Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-03
MERCHANTS HAD
OSPER0uS YEAR
OTTUMWA STORES DURING 1910
! ENJOYED LARGEST BUSINESS
IN THEIR HISTORY.
HOLIDAY TRADE \ BEST
City's Fame as Shopping Center At
traeted Thousands Of Out Of Town
People Here to Buy-Store
Men Give Interviews.

BEST business in our history; I'VE
had no dull days; 1.-The holiday bust
ness was the best ever" "the number
of out of town shoppers was greater.
These and many other positive state
ments We're made by Ottumwa mer-
chants in the various lines of bust
ness when interviewed regarding the
volume of trade during 1910. Every
merchant called on was very enthus-
iastic over the business transacted
during the year just closed. Not one
line of ware, but every business firm
In the city enjoyed much more patron
| age than the year 1909 and after in
voicing will find a good per cent in
crease IN their gross receipts. Ottum-
wa merchants have just closed the
best business year in their history.
Every merchant visited declared that
business had not been draggy through
the year but that every day was busy
one and while some We're better than
others, there was not one dull day
during the whole. year despite inclem-
ent weather and other unavoidable
conditions.
Holiday Trade Was Heavy.
The holiday business in Ottumwa
last year was the best ever. Christmas
buyin~ started in the fall months and
continued up to Christmas day. Shop
pers took up the early buying advice
of the merchants and began making
their Christmas purchases early and
as Christmas approached the business
increased but there was little crush In
the stores the night before Christmas.
The people made their purchases early
when they had the choice Of various
lines, had plenty of time. and were not
tired out by the crowding in the big
stores.
Out Of Town Buyers Increased.
People outside of Ottumwa in a
radius of fifty to seventy-five miles
have realized that Ottumwa is the best
shopping city in the state and thou
sands of outsiders were attracted to
this city by the rare offerings of the
local merchants. The out of town bust
ness during the past year increased IN
large number, according to local
merchants, and they intend to further
promote buying in Ottumwa during
the coming years The shoppers IN
some instances came from great dis
tances-as far north as Williamsburg.
as far south as Missouri, as far west
as Charlton and Creston and east as
far as Washington and nearby towns.
Ottumwa is better trading center
than Chicago. While this assertion
sounds broad it is nevertheless true.
Ottumwa merchants carry the best
line of goods manufactured, the most
lower than Chicago. An out Of town
shopper coming to the city, does not
have to do his shopping in crowded
store, where the clerks only object Is
to sell any kind of goods and get the
In the Ottumwa stores, buy
er is given all the time he or she wants
and is shown courteuos treatment by
the salesman or saleSWOman, who are
DESTROYS of satisfying the buyer. They
do not shove off on the buyer shoddy
stuff, but try to please the prospective
purchaser by showing goods Of the
latest style and patterns and by suS-
gestions aid them in their selections.
BY this means it becomes a pleasure to
trade in OttumWa stores.
Merchants Give Interviews.
Local merchants were very enthus-
iastic over the years business, and
when called upon for interviews, they
readily responded. The interviews Of
some of the merchants in the various
lines of business follow:
Herman j. Bremhorst of the Brem-
horst grocery. Business last year
was away ahead of that of 1909. No
was dull month but the
heavy holiday trade, which was the
largest we ever had, made up for No
vember. The business was continuous
with the exception of November. We
had a fifteen per cent in
crease in our business. On the average
things are cheaper, despite the cries OF
high living, then they were a year ago
Farm produce such as butter AMI
eggs are high in price and meats are
cheaper, but not as cheap as 1909"
James Cullen Of the S. c. Cullen Co.:
Our business last fall was the best
we ever had. 1t has been continuous
every day. The out Of town business
has been the best that we have ever
enjoyed. 1t started in September and
continued up to Christmas time. There |
were more Christmas shoppers this
year than ever before. One thing that
was very noticeable to me was that !