The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-01-01
FEW STORES SHOW DECREASE
People Show Willingness to Invest in
Practical Presents and Many of the
Stores Report a Goodly Increase in
Profits Over Former Year.

The "Hard Times Bogey" in Ke-
nosha was pretty well shot to pieces
this morning by the reports Of the bust
ness men of the city of the business
done during the Christmas trade and if
there are hard times in Kenosha it was
not reflected in the business done dur
ing the past month. Business men by
reference to their books this morning
showed that the volume Of the Christ
mas trade in Kenosha this year was
the largest in the history Of the city
Forty representative merchants repre-
senting dozen lines of business and
most OF them in the downtown business
district were asked this morning to give
a statement in regard to the Christmas
business. Of this number thirty-fou1
made an unqualified report that the
business done in 1913 had been better
than that in the previous year. -Four
reported that there was slight falling
off in the business and two that the
business was within few dollars of the
business of 1912.
Clothing dealers declared that while
the volume of business had been great
ly in excess of the former year that
the receipts in actual cash had been
only slightly increased and one of the
clothiers reported a falling off Of $40
under the business done last year. eff
we could have sold the big stuff this
year that we sold last year the trade
would have been way to the good and
at that it was decidedly satisfactory
trade. On the small merchandise the
margin Of profit is just a little better
than on the big stuff and we find that
holiday profits this year are better than
last year.
A department. store manager who has
been in business for many years, said,
/" Last Tuesday was the biggest day
that [ ever saw in Kenosha and every
day during the Christmas season showed
an increase over last year There was
a lot Of practical giving this year, fur
niture sales were unusually large and
the people seemed to be willing to buy
good presents. The trade was decided
ly satisfactory to us.
The jewelers. of the city all report an
excellent business. There was however
a falling off in the sale Of diamonds and
expensive watches and these items cut
the bulk of the Christmas trade. They
did not, however, cut the profits
to the dealers and the trade was better
than last year from the bank book
standpoint.
Dealers in toys were among the
number to report a slight falling off
in business this year but even in these
stores the loss from the former year
was SO small that it was hardly worthy
of consideration.
There was not dealer in the street
who was willing to make any estimate
of the total Christmas business in Ke-
nosha, but depleted stocks in all lines
showed that the business had been I'M
usually large. The comparison with
1912 was hard one for any business
as last year was considered record
breaking year in all lines.
In the community stores in the out
lying districts of the city an unanimous
report was received that business had
been better than in the preceding year
The banks report that there was a
large demand for gold money to be
given as Christmas presents and the
amount of gold distributed this year
was much larger than in the former
year.