Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-23
ANNIVERSARY
 OF p. G M. COMPANY
Business Was Established Way Back
 in March, 1873.

world over as the home of statesmen and liberty loving citizens; but it en- joys the further distinction of hay ng provided the training school in mer- chandising that has sent it's gradua tes into fame and success into many of the largest states of the country. eOne of the agencies which has contributed to the commanding position of Connecti cut in the school of commerce was tie establishment, by James Hislop, JohJ Porteous and Archibald Mitchell, of the business now conducted by The Por- teouS & Mitchell Company of this cirA and which is this week commemOrating the forty-fourth anniversary of it's cs- tablishment- During the almost half century that has marked the span OI
 business activity of MeSsrs. Porteous & Mitchell, there has gone forth into th martS Of trade any pumber of enter prising young men who received tFeir business training under the tutelage of the founders of the business, and wii. have achieved success either mer chants conducting their own establish ments or in managerial positions O.
 responsibility
 It was in March, 1873 that the p,;s- mess of The Porteous & Mitchell Co. was founded and the history of it's growth and progress is one of the TO- mances of American commercial s:Ic- cess The first years business. while SatiSfa ctory, was necessarily somewhat in the nature of pioneer work, but Ee- cause of the progressive methods duOpteu. the store pTOSpeESO 1TOfH the start. They introduced the "onc price to all system" q policy which was prac- tically unknown in merchandising in NoT ylch, up to the time of the com ing of the young merchants They further saw to it that every customer got a square deaI' and they had the strength of character to be honest in the days when storekeeping honesty was not common, ard the genius and ability to prove that deception was not necessary to successful selling. It was not long before the original store was too small for the rapidly growing bus mess. One addition followed another, cuiminating in 1906, when the present store was developed, giving them the largest department store in eastern Connecticut.
 Advantageous Buying Connections.
 AIessers Porteous C Mitchell are now interested in three stores, the other two being located, respectively, in Grand Rapids, Mich, and Portland, Me. It is not only by these several branch stores that the company has in creased its buying capacity; they are one of the founders of and hold mem bership in the Dry Goods Union of New York city, with a central office at 432 Fourth Avenue. This is one of the largest organizations of its kind in America, with a purchasing power of more than twelve millions Of dollars annually.
 Complete Stocks of Merchandise.
 But while The Porteous & Mitchell Company is recognized as the largest business institution of it's kind in east ern Connecticut, it is not it's great size alone that interests the buying public. Rather, it is the variety and character of the stocks of merchandise which it carries that has the greatest appealing force. While The Porteous & Mitchell company's store has not spread out into as many diverse lines as have some of the metropolitan department stores, yet there has been the broadest possible development in merchandis- ing the lines of goods which the store features. There is everything in home furnishings, including rugs, draperies and kitchenware, household linens, dress goods and silks and the many accessories that are in daily need. In women'S and children's apparel, milli- nery and boys clothing, The Porteous & Mitchell company has a reputation that is uneXcelled.
 Of Interest to Men.
 The store caters to men as well as women and has splendidly equipped mems department with a separate en- trance. The display of mems wear is complete. The Porteous & Mitchell company specializes in mems both ready-to-wear and cus- tom made, and in addition to their line, which includes the ITO duct of some of the best makers in the country, they are lOcdI agents TOT I1e Royal Tailors custom made clothing, Stein-Bloch smart clothes, and The P. & NJ. special hat. Men who are not regular patrons of this branch of the business will be surprised and delighted by visit to The Mems Store" during the anniversary celenra- | tion.
 Congratulations on Anniversary.
 In addition to the large patronage which The Porteous & Mitchell com l pany enjoys from the many thousands 1 who visit the store during the course of a year, they also do an extensive business by mail and telephone. Orders l by mail are given careful attention by | shoppers, thereby insuring | service. During their | long business career in Norwich, both 1 Messrs. NPorteous and Mitchell have l left the impress of their character on l the community and will receive heart | lest congratulations upon their forty 1 fourth business anniversary and will | nave cordial good wishes from every | one for their continued success and |