Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-03-12
Remarkable Growth Is Made by
Sampson Music Company In
the Past Ten Years

his small stock filling as much space
as it could possibly be spread over in
9x12 foot store room at lot South
Tenth street. Some~of the experiences
of those days when a SIS cash drawer
return for the day was a small fortune
will some day be written by Mr.. Samp-
son in his own way. The newspaper
game taught him the value Of adver-
tising-to attract the public. Puzzling
over this daily while pacing before his
small and modest business house anx-
iously watching the approach Of a
prospective customer at the same time.
an idea struck Mr.. Sampson. The next
day there appeared in the press the
slogan, Sampson s-Thirty- five Steps
From Main Street" photograph
was installed over the entrance door
playing ~ hours at a stretch. The
idea was conceived to install a NOV
ing picture outfit in the alley between
Main and Grove streets and a canvas
across the street TO entertain the
crowds. 1t was, the unusual that Mr.
Sampson resorted to as an advertising
medium and it was successful
Sales Push Partitions Back.
But those were days of trials and
tribulations-days OF hard work The
photograph was somewhat of an inno-
walton, but aside from being curious
the public was not very much inter-
ested. at least to the extent of buying.
So it was one Of the plans Of Mr..
Sampson to start out almost daily
with a photograph under one arm and
records and horn in the other to make
house TO house canvass and play the
photograph, much to the amusement of
the children in the homes and the curl
osity of their elders. That was the
way the photograph was really intro
duced in Boise. Hard work brought re-
suits. The sales grew and as they did
the partition in the small store was
gradually pushed back to make more
room. Finally the small quarters were
too small and the stock was moved to
SIS Main street where the company
had a nine foot front, with the use of
the store room in the rear, a jewelry
store having part Of the front space.
How Name Was Changed.
Before he moved his stock from
South Tenth street, the present name
of the company was decided upon in
somewhat interesting manner The
store had been installed under the
name of the American Music company
At that time Mr. Sampson had a part
ner. Neither of them was satisfied
with the name. One day Mr.. Samp-
son was called to Nampa on busi-
ness matters and when he returned he
found the sign american Music Com
pany' removed and in it's place there
was one reading The Sampson Music
Company Although he objected, his
partner insisted Sampson stood for
strength. at least in a store, so Mr..
Sampson laughingly gave in. There
after it was the Sampson Music com
pany,
The old quarters on Main street,
where pianos and other instruments
were added to the stock, soon became
too small and on Jan. l Mr.. Sampson
took lease on his present store build
ing which was remodeled and has been
made most attractive, The perfection
of the photograph and bringing into
popularity the Yictrola and Edison was
deeply impressed on Mr.. Sampson. So
he specialized on it This resulted in
the Photographic department of his
new store receiving special attention
Booths have been installed in which
the machines are played. These booths
have plate glass sides and fronts with
an air space between, the glass ar
rangement making each booth sound
proof. It is therefore possible for ma
chimes playing in one booth not to be
heard in the other or adjoining one.
The firm has the exclusive agency