30O, 0OO-was subscribed in less than
one hour. The construction of the plant
was begun last August and heat is now be-
ing furnished to subscribers. The plant is
generally acknowledged to be one that any
city might be proud of.
The monthly dinners of the Merchants
Association bring together men who are
rivals In business but who are all working
for the advancement of the city. While
the menu is being discussed business is put
aside and the spirit of good-fellowship pre-
walls. With the lighting of cigars the dis
cussion of municipal and trade affairs is ir,
order Clean streets, boulevards, the army
post the coliseum and scores of other sub
jects given attention. The heart of tse
merchants is now in the coliseum project,
and among those who are familiar with the
work of the association there is no doubt
that coliseum will be built.
Perhaps the best evidence of the success
of the Merchants Association Is the fact
that its plan of organization is constantly
being followed in other cities, but men who
have watched the association say that its
success is due not much to its plan of or
ganization TO the enterprise and public
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