The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-13
THEY SHOP EARLY
Topeka Leads Other Western
Cities in Christmas Trade.
Sensible Gifts Being Purchased
This Year Is Claim.
SANTA TAKES SLUMP IN WEST
But He Is More Active Than
Ever i'm South and East.
More Sales Required This Year
to Bring Volume Up to 1919.

Christmas shopping in Topeka
started earlier and is far ahead of
| other cities of the west in volume. ac-
ccrding to retailers
| People are buying in Topeka more
heavily than they bought last year, is
the invariable report of the local men.
| The buying started i n November.
which showed an increase over No
cember of 1919. and is continuing.
| E. H. Crosby, of Crosby Brothers,
pointed out the fact that people have
to buy a greater quantity of goods
| this year than last to make the totals
| in dollars and cents equal those of
1919, because the prices this year
are lower.
People of Topeka are going in for
| the more sensible gifts this year, rath-
| er than the frivolous stuff, it is said
| by dealers. Gifts which will return a
value for the money invested in them
are being sought by the Topeka buy
/ ing public.
"Give them something worth while,
and they will buy more heavily than
they bought last year." is the chorus
which the Topeka retailers are pre-
| senting.
Santa Loafing in West.
Reports by the United Press are
that Santa Claus's activities will un-
dergo a slump in the west this Christ
mas, compared with last year, but he
will be on the job more than ever In
| the SOUTH and some parts of the east,
according to information.
Both Chicago and Cleveland dealers
reported shoppers spending much less
money than last year. sales falling off
| 35 per cent in the latter city. Kansas
| City also reported decreased sales, de-
spite reduced prices.
| Boston storekeepers said buyers
were showing more discrimination in
sive gifts. In New York, however.
g, dealers were planning greatly in
creased business.
just "Liook Around" Stores.
| Denver, Dec. 13.-Christmas shop
pers this year are visiting in as large
numbers as they did last year, but are
| not purchasing as freely. Clerks in
downtown stores declared shoppers ap-
tparent1y have little desire to buy, altho
reductions were made in many lines.
| Last year. Christmas shoppers were
plentiful and SO was their money.
Fear of a hard winter, expectation
of further price declines and scarcity
of money were some of the reasons
advanced.
/ Atlanta, Ga. Dec. 13.-CLristmas
shoppers were going strong today
after already establishing new records
for the volume of goods purchased.
| Stores in general reported the larg-
l
are planning on a substantial increase
next week.
| Jewelry dealers reported buying to
be about on a par with this time last
year.
| Chicago, Cleveland Trade Quiet.
| Cleveland, Dec. 1S.-Santa Claus
pack will be much lighter this Christ
mas, store managers believe.
Even the last minute Christmas rush
| cannot make up for the dearth of sales
of the past few weeks, they said. So
| far the sales are So per cent of the
same period last year.
The Cleveland district spent approx
imately S12, 100000 for Christmas gifts
last year.
! Chicago, Dec. 13.-Christmas shop
pers are spending much less money
, this year than last, according to
agencies in touch with the retail
Christmas trade here today. The
greatly, retail association heads and
trade organizations stated. Most of
| the buying is of useful presents and
| large stocks of toys and other gifts
which are not of use are moving
slowly.
X. C. Takes Slump.
! Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 13.-Christ-
mas trade this year is far behind that
of this time last year, according TO
close observers of retail conditions
here.
1 In addition, new element has
entered the retail situation here. Mail
border houses here have opened five
| outlet" stores in the shopping district
and advertising goods at half price.
This is turning lot of buyers away
from their usual places of trade.
| New York. Dec. 13.-Christmas
shopping in New York at present is on
par with last year. as regard volume,
and the big stores are planning on a
substantial increase at the point of
buying. an official of Gimbel Brothers
said today.
Factors which discourage buying are
Unemployment and the growing desire
of the public to hang onto its money
but these apparently are more than
offset by the material reductions in
prices. he. said.
Boston. Dec. 3.-Santa Claus, ac-
cording to his colleagues here, is
making his purchases this year with an
eye to what is useful and at the same
time not too expensive. The old boy is
holding the purse strings tight, mer-
chants said, and demanding value for
his gold.