Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-01-01
ALMA MERCHANTS
WELL SATISFIED
The Holiday Business Was Large.
Iy in Excess of Former Years
as a Rule.
NO BIG DAYS BUT
A CONTINUOUS TRADE
Christmas Shoppers Gave Early Buy
ing Plan Satisfactory Trial
This Year.

Contrary to the expectations OF our
merchants early in the week before
Christmas, the trade this year was in
excess by far OF former years. Instead
of one or two big days at the last it
was steady stream of eager purchasers
who did their buying early and left the
goods for delivery At the end Of the
week the merchants figured up their
sales and found that as rule they had
sold much more than last year, in many
cases more than double, although it was
handled easier and without the custom
cry rush.
AT the postoffice, the business was ex-
ceedingly large. especially during the
last two days previous to Christmas.
The force of clerks were kept on the
jump from early morning until late at
night. The registery business was also
greater than ever before. Some idea of
the Christmas business at the American
express Office can be obtained from
ceived and sent out from Alma. Agent
Brown informs The Record that there
were total OF $50 packages sent out
during the four days preceding Christ
mas and during that time 543 packages
were received. These figures were taken
from book in the office and are authen-
tic.
In order TO form some estimate of the
general business during the week, a
representative of The Record visited
each place in town, whose business
would be at all affected by the holiday
trade and without their knowledge that
the information was to be used, each
proprietor or manager in charge gave
the answers as quoted below. 1t is
plain to be seen that those who enjoyed
the best patronage were the ones who
made especial effort to cater to the
holiday trade and let the people know
Of the fact through The Record. In the
following order the business places were
visited and their answers to the same
vuestions regarding the extent of their
business are given in their own words:
Messenger & Co. Every good. Well
satisfied in every way"
f. E. Pollasky: About 20 per cent.
in excess Of former years. Ny entire
fall trade has been good"
o. G. Rhodes my trade was good.
l am we'll pleased in every way. 1t
averaged up better than in former years,
although there were no big days"
+. J. Siedler: my business was good
and am well satisfied, although think
should have carried larger ad. In The
Record"
b. w. Ellison "Our trade was extra
ordinarily good. l think it was ahead
of last year, although buyers began
early and left orders for delivery"
Gaffney & Emmer: I'VE had fine
trade on fancy boxes of cigars, tobaccos
and fine pipes. We did more business
than we anticipated"
w. T. Davis: my trade was as good
as could be expected"
]. w. Dean: II belieue we had the
best trade we ever did. l know we
cleaned out large portion Of our stock
and will have TO buy new at once"
Mrs. f. A. Bivins: my trade was
very good Much better than last year."
j. s. Caple a. Son: 1--WE did O very
fair business. Satisfactory in every
way"
w. Webb: "Our business this year
was about the same as last, although
our bakery trade was larger"
Sharrar & Mulholland "Our trade
was about the same as last year, IL any
thing, better. We had larger stock
than usual and longer and steadier
trade. We are we'll pleased
The Hayt 81 Pierce Co.: 1--WE think
we had a much better trade than last
year. We sold lot Of goods"
II. J. Vermeulen: "Our trade was
good as compared with last year and
much better. More people bought goods
on cash basis"
Mrs. w. t. Davies: my trade was
very good"
g. b. Porter: "very good. More than
double that Of last year"
+. A. Bivins: Il had q good trade
Much better than / expected"
@. III. Decker: "My trade has been
extra good during the entire month.
Smith & Glass: BEST we ever had.
Probably double that OF former years.
We sold more useful articles this year
than usual. We sold four Majestic
steel ranges for Christmas presents,
right on top of our exhibition sale. We
wish Christmas would come about four
! times year."
McCleur & Metzger: "Our trade was