Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-12-17
BO0MS HOME TRADE |
Prosperity Week a New Foe to
Mail Order Menace.
BOOSTS LOCAL INDUSTRIES.
Original Idea of Bright California
Girl That May Be Applied to Any
Town or Section With Lasting Bene-
fit-May Become General

Girl That May Be Applied to Any
Town or Section With Lasting Bene-
fit-May Become General.
Did you ever hear Of prosperity
week? Perhaps not. for it is some
thing new under the sun. 1t is an en-
terprise of November, 1908, In south
ern California, but 1t might just us
we'll be transported to and transplant
ed In our town or any town.
Some Of the New England and other
states have their old home week, when
former residents or eXpatriated natives
gather at the old home and spend q
week in rcvi:it!rg familiar scenes and
talking over the past with the well re-
membered oldest inhabitant who has
been there since the big snow of 1916.
But that is merely sentimental-fine
and healthful sentiment, to be sure,
but nothing more. Prosperity week Is
fine sentiment plus something more
substantial. 1t Is practical PROPOSE
ton. 1t Is business proposition. 1t
means more money In the pockets Of
the old home folks who are still doing
business at the old stand or at new
stands. In fact, it seems Il general
livening up Of interest In the home
place from the standpoint Of trade.
Prosperity week as designed by its
originator is a business booming week,
a home trading week. 1t means much
to the community concerned In the
way of the patronizing of home indus
tries. and it means something to the
mail order concerns Of the big cities in
the way Of a falling off in patronage.
Prosperity week was invented by
young woman in Los Angeles. When
she suggested to the chamber of COM
merce that week be set aside under
that designation during which every
body should make particular effort
to buy only home grown products and
trade only with local merchants, cut
ting out mail orders altogether, the
bright idea was adopted promptly, and
the week beginning Nov. 10 was so
designated. The result? Well imme-
diately the idea took hold, and thou
sands of citizens entered with enthusi-
asm into the project. The plan was
advertised literally in the home pa
pers. Committees were appointed to
work up interest. Other committees
were named to devise ways and means
for creating hearty home trade sem
timent. Still others were formed to get
up tangible methods of celebrating the
week, such as an exposition Of home
products, so that everybody could see
just what the local producers and man
ufacturers had to offer the buying pub
lie, the home people, their friends and
neighbors in their own community.
And Secretary Frank Virgins of the
Los Angeles chamber Of commerce,
who has proved his ability in many
states as boomer for his city, pro-
nounced the girls proposition "a ten
million dollar idea." declaring that
prosperity week would benefit home
Industries by at least $1O,OOO,O0O.
Now, why is not this the genesis Of
a practical proposition that should
take root in every community and re-
suit ultimately in defeating the dan
gerous growth and menace Of the mail
order business, which Is choking the
prosperity Of thousands Of small cities
and towns and rural communities?
Prosperity week can be applied to
any town, this town included. If SO
applied the result Is quite likely to sur
prise many of us. 1t is safe to say
that but a small percentage of citizens
know just what goods are produced or
manufactured In their own community.
BY a concerted effort, tangible show
ing such as might be made during
prosperity week, the producers and
the consumers would be brought to-
gether. The home products would be
put right under the eyes and noses Of
the home consumers, SO to speak, SO
that the gulf between buyer and seller
would be wiped out.
Suppose your town should get up
weeks exhibition Of home products.
The local merchants Of course would
be included In the displays. with
booths showing their special bargains
for the week and. for that matter, all
the year bargains. The butcher, the
baker, the candlestick maker" all
would find It profitable to participate
In the display. Down the street may
be man who makes ak handles su-
perior to the kind you buy outside Of
town, but perhaps you are not aware
that he is making ak handles at all
Out in the edge Of town may be a can
ming factory which Is putting up
canned goods that beat any you buy
abroad. From the smallest to the lar
gest the manufacturers and the pro-
ducers and the merchants would come
In for their share OF the showing, and
prosperity week should give the mail
order octopus a twisted tentacle-the
one that reaches out to grab your COM
munity by the neck and throttle 1t
while your home enterprises would
get an injection Of the elixir Of life.
Who will start the prosperity week
plan for us here at home?
The Billboard Fight.