The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-19
Mail Order Trade
Would Do Much to
Boost Grand Forks
THIS CITY is LOGICAL CENTER O SUCH U
1NESS-MERCHANTS EVERYWHERE REA
1ZE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRY.

City progress depends largely on
tributary trade territory. The Grand
Forks commercial club has repeatedly
called attention to the fact that Grand
Forks. within a thirty-three mile rad
ius. has the largest population and
richest territory Of North Dakota
city. Railroad statistics recently COM
piled by the publicity department show
that in addition to this splendid retail
trade field Grand Forks has 2.172
miles Of tributary railroad. leading
the state in this respect. Naturally
these railroad facilities are responsible
for Grand Forks being the distribut-
ing center for northern North Dakota
but comparatively few business men
Of the city are taking advantage of
these facilities and Of the tributary
territory to add to heir business.
Mail Order Center.
Right here comes this pertinent
query. rs there any aso why Grand
der center for northern North Dako-
Ia ?" There can be no question as to
the need of this kind. Residents in
certain sections of the state must
necessarily depend on this method of
merchandising for a considerable part
OF their yearly purchases. And this
being true there is no real sound rea-
son why a farmer living in western
North Dakota away from home mer-
chants should find it necessary to send
several hundred miles further east to
get what he wants It is the natural
tendency OF people to patronize home
industries all other things being equal,
but home industries must reach the
people II they expect to get their busi-
ness.
An opportunity to secure mail order
business lies before the Grand Forks
merchant. In most cases. however,
there is a lack of appreciation of the
possibilities OF this branch of mer-
chandising. Naturally a mail order
business requires a mailing list. suit
able catalogues and liberal use Of post
hge The catalogue must be attrac-
the prices must be right. But most of
all a successful mail order business
requires careful and efficient service.
Too much empha sis cannot be LAID on
this feature of any business. Careful,
ef1ctent service and good goods mean
successful business for any firm, hut
IN the mail order business the value
OF service is proportionately larger
than under conditions which permit
the buyer to look yer the stock Of
goods and make his W selection.
1SeO0s
1t Is a mistaken idea to suppose that
a mail order business cannot be car
rted on In connection with retail bust
ness with a large expenditure Of mon
ey.- Any business venture means that
some money must he invested looking
toward future returns. The Grand
Forks merchant who might decide to
carry on a campaign for mail order
business would naturally expect to in
vest some money, but the outlay would
be small as compared with the posi-
bilities. The first heavy expense items
for a merchant starting in the retail
business are his stock Of goods, his
rent or the purchase Of a building and
his hired help. To carry on a mail
order business there would be no addi-
tional rent. no additional stock and in
most cases very little addition to the
working force. In most stores the in
crease In business would simply re-
duire more efficient organization until
the mail order end Of tho business
should grow to such proportions as to
require extra help.
Can Start Right.
With the equipment at hand and the
territory available, the Grand Forks
merchant can launch into the mail or.
der business with every advantage.
Richer territory or more available to
Grand Forks merchants than the rich
farm lands of North Dakota and Mont