Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-10-20
CAMPAIGN PLAN
Of MERCHANTS
Selling Campaign With Mer-
chandise at Cost, Talked
Over at Session
Sentiment IS IN FAVOR
Committee Appointed to Go
Ahead With Plans for
Big Event

Tile advisability of conducting a
selling campaign in this city in which
the business men would offer their
merchandise to the public at prices
which would give them no profits
was discussed yesterday afternoon at
a meeting of several representative
merchants in the grill of the New
Packer House. The general senti-
ment was in favor OF 81 ch a sale and
committee consisting of Fred BRIGGS,
John Doyle and Edward ]. McCor-
mick was named by Chairman AL
bert Leon to go ahead with the plans
for this event. figure out the expense
and the time 1t would be conducted
and report back to the merchants
at another meeting to be held as
soon as their report is complete.
Before asking for remarks from
any of the merchants present,
chairman Leon outlined what had
been discussed at the first meeting
of the business men held about a
week ago. He said the prices of
goods in this city are cheaper than
in other cities in the state, but the
people in and near Perth Amboy do
not seem to believe it. He told of
local people flocking out of town
to do their shopping and of the
large number of out of town de-
livery wagons which are in the city
daily. The merchants of the city,
MIR. Leon said, can prove they are
offering the same high grade of
goods as is sold in other large cities
and at lower prices.
Selling campaigns, Mr.. Leon con-
tinued, have been discussed in New
York and Newark but in most cases
1t was not considered good policy,
as the merchants figured that a
dull period of little activity would
follow such a campaign. However,
the chairman continued. IL the mer-
chants are prepared to lose their
profits and take a chance on any
dull times which might follow, he
felt sure that the people would
be so satisfied with the results that
they would come again.
In closing his Introductory re-
marks Mr.. Leon touched upon the
subject of unemployment. In
Perth Amboy, he said he had
been told that 700 ex-service men
were out of employment. He sug-
gested that every merchant make
one, two, three or as many days
work a week as possible for these
men to help them along until they
can get steady employment. He
said he would take one man two
days every week to help them tide
over the hard times.
Joseph F. Deegan. chairman of the
American Legion committee on un-
employment, spoke of the need of an
organization of business men in this
\ 1, IL
ber of Commerce. He told of the
natural advantages of the city and
related some of his experiences in
various cities while visiting various
parts of the country. with regards TO
civic and business development.
Perth Amboy sells what is gen.
orally known as bread and butter"
goods, Mr.. Leon said, meaning that
the class of goods bought by the
medium class of people predomi-
mates. The idea of this campaign
is TO create a retail selling atmos-
phere in this city. All of the in
terests of the merchants are in
common the chairman declared. as
the retail business is not advancing
due in large degree to the
large number of chain stores which
are coming to the city.
Practically all of the merchants
present gave their opinion on the
matter and the financing of advertis-
ing the campaign was discussed. 1t
was the general belief that fifty mer-
chants at least should be interested |
sufficiently in the retail future of
the city to join these business |
boosters" who are willing to sacri- |
fee their profits for a certain time
in order to increase business. 1t wal
decided TO figure out the cost or such /
a campaign, form a budget and /
keep within these figures.
Those attending the meeting were:
Albert Leon. /. T. Madsen, Fred |
Briggs. Raymond D. Howell. Leon |
Pargot. John Doyle, Philip Siskind.
Jacob Sosin. Edward j. Mccormick,
Albert H. Terhune. Charles Mel
Dourn. Irwin S. Kreielsheimer.
George F. Reynolds. Samuel Polko-
xitz and Herman Rothenberg.
ID udwa I