Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-04-01

Nearly every merchant IN the city
has just finished moving and has his
location in tiptop shape; every mer-
chant is ready for the rush of spring
business, but one thing remains to be
done. Though the scheme which we
are about to suggest, has never been
tried in Alma on the very face of it
it worth the trial. 1t is simply a
"Pay Up Week" 1t means that one
week will be set aside by Alma bust
ness men when they will square their
accounts with their fellow business
men and in turn have their patronage
square it's account with them. The
plan has been outlined by a Kansas
City paper and is as follows:
Following the leadership of Wau-
kon, little town near La Crosse,
many Wisconsin cities are contemplate
ing putting on "pay up week" The
movement grew out of the conviction
that once each year citizens should
make a systematic effort to put their
business affairs in shape.
The Waukon Commercial Club took
an active part in making "pay up
week" the success it was. Charles K.
Pye, its secretary, did the targets part
of the work. 1t was he who explained
TO his fellow townsmen the benefits
that would result from such a move
ment and encouraged all classes to
give the idea trial. In explaining
how the plan worked out Mr.. Pye
says:
"The settlement week movement is
an effort to get each community to set
a time each year in which men shall
settle one with the other and get their
business bearings, so as to intelli-
gently carry on the work of the new
year. In the first place business is so
intricate and complex that one mans
business success depends upon the
other fellow. If pay my bill the 9TH
er fellow can pay his, and so an end
less chain is set in motion that finally
comes back to me.
In the second place, men go on year
after year doing business, in hap
hazard way, not knowing where they
stand. One man, tailor, told me
that he had been doing business back
and forth with dentist for ten years
and that he had no idea who was the
debtor, or how much. In the third
place, the last year has been especially
unfortunate in the number of book ac-
counts. Because of these things we
instituted this week.
The plan was about as follows. The
Commercial Club put up purse of
$4,000 to those who should pay their
accounts. Then in each statement
sent out a little slip was placed. The
merchants sent out about 5000 state
ments and as a result more than 1000
accounts were settled. In addition
to that we made an appeal to the com
munity spirit through the papers. If
all the accounts owed were paid pros
perity for the coming year would be
assured and other things of the same
tenor were stated.
Then we had big window cards, "Do
IL Today, Settle Your Accounts" On
the payment of an account the mer-
chant gave a ticket and this entitled
the holder to a chance on the $50. As
a result more than $4,000 was paid
in the week and probably much more
than we can even estimate"
Next week The Record will print an
outline of each and every feasible plan
which has been suggested to its editor
for the best way of working out this
"Pay Up Week" so that the best re-
suits may be obtained all the way
around The Record is behind this
thing to see it through, for it means a
great deal to Alma business men. Let |
everyone who has given the matter Sc
rious thought come forward with some |
live suggestions.