Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-11-12

81 hardly knew the old place at
first" remarked the drummer who was
in a small eastern town and had drop
ped in to see Brown, the merchant.
My, but you folks have slicked up the
place since l was last here"
Yes; we have organized an inn
provement society lately, and we've
been busy, 1 can tell you," replied the
merchant. at takes the women folks
to start the ball a-rolling in a thing
Of that kind, and it has opened our
eyes to what can be done when all
take an interest in the work. Bust
ness, however, isn't booming to any
great extent"
Mail order people cutting into your
trade?" asked the drummer.
That's about the size of it," sighed
Brown.
well, it's a shame. You merchants
pay taxes and contribute to the sup
port of the community and are active
in building up the town, but instead of
approaching this fact the residents
send a great deal of their money to
the big city stores"
II wouldn't care so much if they
saved anything to speak of by it or If
they got any better goods, but they
don't"
"Of course they don't" agreed the
drummer. Il sell goods enough to
know that. Somehow people in small
towns think they can buy best through
the mail order houses. and that is
where they make a big mistake"
You can't convince EN- of that
said the merchant.
I well. it's as Barnum used TO say
a The people love to be h~umbugged.' 1t
B stands to reason that the mail order
houses cannot spend the millions they
do on advertising and give as much for
> the money as You fellows at home
can. and people in many localities are
J waking up to that fact Let me give
Z you q few friendly suggestions while
we are on this subject" continued the
drummer. You ought TO make 6
. close study Of Just what people around
here want from time to time. Never
let them ask TWICE for an article if yor
can possibly help it. This doesn't mear
that YOU must carry q million dollal
stock. Simply carry what You arc
pretty sure VIII be w~anted-what thu
Il mail order houses are putting out to
5 certain extent. And let the communit,
know what You have in stock. Whel
4 they read the out of town catalogue
!. and see something they want the.
conclude YOU haven't got it, and AVA.
'e goes coin that should have been spen
right here at home. You probably has
q the same article in stock. and for les
a money too. If you don't advertise
you might as we'll close up shop"
Yes, I advertise occasionally" SAT-
le Brown.
le occasionally won't 90. II is pei
"a sistent advertising that wins out 70
Of the merchant. You want 10 spen
every dollar you can afford TO III at
vertising in Your local paper and kee
right at it. The mail order houses ID
ne out thousands of dollars Oh pamphlet
C. and circulars and catalogues. aud 70
10 may be sure they are past masters i
the art of making them attractiv'
That's how they get the trade they d
You can do the III thing in Your l
WI cal paper and in other ways on
nc smaller scale. 1t doesn't cost q 70
oa tune to get out q catalogue. Its of
d use to go on advertising the fact th
your name is Brown and that You a
us doing business Oh a certain sire,
That doesn't interest the general pu
lie. Give EN- prices. Tell en- VIII
~ you've got to sell. Make a certa
= day Of the week always bargain d
and give people some reason to col
~ to your store. You may lose mon
'la on the venture at first, but You Ike
~ at ii and you'll get big results lefc
~ long. Let the residents here knt
that they are not only hurting Won,
the town as Well, by sending their N,
\ ey u of ii.
I'll consider Your suggestions" :;
the merchant thoughtfully. Guess
Will advertise more and try the ca
logues too"
= That's the game. Let peoue KIN,
~. how you feel about this matter rut
u, TO them fair and square and have
teeI stock TO back You up. The mail or,
. II houses are draining the country
viii money that should he spent at hol
and it is about time the residents
snail towns realized it, Thousands
dollars are sent away every week
goods that could have been purcha
cheaper in the local stores. The +
- duty of every good citizen is home /
lection. Funny they cannot reaso,
f.t. out that the more they spend in Il
own own the more money they are
ing TO keep in circulation there
>,er the more prosperous. il will make
. community. Manufacturers looking
a site on which to erect Il plant are
u going to locate in a own where
the stores have To Let signs on tn
Why, If everybody traded out Of tc
just to save q few pennies, Il
:. {" wouldn't be much left of it in d 81
time. Well, goodby, Brown. III
around this way soon
o. 1t was " months later when
FlN4t | Il ~, NJ ma. ,-tst,nl en- ,-,; =