The Washington times., 1907-12-08

- many places but
It is now a per
manent feature OF the work of retail
merchants organizations, its prohtslOle-
ness having been demonstrated.
Perhaps New York furnishes the best
example OF this plan. New York al
though # IS the greatest market in the
United states, finds Il desirable ana
,-oftab1e to advertise this fact in the
s,,rro11nding states and TO run special
excursions for the benefit Of the out-of-
town buyer. Then such cities as Cleve-
Land. Columbus. Chicago, Milwaukee
St. Paul Richmond and many others
have stiU further illustrated the profta-
bIeness Of the idea.
It's principle is q sound one, for the
reason that the buyer generally desires
10 make his purchases in the largest
market. where may be found not only
the greatest variety OF articles from
y-hich to choose. but also the lowest
prices. On this principle the plan OF
the Washington merchants Is based.
For the resident Of the towns, cites ana
rural districts Of Virginia, the eastern
mart of West virginia and OF western
northern and southern Maryland WASH
ington offers the greatest inducements
OF any trade center accessible to theIu-
Wide Variety at Low Prices.
TIere are establishments OF the best
Lind. stores Offering, especially to the
christmas shopper, every conceiVaoie
,or+ of articles and at the lowest prices
7, tho very nature of things the coun-
tvv merchant is unable to compete WIN
estabIisbments such as are to be found
,n the list Of those participating In tue
Washington Chamber Of Commerce
MANY Of our merchants are direct I'M
,,c,ters some are original manufac-
+,,rors and those who are in neither
81 those classes do their own buying
8, New York and elsewhere 70 the
,,,.a+est possibIe advantage. They are
enabled therefore, to offer to the puohc
,.oads and prices with which the smaller
5oa1er in the country cannot hope 10
compete.
when these merchants, by a plan Of
,aiIroad refunding, enable the buyer
from ont Of town 10 make his purchases
on the same footing as the resident OF
tbo citv they are Offering 70 the coun-
trv shopper the very same advantages
,,ossessed by the person who does not
have TO travel to buy his goods.
First ITlal OF Eldu-
The execution of this out-ot-toWn
sbopping plan as far as Washington Is
concerned, remained for the Climber OF
Commerce. still less than year old
r,b3s organization of business men is
the first in the history Of the city to
secure united and unanimous action on
the mart OF washington business men
on large plan to increase the city s
volume Of trade.
Washington has been fortunately sit
uated: her merchants have here in the
citv a large population. which. for the
most part. has its regular income from
the Government thus making It IN
necessary TO devise enterprising plans to
secure business as other cities must. Re
Gently. however. Washington merchants
have been aroused to the fact that
much more business may be had. IL It
were only sought.
Advertised Far and Wide.
The actual working out of the plan
itself is rather simple. In order to
reach as many people as possible. an
advertising campaign through the Wash
ington newspapers and through coun-
try newspapers has been carefully con-
has been used. Large display ads in
viting the Christmas shopper to come
here and do his holiday buying. and
stating that railroad fares would be re-
funded in whole or in part. according
to the amount purchased, were run in
q number Of issues in each paper.
In connection with this advertisement
also was printed a list Of all the mer-
81 TIa4-
nesses. making an impressive array
There was also printed an attractive
little booklet containing a guide to the
city, map and full instructions as tc
the terms under which refunds would
he made. These were mailed IN response
10 inquiries from the advertising and
20 many thousand others
The booklet was also made to serve
the purpose of a refund voucher, in
which was set Sorth all the names OF
the merchants, with space in which 70
jndorse the purchases made All that
was necessary then for the buyer
was to have each merchant set down
the amount purchased, and at the con-
clusion OF his buying TO have the
amount tOtaled at the committees head
quarters and the proper cash refund
made. During the past two weeks the
manager Of the committee reports that
this has worked out satisfactorily IN
practice, and that the out-of-town shop
pers were much pleased with the
methods
Movement a Year Old.
The history Of the present movement
to increase the retail trade of Wash
ington merchants dates back for over
a year. but not until last summer CID
this movement receive any decided
ipl2etus from the merchants in a united