Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-22
WAR FAILS TO
CHECK CHRISTMAS
BUSINESS IN CITY

Although the United States has
been at war with Germany for near
~ nine months and the people OF Ha'
wall have given large sums OF money
in its support, nearly all OF the local
merchants say that their sales are
equal, II not ahead, OF the Christmas
sales Of last year. IL is particularly
pleasing TO note, however, that the
purchases are more along the line OF
staple articles, such things as are
really needed, than the more or less
useless gew-gaws which has charac'
terized many of the Christmas pres
eEts OF former years. Another thing
also worthy Of note is that In Q ma
jority Of cases the indi dual pur'
chases are much smaller. Several
merchants state that early in the sea-
son they were uncertain whether to
buy the usI stock or cut down on
the orders but recent sales show that
the former course was justified.
Opinions of some merchants on the
Christmas trade follows:
f. o. HALL, & SON, Hardware.
Although last year was an exception
ally big year for Us, our sales this
year have passed our fondest expecta.
tons. In money alone we have taken
in during the past nine months far
more than during the same period last
year and the holiday trade alro leads
that Of 1916. Nearly all the pur-
chases. however. have been what we
call staple articles. This shows that
the people while filled with the Christ
mas spirit are taking the war seri-
ously and are buying only those things
which will be OF daily USE,
M. McINERNY, Mems furnishings-
"We anticipated when we sent in our
orders for the Christmas trade that
the buying this year would be much
smaller than in 1916. We neyerthe.
less ordered a fall line and II is
lucky that we did for trade has been
very big, although most of it has
come in within the last few days. One
Of the things which Is particularly
noticeable is that the people are not
buying in such large quantities as
formerly. Where We would get an
order for $3.50 a quarter OF that suf.
fees this year. We are, however.
more than pleased with the results. I"
JAPANESE BAZAAR, Japanese
goods While our trade has been
very good. considering the war and
the great demand for money which It
has put upon the people OF Hawaii.
we find this year that the soldiers,
particularly the officers, are not COM
ing in and buying as they have In
the past. We have not figured out
the reason flor this, but undoubtedly
the uncertainty Of the times has much
TO do With It The last few days has
seen q much brisker business and on
the whole there L not much to com.
plain Of"
YEE CHAN & CO.. Dry goods
Business this year has been excep-
tionaIly good and our stock Is moving
rapidly. In fact. feel sure that when
the totals are made up we shall find
that the Christmas sales OF this year
wiz equal those of 1916 and 1915 We
are busy all day with = ia constant
Ftream OF customers .
WAREHOUSE OFFICE OUTFIT
TING C0.-Desk accessories, waste
baskets and inkstands are selling rap
idly. Our December business Is much
better than that OF last December. an I
IN fact our years business Is so per
cent ahead OF 1916, Besides the art
metal office furnishings the typewrft-
ere are In demand