Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-14
RETAIL AVTIVITY
PORTENDS BIC
BUSINESS
Dealers Report Sale Increases in
All Lines, With Unusually
Good Collections.

Retail trade In Atlanta is making
remarkable showing. Nearly every
Whitehall Street merchant reports an
increase of sales over 1912, good col
lections and a remarkable amount
Of cash trade.
Were they not so cheering, the
statements would be monotonous in
their unanimity. Busy streets, busy
clerks, and busy office forces bear
out the assertions Of prosperity and
further emphasize the fact that the
depression in New York is by no
means to be taken as typical OF the
conditions in this city.
81 don't like a croaker," remarked
F. J. Paxon. THE other day it
rained. A friend, head Of d conserva-
tive business, dropped in to see me.
He certainly was blue.
Business is rotten he calculated.
"T don't know anything about the
inside Of your business, 1 told him,
hut I'll bet you a box of cigars that
your sales are ahead of last year
"Tll take you, he remarked. III
get some cigars anyhow
Worth the Cigars.
But he sent me the box Of Ha-
vauas you see on my desk. He had
his accounting department run to-
tai of his sales. and wrote me note
saying it was worth the cigars to
get cured Of the blues. His sales
showed several hundred dollars
gain over last year, which was an
excellent season.
80 It goes, all down the line. The
business man and the financter get
bilious. They need calomel They
need a wider viewpoint. They are
too easily Influenced by a rainy day
or one or two complaints
Jones comes to me and says he
can't pay his bill and wants an eX-
tension. Smith drops in next day
with the same tale. Robinson has a
wall Of identical nature. l get de-
pressed and decide collections are
poor In the meantime, 81 other peO-
pie have paid their bills at the cash
icr's window and / haven't seen them.
At the end of the month, find col
leCtions up to normal
January. February and March
brought US sales equal to the first
-
brought substantial gains. We look
for continued good business"
Cash Sales Larger.
Lloyd r. Parks, dealing in mems
goods, declares spring business was
excellent
we are especially gratihed," says
Mr. Parks, AT noting the considerable
increase in cash business. Each
month the same month of 1912, and
"a large proportion of this is cash
over the counter. Atlanta certainly
has no cause for complaint at trade.
II towers far above all other South
eru cities in prosperity.
THE firm outlook is encouraging
and this fall should break records"
Business conditions in this city are
absolutely sound and good" declares
j. L. Allen. Speaking for my own
concern, each month Of this year
shows a substantial increase over
the corresponding month Of 1912
THE volume of our sales is ahead
Of 1912. to date" says Fred $. Stew
art cash trade is about the same.
People are buying good shoes, too.
We are selling more and more high
priced shoes each year, fewer cheap
shoes"
Henry 5. Johnson, ST. is well sat
isfed with the outlook
business is satisfactory" he says
We are well pleased, and see no
cause for complaint"
Says W. IA. Britain. of J. NJ. High
Co, The season Of 1912 was a good
year But 1913, il seems. will be bet
ter The future looks bright. Cash
sales are as good as last year The
total volume of business shows a
nice increase. collections are up to
the 1912 mark. l am optimistic, and
can't see why anyone should be 9TH
erwise. Certainly Atlanta is in good
shape"