The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-15
THIS is THE BARGAIN SEASON.
NOW WOHAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL
CRAZE FILLS THE STORES.
And the WHY Dry Goods Man Has Wiped
out the Dull Period Women VINO Buy
What They Don't Want Rush for
the Bargain Tables spring Fabrics

what They Don't Raat-Rush for
the Bargain Tables Sprin. Fabrics.
There is something abnormal about a
woman WI 0 is indifferent TO a bargain. =
remarke. the proprietor Of q well known
department store. He said this with great
satisfaction. and there was good reason
for It.
Downstairs was a throng Of customers,
out apparently to buy. At time Of year
when many persons women particularly
find their pocket books as Hat as buckwheat
cakes, this particular store. like almost
every other in the central shopping district
in Manhattan. was doing almost as brisk
a business and taking in very nearly az much
cash as just rethe holidays.
To the unenligbtened this very apparent
prosperity was puz1ling.
The same sight would have been,
suppose, quito remarkable IA dozen years
ago. assented the satisfied proprietor.
january crowds In tho stores are compare
tFely recent manifestation in the retail
DIR, goods business, and almost peculiar
TO lis country and moro noticeable in New
lorl perhaps than In any other city OF
AMERICA.
lht retail dry goods mans motto in
these dSs is something doing all the time,
and as ameans to an end our frat aim IL
70 Keep ia feminine shopping public busy.
once upons time we used to sit down and
take a rest after Christmas A lot OF the
regular help was discharged until perhaps
March ]. WIN the spring trade began.
and lnconseqtsnce about Jan. employees
used to go aropd with melancholy air.
not knowing Jus where the Ratchet would
drop There weA often good many sur
prises in that line which couldn't very well
be helped.
In those days oily an occasional Gus
toner struggled in trough the month Of
January Walk into almost any store
week or two after TIN holidays and the
few salespeoplo in sigh, we're busy taking
stock and acted as IL they didn't caro- about
being disturbed. The stre itself had II
sort Of cleaned up and pu away air that
gave one a lonesome feeling
Well. all that has been chg ged. and the
change ia due 10 the fact tht New York
merchants sell their goods at uch q close
margin OF profit that they cart afford
duh season any more 1t doen't pay.
pretty nearly as crowded after Christmas
az they were before. and our in'ome is
almost IA big in January a. in any other
month Of the year.
The secret Of it7
well it is in one word bar gains. nere
are other drawing cards, but the bgget is
bargains.
Il found out long ago that the gambling
instinct j. stronger II anything in woma,
than IN man. have known women who
would walk seventeen blocks to get some
thing for nothing-a triaing catch price
say, worth perhaps or 10 cents-snd other
women who are wealthy and yet come
hustling IN here just ns keen about taking
advantage Of marked down sale as the
poorest There il something abnormal
about woman who is Indifferent TO a
bargain.
u don't care where they live whether
in the CITY or the suburbs. or in what circle
Of society they move, or what the state Of
their finances may be. Details Of that
sort are Of no consequence. When il comes
Ia a question Of capturing a bargain. that
is when that gambling instinct ! men
toned Ia at work, women are As much alike
as peas Ia a pod In the main. that ia why
our business is so lusty during January
We now consider the month Of January
the biggest bargain season OF the year,
said the manager of a store which needs
about 600 employees to run H. The
reason why so many people choose this
time TO come tlOcking in u probably be-
cause many persons get money present at
Christmas and have extra cash 10 spend,
also because women have caught Oh to
the January bargain sales and deliberately
wait for them.
Real bargains Well should ray so--
real bargains in every department Few
Of the New York retail stores care 10 carry
over stock especially "A stock of ready made
garments, millinery, &c from one season
to another, and sD we clear IL ont az re-
duction arranging OF course "A SPECIAL
td-bii a. It were, for every day IN the
week. along with other less taking specials.
il doesn't seem TO matter much what the
td-hit Is provided the price l. dropped low
enough
For instance / recollect day when we
arranged on the main iioor bargain coun-
ter piled with some sort Of complexion
cream marked at Just one-third it, usual
price The crush which resulted surprised
even me- and | am not easily surprised
Women. who ! am almost sure, had never
used the stun before, and probably never
would again once that particular box was
gone, tTled 10 walk over tdtu bkUtT 10 reach
the counter and FOR no better reason.
am confident. than that they were getting
AN out and out bargain
We lost money on the sale Of complex
ion cream but that loss was more than
made up ON the other piles Of goods we sold
that Jag all over the store at regular prices
A a rule. let the average woman get into
an attractive store, and she doesn't stop
spending "a long a. her money holds out:
aud at this season 90 per cent. Of our shop
per- are women"
In one Of the Sixth avenue department
stores is a woman shopping guide Of many
years experience who has seen big change
In the January methods of doing business
since she first went to work She says
enphancally that the oldtime midwinter
dun seaEon has gone never 10 como back.
Like some others, she regrets little ts
going.
IT. at dun season. she admitted. was
a bit hard maybe on employees who were
laid of. but for the rest OF Us who kept our
places the year around it was very welcome
We got a chance then at least 10 draw few
lazy brcaths and dawdle a bit There IL no
dawdliug any more. though
e. doubtif we have done a bigger business
any day this winter than was done yester-
day was positively amazed at the num-
Der Of customers on every floor Ii is not
by any means the poorer folks who make the
mot Of the January sales Women who
can order linen sheets by the dozen and
have a monogram embroidered on them
are among tho most eager buyers at the
kafg