The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-19
COMMUNITY ADVERTISING.


COMMUNITY ADVERTISING.
Nm
Far seeing men recognize the fact that even a
community must advertise if it is to grow and
prosper. It does not necessarily follow that a
special fund should be raised to advertise the COM
munity as q whole, though even such a course has
its advantages.
What is needed, however, is a close cooperation
of the various business interests of the community
in the matter of advertising. 1t is easy for an
advertiser to give d local coloring to his ads that
will attract attention to the community in general
as to hog the whole. In fact, the advertiser who
does not contribute to the reputation of the whole
community is not greatly to be desired by his
fellows.
A splendid plan for cooperative advertising Is
for the merchants to worz in concert to advertise
their wares '"by line" That is, one particular
line of goods should be advertised at a time.
Now it is an obvious fact that no merchant
is able to properly display ALL of his goods at
one time. He can, however. make a very credita-
bic display of ONE PARTICULAR LINE at a
time.
Take, for instance, dry goods. As a begin
ming let all Of the dry goods men in town get to-
gether and agree on a day wherein they will make
a special display and sale of WHITE GOODS.
Advertise this day well in. the local papers, and be
sure to arrange the best window and counter dis.
plays possible. Do this, even if you have
to move other lines to the rear in order to make
room. Such a display in every dry goods house
in town will prove d drawing card all over the
surrounding territory, and not only will all of the
individuals interested benefit by it, but the COM
munity will have pulled off a stunt that will in
variably attract much favorable comment regard
ing the town.
This plan, then, can be followed throughout the
entire stock. Linen goods, percales, prints, ging-
hams, silks-all the groups of fabrics can be taken
up and handled in this manner, one at a time.
And the plan need not be confined to the dry
goods man. The grocery merchants can arrange
creditable displays in the same manner. while 1T
is a physical impossibility for them to display
their entire stock to any advantage. And the
hardware men, the clothiers, the shoe dealers,
the miliners, the jewelers-any and all lines that
can combine and put up a creditable display will
find it profitable to themselves and the community
Bear in mind, however, that it is better to in
lClu0e as many UImS 6Hu lAlUlV udi al las P''Al
as possible, as the affect is better and more gen.
|eral in its character. It at once sets the stamp OF
progressiveness upon the individuals interested
and upon the community as a whole. "a
Such a plan systematically followed will re-
suit in displays that will be truly astonishing
Hundreds of articles will be brought to public
notice that, but for such q plan, would rest quietly
IN tho aholxoa and 1nrohahlv not he noticed by q
dozen people during the entire season.
With many people the question Of their wants
is largely suggestive. They want what they see
provided the article is attractive-and it is seldom
attractive while reposing peacefully on a shelf.
Such a plan would bring to public attention
the many things the town affords, and the com
munity would build up q splendid reputation fol
preparedness and efficiency.
AAA1AN