Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-31
PHELPS DODGE DOUGLAS STORE
ENDS YEAR WITH new RECORDS
in ALL DEPARTMENTS But One

Dodge branch carries a vast stock
of merchandise in its 28 departments,
catering to every line OF the needs
tof the home, and for that reason
the contact with the public gives the
manager an exceptionally fine oppor-
tllnity to observe how conditions are
affecting the peoples requirements.
'Our business has been good
throughout the year and we are
closing the year with records at new
high levels in every department but
one said Manager Mcbride. 81 put
it very frankly thai way because
the exception has the force OF en-
phasizing my statement as that ex-
ception can easily be explained and
the comparatively lower showing
accounted for.
First disposing OF the department
that has not made new high record
for the year, let me say it is our
tobacco department. 1t will be readily
understood, I am sure, that smokers
and users Of tobacco have access to
ample stocks that are open day and
evening and so the function of g
tobacco department in a department
store works under handicap for
business. The natural result is that
in our case we have closed the year
in the tobacco department with a
smaller sale total than that OF the
previous year. But to make it
department store, we must carry all
lines and SO we are not worrying
because we sold somewhat less to-
bacco last year than before.
Sees Evidence of New People
"But our grand total from all the
departments has been quite salts
! factory Our grocery business has
been away ahead of the sales Of the
year ending December 81, 1926. And
this is one Of the best evidences OF
the generally favorable position OF
our city. Prosperous people have
halthy appetite. Grocery departments
always can tell when people are pros
porous and content. They reflect
their condition in their effort OF
satisfying their appetite. And our
record in the grocery department
proves very emphatically that Doug
las people are prosperous and being
well fed Another evidence in that
department shows that we are getting
new people all the time-no great
boom movement, but just a steady
and healthy growth in population.
That has furnished some OF the good
showing in our grocery increase
"Take also our furniture depart
ment, and that, too, tells story OF
growth and development among a
prosperous people. There we have
set new record that is very salts
factory. Furniture is Aeven q better
record of prosperity than groceries
because groceries fall under the group
| of necessaries of life While some
articles of furniture might properly
be listed as Semi-luXur1es, as there
are features of furniture that could
find substitute in much lower quality
and price. Again, in this department
we have constant evidence of new
comers to the city who need house
furnishings and equipment. People
who have been here for years have
helped to swell the total as they have
been buying much new furniture and
the general rule has been the pur-
chase of good quality OF furniture.
Ladies Grow Discriminating
TN the ladies' ready-to-Wear de-
partment our patronage has been very
good and the total there is even
farther ahead of the previous year
than in the mems wear department.,
But both departments have estab-
lished satisfactory totals well ahead
of the year of 1926. Demand in both
departments has been for a good
quality article with the tendency all
the time slightly higher, in averages,
than the demand OF previous years.
Women, and men, too, are gradually
raising their standard OF requirement
in garment quality. They enjoy bet
ter dress effects and insist on the
igarment that gives them just that
effect.
'There is one fact in our work
of closing the old year that is
especially gratifying to us. We have
never ended year and stepped into
the new one with better stock OF
goods carried over than this. There
is no old stuff in the stock 1t is
"a clean, up to date stock OF mer-
chandise that has style, quality and
value in every piece and we can
meet our customers of the new year
with a happy optimism and cordial
assurance that when they continue
their patronage at our store for the
year of 1928 they will, as in the past
have at their command as good as
the market of today affords and at
prices consonant with quality of the
goods offered.
"As a personal message to the
people of Douglas, we start the new
year well pleased with the treatment
they have accorded us in the last
: year and assure them that con-
tinued favor on their part will be
! rewarded with the best service thai
Y it is possible for us to render"
: The Phelps Dodge Mercantile store
carries a payroll of 60 persons al
the time and during rush periods
that is increased SO that its business
experience in the retail trade brings
, it into close contacts with every
5 branch of activity in this area. Be-
cause of that fact the views OF Man
l ager Mcbride perhaps reflect as ae-
cu1ately as anyone the actual health
conditions in retail trade IN the city