The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-11-27
CHRISTMAS TRADE
Is CHANGING
The People Now Use Better
Shopping Judgment.
No Longer Content With Goods Thai
Look Handsome; but Must Have
Fine Values as Well.
THE PRICES MUST BE LOW


Switzerland and France made about
ninety per cent of all the strictly
made Christmas things that were sold
IN the United states. Then England
passed law that all German wares
coming into that country, or into any
OF her possessions, must be stamped
MADE in Germany" Thus did Eng
land ring the death knell on foreign
made Christmas wares. for as long as
Germany could make her goods and
sell them without stamping. she could
build cheap and sell cheap, and no
one would be the wiser as 20 where
the cheaply thrown together things
came from.
But. with the creation and enforce
ment of England's stamp act, matters
assumed a different complexion In
Great Britain. as well as in the United
States for. although there was no law
here compelling her TO do so. Ger
many also stamped the goods shipped
to us Made in Germany" as well as
those exported to England Then.
when a person bought an article that
did not prove TO be all II promised
and found Made In Germany" plain
ly stamped on the bottom, that per-
son was quite sure TO fight shy of
Made In Germany" goods thereafter.
The trade In foreign made Christ
mas wares then steadily fell on, a
condition the American manufactur-
ers were not slow to perceive. and.
perceiving. quick to take advantage
of by fairly flooding our home mar
kets with a high grade Of we'll made
and very attractive goods that proved
to be all the purchaser expected. and
more.
yes" said Mr.. j. II. Rudy. head
OF the local firm OF Rudy a Sons.
where they are just starting their ac-
tive Christmas selling campa gn. We
sell more American made wares now
by some seventy-hve or eighty per
cent than We ever did before. In
fact, the call In Paducah for holiday
merchandise is practically conferred on
staple American made lines, almost
TO the total exclusion OF foreign nov
elites.
People today are becoming very
wise about spending their Christmas
money: they must have things that
are thoroughly well made. and that
serve a useful purpose. Four or FIVE
years ago u was the custom TO put a
lot OF cheap metal aud tinselled boxes
and things Of that sort, on sale at
Christmas time, and the people
bought them Like the proverbial hot
cakes.
But that won't do now, all metal
goods must bear the Sterling mark.
while fully seventy-fye per cent OF
our Christmas trade Is on such hsg'h ~
useful things ashandkerchiefs. neck
wear. fur garments. waists. dress pat
terms. table ware. and that class Of
merchandise.
The people will not now pay the
high holiday prices they would years
ago. either. Our entire holiday season
stock has 10 be marked just as low
as the goods are sold for at any other
time: In fact, II Is one OF the rules
Of this store that our profit ratio
shall. II anything. be less, rather than
more. during December, and, by the
way. We believe that our regular
margin OF profit Is as small, II not
smaller. than thai Of any other retail
establishment in this section OF Ken
lucky.
Speaking OF low prices during
December. take our Fur stock for IN
stance. We are today Offering new
winter fur pieces that cannot be pur-
chased. even at wholesale. for the fig
ures we name. Why Is II? you ask;
well, We placed our orders for furs
very early, and. unlike some mer-
chants. We are not taking advantage
Of the recent rise IN wholesale
prices. II being the custom OF this
store to turn over TO our customers
all the advantages we reap in buy
ing
so II goes In all the departments