St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-08-30
REAL GET TOGETHER
Merchants Of St. Johnsbury Met at
Club Rooms and Discuss Bar
gain Days and Other Things.

gam Lays anu OlucK 1NkugS.
The weekly meeting of the exc
cutive committee of the st. Johns.
bury Commercial Club at their
rooms last Thursday evening was
one of unusual interest. There was
large attendance, there being 80
ent. Then they got to talking
about themselves and St. Johns
bury in way that not only inter
ested those present but may be. the
forerunner of better things for the
town as whole.
After supper President Rickaby
called the meeting to order and said
that the merchants had been invit-
ed to attend this meeting not to be
told what they ought to do but to
allow them the opportunity of MAX
ing known to the club what it
could do to help them. He spoke
of the Importance of the merchants
getting better acquainted with each
other and said the club would do
Whatever it could to help them.
He then asked W. J. Bigelow to say
a few words.
Mr.. Bigelow said he understood
one of the subjects to be discussed
was a bargain day or merchants
week when special inducements
would be made to attract trade.
Such schemes have worked we'll
elsewhere and he thought st. Johns
bury merchants should try some
thing of the kind. He also spoke
of the Importance of having a gen
era1 representation of all lines of
business in the advertising columns
of the newspapers as a good lot of
live advertising gave a good i'm
preston of the town.
George Asselin thought that if all
the retail merchants could be inter
ested in bargain day it would be
good thing.
Arthur Taplin thought bargain
day once a month when every mer-
chant in town would make some
specially attractive offer would be
good thing for the town.
II. J. Goodrich thought bargain
day would be desirable and suggest
ed that it be extended to the doctors
and lawyers. DR.. Miltimore, who
was present, was asked what the
doctors would do about that and
said they would all like a bargain
day Tor the town.
w. b. Eastman said that the
on a bargain day should be
large enough and general enough
to give the impression that St.
) ohnsbury was not only the best
place to trade but a place where
customer could find what he want
ed. Have it create good town i'm
preston.
A. H. Gleason was particularly
impressed with the idea of the mer-
chants getting together, rubbing
shoulders and getting acquainted |
With each other. By cooperating the |
local merchants could to a large ex-
tent stop the mail order business
because if the people here knew
hey could get just as good bar
gains here, which they can, as else
where they would trade here
Lots of people send away and pay
freight on goods that they could
nave delivered at their door by
ocal merchants at the price they
BAY outside parties.
James Cosgrove said a bargain
lay should include all classes of re-
all trade He referred to the success
It Morrisville's bargain days One
mall merchant there said he took
lay. They have the proper spirit
here. They feed the horses of the
coming in and the church
ssociations were paid by common
und contributed by the merchants
D feed all the ladies visiting the
own. The local merchants should 4
~ to reform themselves before at
to reform their customers.
hey should raise a fund and offer
isitors proper entertainment on
1ese bargain days.
Lindol Scott said our main con-
ern was to develop a spirit of good
ellowship among our merchants
Thy not have a committee repre-
enting each branch of To-
II business to study the subject
nd try to induce all merchants to
1opt progressive ideas.
George H. Cross, the dean of the
ommercial club, spoke of whole
Tiers association to which he be- u
nged which enabled them to know
DIV the members conduct their t
lsiness and whether or not they
ere following established prices. 1t
opt the members acquainted with
Lch other and gave them a higher
'preciation of each other. Such an
ganization would work well with
= Johnsbury business men.
G. E. Peck said that the get to-
,ther plan is the real thing. Town
tion regarding bargain days and
ch matters would follow as soon