Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-11-13
HINTS TO THE WISE.
Pointers In the, Fight of Home Trade
Versus Mail Orders.

hlNlS III HE WISE.
Pointers In the Fight of Home Trade
Versus Mail Orders.
It's poor rule that won't work
both ways. That is aa old saw, but D
wise one. 1t applies to the upbuilding
or unfolding of town and community
life as to many other things. In these
days of rapid transit, comparatively
low freight and express rates, rural
mail delivery Of packages as well as
letters and expert advertising which
IN catalogues, magazines and weekly
periodicals Is carried to the remotest
regions inhabited by mankind some
few hints as to the working of rules
In both ways may be admissible.
Much is heard nowadays Of the mail
order versus home trade fight. The
fight is on In earnest, as most people
know who live In communities re-
moved from the great centers of trade.
In order to hold or increase his patron
age the local merchant must do his
part. Likewise the local buyer should
/ do his share If he wants his commu-
nifty to prosper.
Here, then, are a few of the things
suggested for the local merchant
Keep an up to date stock and let the
people know you keep 1t. This may
be done by using the columns of your
local paper.
Advertising pays. Somebody said
that good many years ago, and many
have proved 1t. The mail order houses
have proved 1t. All their business is
done through advertising They have
no drummers on the road.
Relegate the last years styles and
the last years goods in general to the
top shelves or the back Of the store.
People now on earth want up to date
things. The world moves New
tangled notions are the birds that
pluck the plums. The merchant who
first gets the newfangled notions into
his stock is the early bird that catches
the worm. The worm is always look
ing for new sensations and Is quite
willing to be caught by the things he
fancies.
Have special sale days now and then,
llmelight
Nothing succeeds like bargain sale,
unless it is the next bargain sale after
the one that attracts patronage first.
II you keep it up long enough the
people will find out that you always
have bargains In some line, and they
will fall into the habit Of looking foe
your bargains If they do not always
find them in plain sight.
And here are a few hints for the buy.
ers:
All is not gold that glitters.
That's another old saw. but a wise
one.
That grand bargain you see pictured
in the catalogue or the little periodical
filed with advertising may turn out |
to be a fake. 1t may be mere tinsel |
instead of gold but II you risk your
money the money is gone and it will
never get back to you.
Compare mail order bargains with |
the bargains advertised by your home |
merchants. Ten to one you will find !
many home bargains Just as good-per-
haps better. Then you will have the
satisfaction of having patronized
neighbor who may buy something
from you some day or who, at any
rate, spends his spare money around
home.
Take q look into the local stores and
discover what they have OH hand be-
fore sending your money away.
Seeing is believing. A bird In the
hand is worth two in the mail bag.
You may discover that the very thing
you see so damboyantly exploited in
the catalogue is lying right on the
shelves of your neighbor's store at the
same price, and you will save postage
besides having the satisfaction Of be-
Ing true to that old time law of local
to patronize home IN
1ustries means to, build up home in
iustrles and the home community.
Look Mt dollar twice-it has two
sales.--future you mail it away from
your own town and forever put 1t out
II local circulation. 1t won't come
pack. If it stays floating around town
you may get 1t back again after n few
,r many days.
In the long run, If all of you would
)ut your dollars into home circulation
hey would come back to you in the
hape of improved streets, the new
own hall, the waterworks system or
ome other public improvement for
which you have been wishing these
nanv wears.