The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-24
OPENING BEYOND
ALL EXPECTATIONS
Profitable Business Marks
Continuance in All Lines
During Week.
COLLECTIONS ARE GOOD
Cold Weather Expected TO
Bring About Still Brisker
Conditions.
COLLECTIONS ARE GOOD

Successful fall openings marked last
week IS business among the merchants
of the city, who declare that the re-
suits have been beyond expectations,
From the smaller firms, which deal IN
specinl lines of merchandise of all de-
scriptions and classifications, to the
big department stores, openings on
small or large basis, with offerings OF
variegated character; were held to a
profitable business. Merchants report
that there is reason to believe the prom
ising openings will be sustained, par
ticularly should the weather take a
brisk turn.
The features Of the openings were
the exceptional sales in women S ready
to.year apparel suits, coats and mil"
linery. A special demand for mats
among both sexes caused the counter
and cash sales to run up above the nor
NAL. In both cases the new headdress
anticipated new styles in body dress or
coats The openings for the most part
offered elite fashions, which were ia
vored by customers. The shoe trade
also made good showing both in the
department stores and the shoe firms.
Sales in silks and dress goods con-
tinue strong, while there has been an
unusual demand for new carpets, drap-
cries and curtains These last stocks
have found a very ready market, II
is said, because Of much renovatlng, re"
movals and new residences The threat.
ening weather caused somewhat of run
on rain coats and umbrellas, while the
usual fall sales in heavier garments
and staple goods apparently made
good beginning.
Collections Satisfactory.
Hardware and implement companies
also report very good business. due TO
the season of crops and harvesting. The
annual move Of special buyers to east
err points TO contract or arrange for
advance Christmas styles and stocks IS
close at hand, and its extent will In
large measure depend upon the good
business attendant upon the openings
and the harvesting season.
For the most part merchants are falr
" satisfied with collections, although
il is expected that the impending re-.
turns from sheep, cattle, beets and
otner crop harvests will bring ready
money for the balancing of accounts,
TO say nothing Of increased transactions
Cash sales have been much heavier
than charge sales, which is looked upon
as a particularly healthy condition, Dur
ing the past week sales on cash have
averaged 66 % per cent more than sales
otherwise made.
Openings Encouraging.
In new trimmings. laces, embroideries
and all fancy goods n steady demand
has continued at nominal figures.
Prices in nearly all lines have main
tained a good average, but have not
been eXorbitant. The demand in all
lines is being met not only by con
servstive stocking but by new ship
ments of seasnnable goods which are ar.
riyine each day. In most instances the
fall openings acted as barometer 10
merchants for designating Just what
their actual supply would be, The sue
cessful openings and promise of con.
tipuance now warrant more stock In
popular lines.
Al merchants agree that the most
prominent factor in business at present
is the weather. The success of the
openings has prevailed despite mild
weather. 4 turn to brisker conditions,
rain or cold, is anticipated by the mer-
chants, who hold great faith in the prof,
liable business that Is expected to arise
from such turn in the weather,
Taken in general, the business Of the
past week has been highly encouraging
The openings will continue until the
season proper has appeared, when il
Is expected that business IN all chan.
nels of merchandise Will easily eclipse
the figures of last year.