The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-07
WoMAN's SUCCESS IN SHOES.
T TER name shines out In electric
lights above her store like that
of q Erna dmaN star Sha Is

slender and gIrlish looking.
Il was left a widow when I was
rs with three children to provide for
Mrs. Minnie Cohen begins. Il didn't
know what 10 do. My father had a
little grocery store, but he had brought
up eight OF lis and several were still
at home, SO 1t didn't seem fair TO ask
any more Of him. | went home at
once. bur l could not rest for wonder
ing what ] should do.
Il had been a saleswoman in suits
and eloaks before l was married. but
knew 1 could never take care OF my
children on such pay. And this time
was not going to work for A few
years. / would have to plan like a
man--for always.
bret sffetttt a et,ee~ss- OF
business. One of them has a chain Of
mems furnishing stores. So my rela-
tives got together and gave me few
hundred dollars to put into any bust
ness ] liked.
The womens furnishing business
that I knew was not a good one for
me, I decided; it took too much stock
and the trade was seasonal. So / de-
clded on shoes. though I knew nothing
about them except what ! had learned
in buying them for myself / found
this little stcre-~it was only half as
large then--and put IN my stock.
"Oh. but I worked hard. / used 10
get here at IN the morning, sweep
the store and the sidewalk, dust. look
over my stock to have my orders ready
for the salesu1en. ana be ready for
business by s. OF course I never re-
fused a customer If she came before
3, and have sold many pair Of shoes
70 Il Etrf on her way 10 her own work.
l never got homo before Il at night.
II got my first clerk just before my
baby was born, three months after
had opened the store. I worked up 10
the last moment myself, and while
was al home one brother always went
over n the evening TO see how things
were going, and give hand with the
trade. which is always heaviest in the
evening In this neighborhood
'"The hardest thing in my whole ex-
per:ence was leaving my baby. but
couldn't have him with me and
couldn't stay at home with him I did
the best I could for him: gave him to
d woman who had been nurse to
take care or Tor me. She gave him
constant care. eand he did well
never saw him except on Sundays, ex-
cept once in a while when she would
bring him to the store.
THE clerk stayed on with me, seiltn 9
to the men while sold TO the women.
featured wofnen's shoes from the first.
trssnG- Ia Sat the pretty neW- STYLES that
girls like. A shoe must have style and
snap as we'll as comfort to suit a girl,
and the girls are my best customers, for
they wear out many shoes as they go
to work and stand all day. So I tried
to please them and gradually I built up
\ good trade. As It wdened I got an
errand boy TO deliver packages after
school.
'sfstft +Tf7e store was toe small for much
Of stock and when q customer was
being fitted ore could hardly get past.
for it was only ten feet wide. So I
began 10 save my money for g. bigger
store.
"one night about three years after I
opened burglars got In over the transom
and took about three dozen pairs Of
shoes. II was not until five years after
I opened that / felt I could afford the
bigger store. | had gone very care
fully, paying all hills as went. Once in
a while 7 would date check a little
ahead, but not often ! had lost a little
through giving credit 10 old customers,
but not much.
Il had the money In the bank when
the people next door had fire. 1t
didn't come Through. but my stock was
ruined by water and il was only par
tally insured I had taken out bur
giary insurance after / was robbed. and
/ stree / was burned out have carried
( fail fire Insurance, but that didn't help
me then. had TO sell my stock for a
third of what II had cost me-
Il felt pretty bad. but my brothers
helped me out You're ali right as long
as your credits good, they told me. So
l got the store next door, had the two
thrown together and put in my new
stock.
We had another clerk. but the first
| thing knew I was feeling very bad. |
suppose had worked too hard over the
moving, and for five years had scarcely
sat down. I was so anxious to have
things going well. I had never thought
about myself
You're business woman the doc
tor said to me. You've got long time
TO work. Why don't you take care OF
your health the same'as you do of your
stock It's the best part of it..
80 I began to look after myself
had never done any homework had
had the sense to realize that couldn't
| do mans work and womans too. but
now | began to do a mans work az a
man would do It.
| Il stayed in bed until in the morn
| ing leaving the clerks to open the store
while trade was dull. There is another
| quiet time early In the afternoon. and /
went home TO lunch and rested an hour
| afterward. I didn't do a little sewing or
reading or wash my hair. I lay down
! on the bed and thought about nothing
| at all. And very soon I was all right
| again, but | have done the same ever
since. I stall work in the evenings, but
! one night week J 20 to The theatre to
/ get my mind of business.
Il have learned to let my clerks take
some of the responsibility as well. as do
! the work / have three men clerks
now and an extra man on Saturday,
1 with porter to take care OF the store
/ and deliver packages.
! Perhaps I do look young considering