Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-11-30
Advertising
/ Talks q
BUSINESS METHODS CHANGED
Advertising Has Placed Merchandls.
ing on Honorable sasis-Fashion
Fifty Years Ago.

f1fty or sixty years ago the retail
business OF the country was conducted
much after the fashion OF some OF the
merchants OF the East side OF New
York city.
mere was an outside" man who In
duced the prospective customer to
step inside"
once inside he was at the tender
mercies of half a dozen OF more
statesmen. and II the first one did not
convince him. each salesman In turn
took fall out OF him.
The customer went IN expecting to
be robbed. The merchant invited him
In expecting to get the worst OF it.
The first price asked for an article
was usually three times its actual
value. the first amount offered was
usually three times below the actual
value.
And SO the haggling would 20 on.
lack and forth. back and forth. some
times for hours. Each man distrust-
ed the other. each man trying TO get
the better of the other. and in the end.
each man feeling that the other had
gotten the better of the bargain.
IL was legitimate business. too;
everybody did II, nobody considered IT
unfair or dishonest
There was not much advertising In
those days-one could not haggle In an
advertisement-there must be plain
statements and definite prices named
In the advertising.
III merchant advertised n certain
article and named n price three times
It's actual value his outside man would
not be able TO get anyone TO 20 in
they would think the price final, since
the merchant took the trouble TO pub
fish II.
The first merchants TO advertise hon.
est goods at honest prices had n hard
row TO hoe-people did not believe in
them. thought II was another move to
get the better OF them. and the mer-
chants who did not want 10 change,
who did not want business put on
higher plane, encouraged the peoples
disbelief. made a fine penny out OF pos
ing as old-fashiond business men, as
"stand-patters" for things as they
were.
But progressive men had seen a
light and kept on advertising honest
goods at honest prices
BY and by the people began TO
think there was something in this one
price talk: then they began to inves-
tigate. Then the advertisers began to
get action.
Just az soon as the people began TO
think. it's all over with questionable
methods. They force n man out or
| force him TO get in line. as Is being
proven every day I'm this old world Of
OURS.
Advertising. and nothing but advcr-
| Using has placed the business OF
our country IN its high and honorable
/ position.
Advertising. and nothing but adver-
/ Using has placed the American bust
ness man in position where the pub
| tic believes ia him and approves Of
him.
II that were all advertising had TO
its credit Il would still De classed as
one OF the greatest business building
/ forces In the world
But Il has more 10 its credit. much
more IL has taught the beople val
des, IL has taught them 90 discrim-
mate. II has made II possible for PEG
pie of modest circumstances 20 have
more comfort and convenience in
their homes. TO wear better clothes.
to eat better food.
How?
First OF all. by creating a desire IN
the minds OF the readers for better
things, and letting them know where
and how these things could be had. at
prices they could afford to pay
by making u possible for tho man
ufacturer to gain wider dlstribu-
ton
Advertising Is the greatest business
and confidence building force In the
world
Try Il IN your business. MI N0nad-
Vertiser. and see how quickly and gen
erously the people respond 90 good.
honest. straightforward advertising