The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-22
ALL STORES DO
A Big BUSINESS
HOLIDAY TRADE MUCH AHEAD
OF LAST YEAR.
Good Fall Of Snow Would Have In
creased Sales, but in Most Depart
ments Sales Have Been 20 to so Per
Cent Better Than Last Season. il

Five inches Of snow would have
been worth 81, 1000 more a. day to us,'
said a retail merchant this morning,
but our business has been better than
last year. - @g=z z.-
Without deep snow impetus to Holt
theless. smiling with pleasure over this
years business. Those interviewed to-
day show results ahead of last year
thus far in the week, with good esti-
mate for the two remaining days and
tonight. ..... & 49,. 49,
One source Of satisfaction to the
storekeepers is the fact that this is
new idea and somewhat unaccountable.
Leap year has placed Christmas two
days ahead of last year, bringing the
holiday on Sunday. This has given two
days more in hesweek for shopping,
and consequently two days for addi-
tional sales. ','.%
Hodsy shG3 5Sga4n , saT ge this
ord-because of the solicitations of the
shopkeepers thru the newspapers ur-
cling that, for the sake of their own
convenience and ease and for the good
of the clerks, Christmas buyers begin
early. The fact that better service
could be given and that an unbroken
stock Of goods could be found on the
very early. s...s q:
Want Better Goods.
Besides the early advent of the
Christmas shopper, other points of in
terest in the trend of the trade have
been observed by those who watch it
closely. Better. goods are being bought
this year. Shoppers are more liberal
in their purchases and more discrim-
mating as to the quality Of goods.
Lines on which dealers, from former
have been swept clean, and in certain
articles stocks have been replenished
two or three times. Another interest
ing point is the RELOCATION Of gew-gaw
articles to the past. The useful arti-
cles which have a touch Of the unique,
or which are at least a bit unusual,
are being sought. up
Stocks have been 50 we'll laid in this
year that early buying has not put the
late barrgainers at great disadvantage
as to choice. 1t is a little harder to
get around to the different departments
in end -the-week buying, owing to the
crowds in the aisles, but there is still
fine opportunity to get the best of the
market. .:4.
No discrimination is shown by the
shoppers this year as to stores. All
classes are getting their share of bust
ness, from the department. store to the
shops which carry only special goods.
49, All Getting Share.
Dry goods stores, handkerchief shops
and those in which lace or silks only
are shown, jewelry stores, stationery
stores, women haberdasheries, or the
cloak and gown houses, the millinery
shops, mems furnishing shops and the
stores devoted to the more sober bust
ness of clothing man, woman and child
from head to foot, ARE all patronized
heavily. The book shops. are having a
heavy run, and 8hatliTraa1ly the stores
which carry the, pleasing little knick
knacks that make acceptable holiday
time gifts are equally smiling Of coun
tenance at the unusual end Of the veal
trade. ... 4~.- i.
| Department and store managers re
port gains over last year running from
20 to SO per cent One Of the clothing
houses which makes a speciality o,
priced clothing, caps and simila
furnishings, shows an estimated in
crease of so per cent =
With still twoTdayso and three night
of shopping, thei prospect to the retai
dealer is glowing-a christmas gift
from Prosperity to the business men O
Minneapolis. a .,