The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1917-06-26

. TOWN IMPROVE
mENT SERIES :
(Contributed)
COMMUNITY ADVERTISING

Far seeing men recognize the fact
that even community must adver
tise if it is to grow and prosper.
1t does not necessarily follow that
a special fund should be raised
to advertise the community as a
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. It is
as easy for an advertiser to give a
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
20 be desired by his fellows.
A splendid plan for cooperative
advertising is for the merchants to
work in concert to advertise their
wares "by line" That is, one par
ticuiar line of goods should be
advertised at a time.
Now it is an obvious fact that no
merchant is able to properly dis
play ALL of his goods at one
time. He can, however, make a
very creditable display of ONE
PRTICULAR LINE at time.
Take, for instance, dry goods.
As a beginning, let all of the dry
goods men in town get together and
agree on day wherein they will
make 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 displays possible. Do
this, even if you have to move other
lines to the rear in order to make
room. Such display in every dry
goods house in the city will prove
drawing card all over the sur
rounding territory, and not only
will all of the individuals interested
benefit by it, but the community will
have pulled off stunt that will in
variably attract much favorable
comment regarding the town.
This plan, then, can be followed
throughout the entire stock. Linen
goods, percales, prints, ginghams,
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
it is physical impossibility for
them to display their entire stock
to any advantage. And the hard
ware men, the clothiers, the shoe
dealers, the milliners, 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 include as many firms and
individuals in the plan as possible,
as the effect is better and more
general in its character. 1t at once
sets the stamp of progressiveness
upon the individuals interested and
upon the community as a whole.
Such a plan systematically fol-
lowed will result in displays that
viii be truly astonishing. Hundreds
Of articles will be brought to public
notice that, but for such plan,
would rest quietly on the shelves
and probably not be noticed by a
dozen people during the entire sea-
son.
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 shelf.
Such plan would bring to public