Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-12-03
ARE INVESTIGATING
BUSINESS CONDITIONS
Advertising Clubs of America
Have Selected Bismarck for
Purpose Of Study.
WILL SPEND FOUR
DAYS IN THE CITY
Cooperation of the Merchants
and Others Desired in Order
to Get Information.
to Get Information.

A survey now being conducted by
the Commercial club in cooperation
with the Associated Advertising Clubs
of the World has revealed an increase
of from ten to forty percent in the
total volume of business transacted
by various leading merchants of the
capital city during the past year.
Blanks have been mailed to num-
Der of the representative dealers,
and without exception the replies re-
ceived have indicated a very healthy
trend in local commercial circles. In
some lines the late threshing has had
an unfavorable effect, but, even with
this handicap, a very satisfactory
gain in November business over that
of 1914 is recorded.
One result of this survey will be to
place Bismarck on the map CONNER
cially. The Associated Advertising
Clubs of the World is noteworthy
organization whose activities COM
mand universal attention. The re-
port from Bismarck undoubtedly will
be given prominence as indicating
marked upward trend during period
when the remainder Of the country
has only begun to awake from it's two
years lethargy.
This is the second investigation of
the kind. A year ago when all bust
ness men seemed to be confused as to
the effect the European war would
have on conditions in this country, the
Associated Advertising Clubs of the
World with representative organiZa-
tons in different cities came forward
with the assertion that the only true
test of the exact business conditions
is consumer demand, and to prove
this point conducted an investigation
among the leading retail stores which
showed that despite many alarming
reports the average condition Of Amer
lean business showed a decrease for
the month of November 1914, over
November 1913 of only z.3 per cent.
The completed report, containing
many maps and charts and compiled
within ~ days, was delivered to Pres.
ident Wilson, Premier Borden of Can.
well as many of the leading business
men of the country, and their high
commentator of the investigation is
what has lead to a repetition of the
plan this year.
Those in charge OF the work say
that as the committee is now in pos
session of such vital facts for compar-
ison, and as the number of merchants
interviewed will be greatly increased,
the report. for this--year should be
even more valuable than its predeces.
sor. While last years report was sold
for S. volume and the edition was
completely exhausted the report of
the present investigation will be given
much wider circulation, as it will be
printed in full in the January issue of
Associated Advertising, the official or
gan of the Advertising Clubs. to
which all advertising and business
men will be allowed free access.
p interviewed by Tribune reporter
today, the Commercial club said:
"What we are trying to do is to elimi-
nate guess work from the sales and
advertising efforts, and thus reduce
their cost.
All of the work is volunteered, and
none of the investigators nor any of
the members of the committee are to
receive one cent for their efforts. The
report is to be dedicated to the Ameri.
can Business Man.
1--WE contended that the only real
test of business is the variation of the
demand of the consumers. The only
way to tell whether business is good
or poor is to get the exact estimate