Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-07-24
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Oi TINS city tHlS lhOlHihS q pic5A ehi "
a weeks selling of special bargains Of
astore OF neighboring city Into
every door of the city went one 0!
these circulars, setting fourth in lur'
ing fashion the many articles that are
being sold at attractive prices. You
saw one of these bills and out of curl
osity probably read it.
What does this mean? Is it fact
that we can go ont of town and get
the things advertised at a less price
Ahan we have TO pay at home, or is 1t
that we are less progressive than the
people across the river. There IS
something wrong somewhere. Surely
the merchants of this city can sell
goods as cheap as the merchants in
any other city.
The trouble is that the merchants
across the river take advantage Of
every opportunity to have their wares
and place of business, not only before
their home people, but before every
possible purchaser.
1t rs a well-known fast that many Of
our peope do their buying outside of
Martnsbufg Why? Well there are
various reasons, which a great many
of the people of this city are well az
quainted with.
We are not knocking" but it is
well for us to be candid and face the
situation and meet the competition.
We are waking up. Some of our mer-
chants are going after this business
that has been going out OF the city.
One of the chief reasons Tor this
out of town buying is that our stores
here are not made attractive enough.
Another is that the goods on sale here
are not up to the times, or in as great
a variety as they are found in other
cities of like size. There is no deny
ing the fact that the shops in neigh
boring cities are more attractive. They
have about them that city air that is
almost entirely lacking here.
1t is high time that we break away
from the old custom OF doing business
as our fathers and grandfathers con-
Quoted it.
II will not be long until the well
worn, we never had any call for that
before" will be heard no more. You
have seen things elsewhere that you
would like TO have. Some friend has
bought an article that is just what
you want. You go to one of the local
stores and ask for it. You get the old
reply. I'VE never had any call TO.
Ut"
If the merchant had bought these
things when they were new, don't you
think he would have found as ready
sale for them here as his competitor
in the neighboring cities. Up-to-date
goods will sell as well in Martinsbure
as they will any where else.
Another thing Our store rooms and
business places are not as attractive
as they are in other PAGES Our mer.
chants here are beginning to realize
this fact. Many of the store rooms
have lately been remodeled and their
fronts and rooms are now as attrac.
tive as will be found anywhere One
new store opened, which is along en-.
tirely new lines has filled a long felt
want and the proprietor's wisdom has
been shown by the immense business
he has done. since he opened. Another
Tno has Just moved into the showiest
room in the city said today that he
was utterly surprised at the increase
In his business, which he attributes TO
the attractiveness OF his new place
These few instances show what 4
means to be up with the times. Others
are catching the up-to-date fever and
one Of our largest and Oldest stores
III the city is to be remodeled and
made strictly up to the minute The
stock and business viii be modelled
along the same lines. This merchant
viii find that he has been wise and
that his business will increase to such
an extent that he will be more than
repaid for his efforts to give the city
strictly first class store
Once MaftlhsbMg sets stores tina;
compare with those Of neighborinl
cities. we will find that instead of 20
ing out of town TO do their buying. tho
people will spend their money here.
Another thing. The Merchants in
the other cities are all extensive news
paper advertisers. They have fount
that it pays and the merchants here
viii have the same experience If they
do likewise.
We have no desire in this article Il
critcise but wish ony to put before
the people the true state of affairs.
we are to be a Greater Martinsburg
we must have stores that are in keen
ing We believe that the time vii
soon be here when there will be M
further necessity Of going elsewher,
10 do our shopping.