Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-01
RETAIL BUSINESS
SHOWS INCREASE
Gain Of Tweny Per Cent is Noted
by the Association Of Retail
ers of Omaha.
MANY NEW FAMILIES ARRIVE

omaha's retail business. taken as a
whole. was perhaps 20 per cent greater
I'm volume IN 1915 that II ever was in any
previous year in the history Of the city
Figures are not available on the retail
business OF the city. as they are on the
wholesale and manufacturing business
but those closest in touch with the retail
activities OF the city make close esti-
mates.
The estimate of 20 per cent increase
Is made by ]. w. Metcalfe. secretary Of
the Associated Retailers OF Omaha.
Mr.. Metcalfe says Il think II IL safe
TO say that the retail business has in
creased % per cent above that OF any
year in the past. Prosperity is In the air
out here in Nebraska and in Omaha.
Omaha is growing. People are coming
into the city all the time and making
their homes here"
slow at FIrat.
The first half Of the year was slow. II
began to pick up in some OF the retail
lines about May. The rest OF the lines
began to pick up about September From
that time on business IN practically every
retail line began TO swell, and big sales
were shown on the books at the close of
each succeeding month.
The jewelry line particularly showed
big business this year. This. too. was
slow during the first half Of the year.
Jewelry business began TO pick up about
July and from then on gained rapidly.
The first Christmas buying in the jewelry
line began early and kept up steadily.
The volume OF buying in the jewelry line.
according TO Secretary Metcalfe. was
never so large as this year
Population increases.
That omaha's population was steadily
growing during the year by an influx
OF outsiders is shown in various ways. One
OF the best places TO note this Is in the
office OF the Associated Retailers. where
all new accounts are reported when new
corners open accounts with any OF the
retail stores members OF the association.
During all the fall this has averaged
over thirty new accounts per month.
These are largely accounts opened by
the heads Of families and all accounts OF
persons who have just moved into the
city. Secretary Metcalfe make little
calculation In regard 10 these. lie says
that scarcely one-fifth OF the heads OF
families moving into the city open ac-
counts That would mean that the thirty
must be multiplied by five to get the
number of families moving in. This.
again, would be multiplied by five. as the
average family. It rs recognized. IL
family OF five.
This would mean a total OF some Z 800
or 800 new people moving into the city
in year" snid Mr.. Metcalfe. "and
do not think those figures are any too
lnr~a."
ro-Icctiona Arc Good,
ccllcc io-s. ton. have been better than
usual during the fall when September
came and the extent Of the wheat crop
was known. and. In fact. all the small
grain was, harvested--it was then the
retail business first showed squirt Then
In a month or two much OF the grain
was marketed and money was beginning
to be easier. Hence. easier collections.
Then came October and November, with
the full extent OF the corn crop a GER
tainty, and this is what gave another
added impetus TO business. Al the same
time Il tended still more to loosen up
money and make collections easier
Secretary Metcalfe says the Associated
Retailers should be credited, however.
with having much to, do with facilitating
collections. He points out that the credit
bureau has had much to do with edu-
eating people as to the value of a good
credit standing. and says he has had
customers OF some OF the stores come
In and thank him personally for having
shown them the Importance OF keeping
their bills paid up to date for the sake
Of their own credit standing In the
community.
At the same time he says the Asso-
cisted Retailers should be given due
credit for the Increase in the volume OF
business In the city as the association
has shown the retailers the value OF
true cooperation. not only for their in
diyidual benefit. but for the benefit OF
the city as a whole.