Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-30
Secretary of c. of c. Sends Out Questionnaires to
 Housewives.
MORE THAN $25O, 900
 SPENT OUT OF CITY
official Claims if Local Merchandise Stores Would Carry More Complete Stocks City Shoppers Would Not
 Spend Their Money Elsewhere.

S5OO,OOO IS spent annually Tn othef cities by Pine Bluff shoppers, Sacre- tarv E. B. Bloom of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday issued question naires to the local housewives in re- gard to the stock of merchandise now carried in the local dry goods stores: MT. Bloom is of the opinion that if the local stores would carry mo.e complete line of goods very few Of the local women would do their shop ping outside of this city, and conse- nuentlv a large amount of money would be spent in this city each year that heretofore has been going to other cities.
 The dry goods carried in this city is now up-to-date in every respect, but Mir. Bloom is of the opinion that a large department store would flourish in this city, and he has been making efforts for the past several months to get the local dry goods dealers to in- crease the stocks carried.
 In issuing the questionnaires yes terday, MT. Bloom merely wants to obtain an expression from each house wife in this city. and in this manner vii lbe able to be of much more assist
  for then they will be informed as to just what the people of this city want As soon as these questionnalres have been returned to tlaa office of Mr. Bloom he will submit them to the To- cal business men, and will then be able to show them just what the desires of the local shoppers are.
 The letter issued by Mir. Bloom yes terday follows: Dear Madam:
 "I kuow that you are patriotic, and love your home town, and that you are more than willing to make it bigger and better city. If you will give us just a little bit of your assistance, you may bring about, this~happy re- sult
 "Our purpose is to improve the fa- cilities of our retail dry goods and ladies' ready-to-wear establishments, so that they may be able to better .SaryesAhein natrohs, and with that end in view, wil tou kindly fill out the en- closed ques| 2onnaire, and return at an early datS in the enclosed. self-ad- dressed, stam "a envelope.
 Do not sip the questionnaire, un- less you prefe to do so, as we do not care to use ma es, or in any way enl- befrass any O, of whom we are ask inR this assis hce and we, hereby pledge our wor 1hot to do so.
 After the mS tiOnnaire is returned to us we will co, them on the type writer, and subm eopies to our mer- chants, for their Moderation and to aid them in meetiS the requirements $vnr 1. 1
 Sincerely honin, you will give us this assistance an With best wishes for happy New bar, we beg to re- main, Yours ery truly,
 "CHAMBER1 5F COMMERCE,
 "E. R. loom, Secretary"
 The cd tionnaire.
 Do you prefer oing your shopping in Pine Bluff? :, ..................... .....
 Have you fo Ind it necessary to make purchases elsewhere ?.................
 10 about wh extent nt?.......................
 Have our merchants the proper salesmanship facilities; that is, are their employees Experienced in their re- spective lines and polite and cour- Seous! Pleas make any suggestion yos , can think of, and as fully as pos ssllle ...........
 m what lii hes of merchandise stocks do our inerd lhants show deficiencies IS lt styles, assortments, quality, and what else? Please elaborate as much as possible
 How do ol Ar prices compare with os,er clues 1hearby? ...........................
 remarks (Any other information you think VI Ioufd be of service): ......... ...--..--......,-...x Pnne Emf Ark................19l...