The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-12
CHRISTMAS TRADE
PROMISES TO Be !
Up TO STANDARD
Weather Has lnterfered Some
But Beginning This Week,
It Is Thought, Buyers Will
Become Active.
RICHMOND MERCHANTS
OFFER GOOD STOCKS
Buyers This Year Show Pros
perity by Demanding Luxur-
les Rather Than Necessi-
ties, It Is Said.

While the individual is raking his
brain on what to get his friends or
relatives for Christmas the merchants
are figuring on the profits which will
accrue as a result of the holiday bust
ness. The former works for the in
terest Of the latter and the latter has
to endeavor to please the former in
order that both buyer and dealer will
profit.
Local merchants have stocked up
for the holiday trade, with an amazing
lot of goods. AS a result of the man.
ner in which tVs merchants of this
city try to please the trade. it is esti-
mated that they will do a business ag-
gregating in a lump sum, 100000,
from December 1 up to and including
Christmas.
$1,000 Trade Here.
To the individual, this may be re-
garded as a remarkably large figure.
but ask the leading merchants and
they will smile but not deny the ver-
acity Of the figures. Merchants esti-
mate that they accommodate $4,000
persons during the holiday season, in
Guiding all the citizens of Richmond,
Wayne county and several thousand
who live within few miles radius
OF the city, but out of the county.
Ciphering this down, the average
amount spent by each b,tSer during
the holiday season is IS. This figure
may seem small to the purchaser who
is obligated to give gifts to large
number OF relatives and friends. The
rich and those in ordinary circum-
stances spend much more. but the
poor spend less. SO So is considered
q fair average.
Business during the present holiday
season promises to average as good as
ever before. Owing to the cold spell
last week, business did not assume
the proportions that it, perhaps, has
in the best years in the past. For this
reason merchants are predicting a
rush of business from now on to
Christmas two weeks hence. In or
der to accommodate the trade it has
been necessary for every merchant to
greatly increase his clerical force.
No One Complaining.
Representative merchants in every
line of trade such as drygoods deal
ers. shoe merchants, haberdashers,
furniture dealers. jewelers. and others
were visited yesterday and asked for
their views on the holiday business.
Not one is complaining that he will
not get his fair share of the business.
However, some are complaining the
weather has made it necessary for a
late holiday trade.
The within of the purchasing public
this year differs greatly from that of
last year. 1t runs more to the mick
nacks" and decorative articles, rather
than the substantial articles. Jewel.
ers say that they are doing the big
gest business of any holiday season in
their history. The furniture dealers
say that last year was the record
breaker for them. but expect the bust
ness during the present season will
equal 1t. Dry goods merchants Say
that such articles as underwear are
not as much in demand this year as
last-the purchasing public demanding
Injuries instead.
Not merchant will close his place
Of business at 6 o'clock during the
last week. They say that they can not
afford to. However, they are endeav.
oring to educate the people to shop as
early as possible. because it is not on
~ benefit to the purchaser but to
the clerks and themselves as we'll.