The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-10
NEW BUSINESSES
GREATEST RESULT
Better Acquaintance Week"
Brought 259 New Accounts to
Local Wholesale Houses.
VISITORS SPEND s25o,ooo
Plans Are Being Made to Have
Two Separate Visits Here
in Future Years.
VISITORS SPEND s25o,ooo

That $50 new accounts had been
saiers as the result of Better Ac-
quaintance Week was one of the most
significant features of the report sub
mitted last night by the executive
committee of the Trade Extension
Bureau of the Chamber OF Commerce
at dinner In Murphy's Hotel Pur-
chascs amounting to moro than $780,
900 could directly be attributed to tho
week. but this was not a fair measure
1t was stated, OF the actual benefits
that Will accrue from the movement
Plans for greater convention of
visiting merchants next year were dis
cuSStd, ana tentative program was
submitted by the committee. 1t Is
proposed to have them here one week
during the early spring. and two weeks
IN the fall. To do this 1t will be nee
cssary to greatly increase the member
ship of the bureau. and n plan to fur
ther tho scope of the work will be
taken up n; II big rally TO be held In
the near future. All present members
and about fifty prospective ones will
be invited to attend
Thirty-Scvcn Firms Represented.
The meeting last night was pre-
sided over by President r NJ Caring
ton, OF the Chamber OF Commerce, and
was attended by representatives OF
the thirty-seven firms that subscribed
toward Better Acquaintance Week"
and members OF the committees that
did the actual work OF making II a
success. Business Manager William r
Dabney. Of the chamber. and secre-
tary of the Trades Extension Bureau.
made n general report on the weeks
results, which he had already sub
United in detail to the executive com
mittce.
His figures show that $40 visiting
merchants accepted the invitation 10
come to Richmond. and that in add.
ton to that number. there were prob
ably $50 more who did not register.
Approximately $4,000 was spent with
the subscribing jobbers while II is
impossible TO estimate how much moro
was spent with outside concerns
Less than $1,000 was spent by the
bureau In bringing this business to
Richmond. Half OF this sum went
into advertising Richmond. the Nat
ural Market of the South" in I; twelve
months campaign, and the rest was
spent In the entertainment OF the Wis
itors. The money was raised chiefly
by subscriptions, while $3.50 was con-
by the hotel association.
Need $4,000 Next Year.
Next year ii will he necessary TO
raise $4,000. w h Rroaddus. mem
Der OF the executive committee. pre-
scHtcd the scheme that he and his as
socates had considered the most adj
visablc. 1t is proposed to assess the
members in accordance with their can
ital and volume OF business Instead OF
a lump sum like that OF the first year.
He wants 10 see the membership grow
from thirty-seven to 100 by next year
in order TO attract more merchants
here
follow-up scheme was presented
for the approval OF the bureau All
visiting merchants are to receive a
letter notifying them that they have
been elected to membership In the ION
to Richmond Club" and the following
week handsomely engraved certih-
cate Of membership will be sent them
Resolutions authorizing the exccu-
tive committee to make such assess
incnts as shall, in It's judgment. be
fair, and to carry out its other plans
were adopted unanimously.
Brings Much New Trade.
\ rally and dinner will be held In q
short time. tho date to be settled by
tho executive committee. Prospective
members will be brought out to hear
the plans for the future discussed. and
to be given an idea OF the great work
TO be accomplished. The committee
consists of ". 3. Broaddus. W. s. sgd
nor, J. y. Palmatary, Alvin NJ. Smith
and a. w. Felthaus.
Several members Of the Trades Ex-
tension Bureau made short talks on
tho accomplishments OF the big week
All agreed that It had been 4 huge sue
cess. and the fact that so many new
had boon opened was n great
source OF qualification. II was hardly
that one third OF the Wis
itors would be men who were using
the Richmond market for the first time
These men, it was pointed out. if given
the proper treatment, who continue to /
come here, and would be the means
OF bringing others.