The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-04-23

1 aug mNhbvh VI utEVuuLlDk IUUub "
the buying public by demonstratior
has been universally adopted by lead
Ing manufacturers throughout the
world. Now prominent department
and grocery stores everywhere have
neat booths erected on their premises,
In which TO accommodate the expert
demonstrators sent out by the manu-
factursrs. Some of the big stores even
mention in their display ads the par
ticular foods demonstrated. One big
department store In California recent
ly laid particular stress In tneir dis
play announcements upon the free
pure food show" on the fourth floor
of their building. This announcement
was kept before the public for week
before the exhibit and during the en-
tire month this special demonstrators
show lasted. They had more than a
dozen booths on the floor of tne gro
Gerry department and conktantly new
foods were there TO be tasted free by
anybody who cared to come. The re-
suit was a great throng OF people daily
and a popularizlng OF the grocery de-
partment, uncqualled heretofore by any
other establishment on the coast.
600
In the columns Of an evening con-
temporary there appeared last Tues
day an article on Mail order Trading"
which may or may not have had u
baneful influence. us II Is apt to
lead some men 20 believe that their
troubles are caused solely by the mall
order business. while this is not really
the case. The mail-order system of
SHOPPING has come and come to stay,
and when our evening contemporary
says that 'In this city~the mail order
evil has abated. The stores are so
well supplied with new goo.ls. and the
prices are 30 reasonable. that nobody
gains by buying elsewhere" II has not
Wv bAA OiA ttt AtkllI nHgks
600
The mail-order evil has not only not
ibated. but instead the system is
bound 10 become a means OF doing |
business for many Of the local mer- |
'hanta Astoria firms can cater to
families. residing In in
erlor towns In this state. in Wash.
ngton and Idaho. The merchants nere
an buy as cheaply and to many places
hey have facilities for prompt ship
ing which are at least equal TO those
4 larger coast cities.
600
There are number of mail-order
ouses on the coast and many firms
re contemplating the opening Of such
department In connection with their
peal business, This Is matter whIca
'eal merchants must look squarely In
he face. You fight prairie fire by
Some OF the local mer-
hants will have to baek-fire. In order
, find. new ways of disposlng OF ad-
Itional stock. More stock they viii all
ave 10 carry every day. as business
lcreases. and consequently they must i
irn II over oftener, II their money IL 9
J earn money for them. Small profits
nd quick returns is the modern slog-
\ OF up-to-date firms
600
A young man in Chicago, III. started
1t few years ago with n roll-top
esk, several thousand copies OF a good :
zoe catalogue, bearing his name anJ
iice address. small credit al sew
'al wholesale shoe houses, and today
} conducts large mail order shoe
isiness, carries a big stock and has
zen making good money for the past
ar or two.
The magazines and farm journals
erywhere, also the weekly newspa-
RS carry mall-order advertisements
the farmer. etc. He finds It a con-
nient way to order goods and seldom
es first-class mail order house dis
point statements to the contrary not
thstandlng. Some of the large mag
ines would not accept advertising
,m any firm which does not, or by
rtue Of its financial standing CD,
mot guarantee to protect It's read
;. In other words, these advertisers
lst back up their advertisements OF
Ie the chance of advertising. Our so
'al merchants must back up their 70
as most of them do. and ~
* for more business besides. The os
Iil-order field here is ripe for the n,
lcklng By some enterprlsing firms. "a
e ad-man knows Of one line alone
lch ought to make a fortune for a,
ne man with pluck and some capital gs
back II up, Don't jecry the mall 70
Ter business. Rather go for your an
ire OF II. IN
" ~ sa
Experience, acquired or bought,
lnts for nearly everything nowadays 90
starting a mail order department. IN
3 average clerk is not capable of or ST,
lizlng the help for the work. nor oil
systematizing the books, literature. m,