Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-21
CHRISTMAS RUSH
IS IN FULL SWING
Stores Crowded With Shoppers
Purchasing Packages for
Santa Claus.
GOOD YEAR FOR MERCHANTS
Prominent Business Houses Report
Gratifying Conditions This Season
Generally All Along the Line.

The Christmas rush at the stores Is In
full swing, and the way the crowds OF
purchasers surge In and out OF the
principal marts of trade indicates a
more than usual outpour of crash into
local channels of circulation. In somo
stores. 1t requires effort to enter and
women with baby buggies caught be-
tween tho outer and inner doors are
alnding their precious charges IN dan
ger Occasionally purchaser In a hur-
ry TO get around stumbles over baby
carriage. According to agreement, the
larger stores close up tonight Ito give
the clerks q rest" But managers doubt
whether the net result will be "a rest"
for their clerks. They say that the
public Is bound to do Just so much
ohopping, and 1t is the most economical
policy to distribute this as evenly as
possible through the week. Now, with
two evenings cut out, 1t means that
patrons must rush the harder through
tho remaining time TO transact their
business. which will prove the harder
on the clerks and saleswomen. Then,
this closing up for two evenings in the
opening OF the holiday season means
that trade that would have gone to
the larger stores is likely to be diverted
to smaller establishments. So there is
dissatisfaction. However. the situation
is being made the most of.
Express agencies report the Christ
mas business opening up earlier this
year than usual. due to the call through
the daily papers for shippers not to
wait. but start In bright and early. This
is satisfactory TO the companies, as it
enables them to get their shipments
through in better time and in better
shape. Pastors are being given out.
Forwarded by Express company.
Do not open until Christmas. Shipper
...., Place. ......" This Is for con-
signors who do not want their friends
to open packages sent them until
Christmas day.
WHAT MERCHANTS SAY.
Prominent business houses along
Main street make very gratifying re-
ports as to business conditions this
season.
H. C. NJ. I.-While last year was very
good, this year will more than hold its
own, with sales in excess considerable
of what the record was for 1908. Then,
what is particularly satisfactory Is that
collections are good The holiday sea-
son is opening in most promising
why.
y
ter than last year. perhaps on an
average of 20 per cent. True. prices
have been generally advanced. but peo-
pie have to live, no matter what prices
may be. so trade continues, even with
prices OH a higher level than in 1908.
The only special now feature In dry
goods this year has been tho sudden
demand for knit goods, as in such
things as sweaters and scarfs- Col
90 ,rN6 10 r
through No. we have nothing to
complain OF.
Richardson & Adams Company-Our
business has gained considerably every
month, this fall particularly; during
the year, perhaps Is to 20 per cent Is
the figure of improvement
L. & A. Cohn-Buslness with us Is
a marked Improvement over 1908. This
December has broken the record estab-
Iished last December. which in its turn
broke all previous records. People
appear to be buying staple. servlceable
stuffs Then, collections are better
than last year
SIegel Bros-We have the same tale
to tell as the rest. In improved trade
over the previous 12 months. Our
Christmas business is better than last
holidays, by 90 to 30 per cent. Then.
November was a record breaker.
Keith o. Brien-Our sales this year
have completely knocked out those OF
1908, with an increase of % per cent.
while the present Christmas rush is
proving a crusher. Collections are all
right: nothing to complain of there.
We are waiting on half as many more
people as we were last year.
Paris Millinery-There is an improve
mcnt of fully 10 per cent over the 1908
record. with trade continuing to rush
in in very gratifying way. But we
do not think 1t is a wise movement to
close up Monday and Tuesday night.
right on the heels of the Christmas sea-
son. 1t only means in the end, more
for the clerks to do.
Walker Bros. Company-Yes, the cur
rent year is marked advance over the
1908 record. with good collections. The
Christmas trade is very fair in all lines
OF goods.