The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-21
DOES A BIG BUSINESS
The New Acquisition Is Notable Among
Country's Great Firms.

The firm of Butler Brothers is one of
the largest if not the largest iobbers
of general merchandise in the United
States. It has three houses. The cen
trail house of the organization is in Chi
cago, where the firm was organized in
its present form, and there are
BRANCHES in New York city and
neapolis as the location for the: fourth
house marks the rise Of Minneapolis
as the acknowledged iobbing center
for the northwest. IT
The company has capitalization of
$4,500,000 and surplus of 100000
It's organization is most complete and
comprehensive. It's business is con-
Quoted on advanced lines, many of
which are original with the Butler
Brothers company. One reason of it's
remarkable success is the cordial rela-
all it's employees. The enormous re-
sponsibility connected with the trans
action of the firm s affairs is central
lied in the executive board, but is also
carried down thru the organization,
each department. head, superintendent
and employee having his responsibility.
There is maxim that Butler Broth
ers is a. sufficient union for all those
connected with it. It's plan of organ
and the business of the company has
never been interrupted with labor dis
putes and disorders. This difference was
most marked during the recent Chicago
transfers strike, when Butler Bro
! theirs were one Of the few concerns
who were not greatly inconvenience.
Sells Only to Merchants. "
The company does .jobbing bust
| he, o1, 81
sible line of general merchandise and
shelf ware. 1t deals with retail mer-
chants, making it strict rule to sell
to this trade only. It does absolutely
no retail business. No travelling sales
men are employed. The vast annual
business of the firm, mounting last
year to $S0,00O,0O0, is done wholly by
means of catalog and correspondence.
The Butler Brothers catalog, an i'm.
mense list renewed from time to time
runs into thousands of pages annually
and is in the hands of every merchant
Of good commercial standing turnout
almost the entire United States. All
business is transacted by correspond
ence. Postage alone runs into hun
dreds of dollars daily.
In connection with its general bust
ness the firm does much educationa
work for the benefit of it's trade. Stud
les Ill u tNStldiI
ments, window displays. store arrange
ment and other features of the retail
business are worked out and presented
to the customers of the company. Thi
work costs thousands of dollars annual
ly and occupies great deal of space il
7 its stores, but sis Of great value to thu
retail trade and is appreciated.
Great Chicago Plant.
The Chicago plant Of Butler Broth
q ersy consists of two buildings, one run
ming from Lake street to Randolph
street, the other ESQ feet south from
Randolph street. They are joined b.
4 subway under Randolph street, max
: ing. them practically one structure
Private tracks run from one end of tn
: buildings to the other, giving track
age of 676 feet bordering on join
, tracks used by Eve trunk systems. TIL
buildings are thirteen stories high.
This plant has more than millio
: feet of flour space, or nearly twice a
much as the proposed Minneapoli
building, and arrangements have re
i Gently been made for more. In it
ii many departments 1000 employees, al
: loyal boosters of the concern. are en-