Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-05
RETAIL ARE
after BUSINESS
LOCAL ASSOCIATION ADOPTS
METHOD FOR SECURING SUB
URBAN TRADE.
RAILROAD FARE PAID
Purchase Of Certain Amount Entities
CUSTOMER From Out of City to
Free observation-disclosures
Pay Freight.

Ottumwa is rapidly becoming known
for its rnodernness in it's shops and
retail stores of all kinds. The reputa
ton 1t holds as the most up-to- date
city of retail merchandise in South
eastern Iowa ms justly earned by
its retail merchants who have
equipped their places of business with
everything found In retail establish
ment, no matter what the line be- this
side of Chicago. Progressiveness is
their slogan. Take care of the trade.
Secure what they want and dispose of
u at reasonable price. Make it an
lnducement for those living nearby to
secure the same values that those in
the city have. These and many other
means are taken by Ottuma mer-
chants to maintain the high standard
merchandising that appeals to the
masses of trade which supports the
institutions and give them the stand
ing that they enjoy in the business
world.
Reach Out Of Town.
Perhaps no advance in conduct of
their stores is more noticeable than that
conducted by the Retail Merchants as
ISOLATION in it's efforts to secure out of
the city customers. This element has
come to be considered quite a factor in
the patronage Of the local retail estab-
i1shments of all kinds and is not con-
fined to any one line in particular. The
grocer as we'll as the dry goods mer-
chant has gone in for the out Of town
business While the clothier, furniture
teweler, hardware. and in fact all
branches of merchandise are interested
and derive a proportion of the business
from towns and cities nearby OF
tuMwa.
Pay Railroad Fare.
The means of building UP this
avenue of trade Is handled by the as
ISOLATION for all Of it's members and an
lnducement is given the suburban
customer TO deal with Ottumwa mem
bers of the Retail Merchants associa-
ton. The means adopted by the as
ISOLATION is the payment Of railroad
1ares upon the purchase of certain
amount of merchandise. In order to
avail themselves of the return of their
fare, the customer from out of the city
must first secure from the ticket agent
Tor the railroad a receipt or certificate
OF the fare paid when the ticket is
purchased. This receipt is presented
at the first store at which the customer
happens to do any trading. 1t matters
not the amount of the purchase, be 1t
70 cents or as many dollars, the coupon
OF the amount purchased is given by
the merchant and is pinned on the
certificate This in turn is taken to as
many stores as the customer deals
with and a coupon for the amount pur-
chased is attached to the receipt. The
last merchant who registers a pur-
chase will take up the receipt and re-
fund the railroad fare. The full
amount. however, must be purchased
in order to secure the free transporta-
ton.
Basis Of Return.
The basis on which the return of
fares Is based is as follows
Towns ION 5 to 16 miles distant
fares for one person will be paid one
wev with purchase of $3.50 and both
ways with $500 purchase; II to 26
miles, one way with $1,000 and both
ways with $4,000 purchase: 81 to az
miles. one way with $3.50 and both
ways with $500 purchase; 81 to 81
miles, one way with $500 and both
ways with $4,000 purchase; So to s.
miles, one way with $3.50 and both
ways with $500 purchase; Sc to 100
miles. one way with $40 both ways
with $40 purchase.
Grooers Pay Freight.
The grocers of the Organization
state that they will pay freight but
not railroad fare on all assorted orders
for groceries to the amount of $500
purchased nv persoDs o,,tcida tho IT,,