The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-01-27
TO HOLD WINDOW
DISPLAY CONTEST.
Prize Loving Cup is Offered by Mer-
chant at Retailers League
Meeting Last
Night.
INCREASE IN BUSINESS
Greater effectiveness Of Window
Displays Will Result From
Contest, Members Of
League Think.

A window display contest among
4 the retail stores c. this city for
prize loving cup will be one OF the
lharbingers Of spring this year. The
contest, proposed by O. B. Towne,
manager of the Industrial association,
at the annual meeting Of the Retailers
league last night. met with practically
unanimous approval Of the merchants
present. At the close of the meeting,
and before those present could leave
| the banquet room, one of the retailers
approached Mr.. Towne and sta-ed
that he would put up the loving cup
prize. He asked. however, that his
name not be mentioned in connection
with the offer.
The primary purpose OF holding this
contest, as explained by MI. Towne
last night, is to increase the effective
mess of the window displays In local
retail stores and to force home on the
merchants the value of up to date
windows. Mr. Towne stated last night
that many of the store windows here
were very sadly neglected by the ma J.
ayers Of the stores. This neglect not
only INJURIES the business OF this store
but it gives, as we'll, poor appear
ance to the city.
| Windows Here Can be Improved.
Mr.. Towne said that on the average
the windows in Keokuk compared
very favorably with those OF other
cities of this size. This, however. is
no excuse, he said, for not using
every effort to make Improvement.
/! If all the store windows on Main street
were filed with attractive and inter
esting displays the total volume OF
business done in this city would pc
very materially Increased, and the APP
pearance of the business district
would show wonderful Improvement.
Arrangements for the display con-
| test will be completed as soon as pos
sibIe. Mr.. Towne said this morning
that he had already written to the
Commercial club of Council BluHs.
with which he was connected before
coming here, for details under which
similar contest was held there Wnlie
| he was in that city.
| Before the contest is held the mer-
chants will be given half day or
more in which to darken their WIN
dows while arranging their displays.
Three or more judges will be appoint
led to award the prize. One OF the
| 1uQSeS TO Dc SciSCIcu Will LIZ uooDs -
woman, Mr.. Towne said. If possible.
I travelling salesman, disinterested In
the contest, will be named for an
other one Of the judges, while To-
cal merchant probably will be select
! ed for the third.
To Consider Three Points.
In selecting the winner of the con-
test three things probably will be
considered: First, the harmony OF
the combination used in the window;
second, the general artistic arrange
ment and attractiveness; and third,
the cleanliness and neatness of the
r, display. The selling" value of the
window will be considered under the
second heading.
/ With arrangements for the contest
being made at this time 1t will be pos
sible to hold the contest at the time
when most of the people are getting
ready to do their spring shopping.
The windows will receive greater at
tention from the shoppers at that
l time and effect of the improvement or
the windows will be Of greater value
to the merchants at that time.
A committee to have charge of the
contest either will be named by MI.
Justice before the next meeting OF the
Retailers league or will be selected
nv the members at the next meeting
og tbis organization in February.