The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-09-10

New Business Venture Succeeding.
Doing Only Cash Business or ON
Short Terms of Credit. Estab-
Eshed Cream Station Greatly
Bcnefiting Community. Gas Tank
Added for Autoists. Whole Stock
Turned Often.
The firm of Hans Peterson & Sons
of Riverside began business at their
Rockford branch the first of August,
1915, carrying stock of general
merchandise worth about $4,000.
The business was housed in a
store, basement and a warehouse,
and fine new bungalow on adjoin-
ing grounds afforded a modern
home for j. A. Peterson, manager
of the branch store. This has prov
en- an advantage to the public be-
cause in any emergency out of bust
ness hours, the manager could be
summoned to the store in a mo-
ment.
The property of this firm is we'll
located adjoining the switch consti-
tuting the shipping point called
Rockford, and is in central loca-
ton in the rich agricultural section
extending eastward to Snake river
and westward into the dry-farm re-
giOn, which is already settled for
distance of IL miles from Rockford.
Carrying complete stock of
fresh standard goods at such dis
lance, 10 miles westward from
| Blackfoot, the new firm brought an
unusual service to the country for
many miles around, and their ap-
probation has been shown in loyal
and consistent patronage, and in
prompt payment of accounts which
| in turn enables the firm to keep up
their stock fresh and serviceable.
The firm of Peterson & Sons en-
| joy several advantages at Rockford
| that fully offset the disadvantages
of conducting business in place
rather remote from centers of ship
ping. While they pay more freight
charges for delivery of merchandise
to their warehouse, they escape the
high rents, city taxes and sprinkling
bills of the county seat, and in fix
ing their selling prices they place
them on level with those of the
larger trading center.
The dealers and customers at
Rockford are cooperating in most
practical way in the handling of &C
counts. Prompt payment is the
rule, and only by prompt payment
to the dealer can the firm meet its
responsibility to customers by keep
ing the stock fresh and up-to-date.
The business is managed by J. A.
Peterson, who was only rs years of
age, and the first year he planned
his buying so carefully and in such
close accord with the needs of the
community that he turned the stock
of merchandise four times. This was
mutual advantage to the firm and
to it's patrons, and the loyal, steady
and dependable trade of the COM
munty helped to make this possible. |
Buying of this store one week and
of some other store in some other
place the next, never builds up a
substantial business, and the people
of the Rockford country seem to
have removed many of the stumb-
ling blocks that beset the path of
many merchants whose stock be-
comes out of proportion and stale,
with Encouragement, mistrust,
poor service and poor goods as the
natural fruit visited upon the COM
munity to its own detriment.
During the year they have built
up a trade in cream that is mu-
tually helpful to the people, the
store and the Elkhorn Creamery
company of Pocatello. The store
receives, tests, and buys for spot
cash, about 400 gallons of cream
per month, and ships it to Pocatello,
paying about $1.25 per gallon for
it. In appreciation of this branch
of service, the cream producers usu-
ally hand this money back over the
counter for goods, and thus turn
some $500 into the arteries of their
store each month which aids greatly
in settling the monthly balance with
wholesale houses that supply the
store. The whole trend Of business
with them is good example of the
advantages to a community of CO.
operation and service among them
selves.
A .5OO-gallon gasoline tank has
just been installed to supply the
growing demand for fuel for cars
and tractors, and the storage room
for goods is so we'll filled that even
at the end of the first years busi-i
ness they are feeling the need of
more room.