The Washington herald., 1908-03-13
The Retail Committee Starts
Spring Business Campaign.
RESULTS OF FORMER EFFORT
Executive Secretary Suggests thnt
Chamber Utilize Assets in Hand to
Make Plan Permanent-SubcOm
miffee Appointed to Devise Pro-
Ernmme OF Another Trade Week.

committee Of the Chamber of Commerce
last night steps were taken TO inaugurate
a spring campaign in trade-gettlng from
the adjacent States. Furthermore, the
expression of opinion was almost unani-
nous that the work OF the committee in
this direction should be placed on a per-
manent footing, with a view to having
trade excursions TO washington at least
four times year from the territory COW
cred by the operations of last winter.
The committee organized by re-electing
Charles f. Wallraff secretary.
George H. Gall submitted his report
upon the general results of the trade-get
ting campaign of last December. and Of
fered several suggestions with reference
TO making the work permanent and intro
ducing new features into the trade
weeks" idea. The report was accepted
from the former executive secretary OF
the committee and vote of thanks was
given 10 all who had assisted in the fur
therance of the plan.
subcommittee Appointed.
After an informal discussion of the ad-
visibility of inaugurating 2 spring cam
followed last December, a subcommittee.
consisting Of ID. J. Kaufman. chairman;
A. Lisner vice chairman; Charles F.
Wallraff, secretary: Isaac Cans. and
William Hahn, was appointed to devise
plans for the event and report TO the full
committee at a meeting called by the
chairman for the purpose.
In part, the report Of Mr.. Gait on the
December trade weeks follows:
The books Of the committee show that
purchases amounting TO S2.6S9S0 were
made from thirty-two merchants On this
amount Of business a total of Sl14N was
paid out in cash refunds of railroad fares.
or a percentage of four and One-hfth.
70 fifty-One persons. The record further
shows that this business represents Gus
toners from thirty-two towns in four
States.
business from Wide Range.
Business was attracted from every
part Of the territory which the commit
tee regarded as the natural trade zone
OF Washington. in which Out-of-town ad-
vertising was placed One visitor who
made purchases aggregatine over $500.
stated 10 the manager. when asked that
he had been attracted 10 Washington
by the committees advertising: that he
and several others from his town in Vir-
ginia, whenever they had any buying out
of-town to do, usually went TO Baltimore.
and that they were unfamiliar with
Washingt0n's shopping facilities He
stated. however. that he had shopped here
instead of going 20 Baltimore this tine.
a hot
pleased with what he found, and made
all his purchases here.
Il beg TO recommend that the assets
already at hand-nameiy, experience. or
ganization. and n solid groundwork Of
advertising-be employed 10 continue the
work of the committee.
Chamber should Shoulder work.
This work should be a part Of the other
activities Of the Chamber Of Commerce,
so that the burden of administrative ex-
pense shall not fan solely upon the shouI-
ders OF the committee.
The public in the territory already
covered should know that whenever they
have purchases Of So or over to make.
the Washington Chamber Of Commerce
stands ready 20 refund their railroad
ldltSf IL AllF9 wall 90 lutlE shopping mere.
In connection with Il Prepayment plan.
special inducements should be made at
certain seasons; for instance. four times
year, corresponding with the seasons,
and ffth time for the opening of Con-
gress and Christmas buying.
Plans should now be formed for the
next inauguration, scarcely more than
year distant that would have in view
the keeping OF visitors in the city for a
longer period than usual 0lrnivals.
balls, concerts. fireworks. SC, all on an
elaborate scale. might serve as an in
ducement 10 hold the crowds In the city
for a aIweek, instead of a day or two. as
in the past, and thus prove very profit
able TO our merchants and citizens gen
erally."