The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-01-02
A NEW YEAR GREETING
From the independent Grocery"
to Its Hundreds OF Friends
and Customers.

On she first day OF January, 1906.
when We withdrew from she grocery
combine which then existed In Butler
aud resolved so run our business Ia
our own way and without dietasion
from Others, the prediction was free
ly made THAT We would last not
more than sixty days" that We
would b. forced into bankruptcy,
and shat W. could not buy goods
from the Wholesale houses But we
had "a little money and were not
afraid Of not b ing able 20 getgoods,
and we had confidence enough In the
good people OF Bates county to be-
leye that they would stand by US,
and the history OF the past two
wears shows shat shat confidence
was not misplaced,
Immediately upon our withdrawal
from the combine the fight was be-
gun on us by our compr'''"-s
Travelling men were threqvr"o : wish
withdrawal OF orders ii they sold us
goods, wholesale houses were noti.
fled shat we must be placed on the
"black List, our goods were sneer-
ingly referred TO as Second rate"
and "cheap.' But the underhanded
methods used so dlscredit us proved
our salvation. The people learned
what was going on, and being fair
minded and lust. they hocked to ue
In growing numbers.
Our business began TO grow at
once, and In less than thirty days We
had to employ more help, and before
the first year was closed II became
evident that we would have to Sc
cure larger room. About this time
the big double building adjoining
the one we occupied was thrown on
the market and we purchased Il, fit
ting Il up especially Tor our business.
We moved into 1t on the 10Th day
OF March, 1907, and we thought
.hen that we would not be cramped
for room for a long time to come.
But our business continues to grow
with such strides that we are even
now wondering how we are going TO
care for is. In addition to the store
reem On the west side OF the square,
which Is the largest exclusive grocery
store in Southwest Missouri, we have
rented warerooms In different parts
OF the city and have them stored
with several car loads OF goods, and
all OF them paid for. We have never
had the least difficulty In getting
from the wholesale houses all the
goods we need, and our ready cash
! has enabled US oitentimes to buy
them and sell them at less prices
than our competitors can get them
at wholesale.
Two years ago when we Withdrew
from the combine four OF US could
easily handle all our business. To
day sixteen persons find regular en-
ployment In our store, and frequent
1 ~ she number is4neFeassd- to twenty.
Two years ago one wagon was able
to deliver all our city trade. To-day
five wagons, and sometimes six, arr
necessary for this part OF our trade
4 For all OF this growth and pros
perty we are Indebted to the fair
\ minded and just people OF Bates
+ county, who have never yet failed &c
I reward honest merit. To them WI
are truly grateful, and we take thi'
method, at the beginning OF the
third year Of our independence, tc
express to them our profoundes,
thanks, assuring them that all oul
efforts in the future will be to serve
them faithfully and we'll at all times
giving them full value for theil
money and treating them fairly and
squarely In all deals.
Wishing each customer and FRIEND
a most Happy and Prosperous New
Year we remain,
NORFLEET & REAM,
Independeny GrOcers