Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-12-12
SATURDAY DEC. IL 1914,
A CASE IN POINT.

T was on a West Eighth street car. Two men, who
had met casually, talking.
How did you make out today?' Of them in
quired.
oh pretty good thank you" the response 81
went out Eighth street took orders amounting to
more than $780,"
Further conversation between them revealed that
the man who had taken the orders represented retail
grocery house in Philadelphia and that it is regular
practice for him work from house to house in this
city taking orders for groceries.
We do not criticize the Philadelphia grocer for max
ing still-hunt trade in this city. We congratulate
him upon having been keen enough to put young
work here who is capable OF booking 500 worth OF
orders in one street in day Whatever criticism
is deserved a result Of such transactions should be
directed toward those wilmingtonians who. ignoring
the buy-at-home principle placed such orders with a
Philadelphia house, and toward those Wilmington
who permit such outside houses to send repre-
sentatves here and take the trade from beneath the
fingers of our local business
It is the civic duty of wilmingtonian who makes
money here to spend It here far that spending
may be done advsatageousiy He should do everything
within reason to stimulate and build up the local bust
ness houses.
On the other hand, we think Il is the duty OF the
Wilmington business TO meet the Wilmington
shopper least halfway There is old saying that
a thing that isn't worth asking for. isn't worth hav-
ing We wonder IL grocers, rule realize the
germ of truth contained in that old SAW II would
be interesting to know il a solicitor for Of our
home grocers could not have gone from house to
house in West Eighth street. booked that 500 worth
of orders kept that money in circulation here. If
not why no7 Aren't local prices qualities deliveries
and credits right? Can't local grocer sell good
goods as oheapy, deliver them quickly and extend
as liberal credits to and in his home town
as Philadelphia grocer can afford to do those things
negative answer to such a question would Il
indicate that there is something wrong in the way IN
which local houses go after business fail tC
go after It.
We cite the Eighth street order booking incident
with two purposes in view one is TO impress upon
Wilmington shoppers the Importance of shopping at
home The other is impress upon Wilmington bust
the importance Of going after business, and
going after 1t hard
The old conservative business methods worn out
The business who today has for his motto ITO be
sought not to seekl" is headed towards bankruptcy
It is that business who hunts for business who
sets up line Of argument that convincing than
that of his competitors and who renforces his argu-
ment with the offer of something better or cheaper
least good and cheap, is offered by his
competitors, who gets the trade.
Wilmington is not canvassed often enough and hard
enough by Wilmington business men for Wilmington
trade II II WERE the solicitor for a Philadelphia gro
Gerry could not walk in here and book 800 worth o
household orders in street in day.
We think there is food for thought in this buy-at
home editorial not only for our shoppers but ais,
tor many of merchants