Evening star., 1934-12-13
ONLY WEEK LEFT
TO "SHOP EARLY
Shoppers Urged to Take
Advantage of Morning
Hours.

If you want your Christmas shop
ping to be early, it must be done be-
fore next week. From then until De-
eember a. you are merely following
the last-minute methods which mer-
chants, post Office officials and other
authorities on shopping and mailing
declare will be least satisfactory to
you, as well as to them.
Whatever day you select, however,
in which to do your buying, you are
urged by the special shop early
mail early committee of merchants
to start out bright and early in the
morning. During the hours before
noon, they point out, you will find
clerks fresh and eager to help, stocks
will be less mussed and mixed up than
later in the day, traffic will be lighter,
street cars not so crowded and other
conditions more suitable for shopping
Buying Best in Years.
Thus far. it is reported by Sylvan
King and Edward D. Shaw chairman
and secretary of the special commit
tee, holiday buying has been the best
in several years. This is due parity
to an increased money-earnlng popu-
lation in the District, an earlier dis
play of stocks and trimmings than
ever before and a persistent drive to
make people shop early conscious
To some degree, however, this last
influence has concentrated its effect
upon women. leaving most OF the men
with their shopping yet to do.
Women are much more expert IN
shopping and, of course, devote more
attention to the subject" the commit
te announced. "As a result, when the
stores finally decided to meet the
demand for earlier gift-buying, and
arranged to display their Christmas
stocks earlier in the season, the adept
woman shoppers were quick to take
advantage of the opportunity.
Men Postpone Shopping.
Figures show, however, that the
sweep of the movement has failed
to penetrate the consciousness of most
men. They still put of their neces-
sary Christmas purchases until the
last possible moment and as a result
have much smaller stocks from which
to select their Christmas gifts"
In last push for shopping volume
during the next day or two the COM
rnittee urges:
l. Make out at home tentative shop
ping lists. Study your newspaper ad-
vertising columns, remembering that
expert merchandisers have given in
tensive study to the gift suggestions
carried in these Christmas store an
nouncements. BY listing your gift
needs and studying store advertising
you can route your shopping trip and
save many unnecessary steps.
Q. Get downtown early in the morn
ing Stores are far less crowded,
clerks less tired and stocks are in
better shape during the first two
hours after the store opens.
Garry Small Bundles.
3. Garry home at least your small
bundles. Remember, that during the
next six days stores will be doing
double their normal daily business
and that annoying mistakes in the
delivery Of your packages are far more
likely to occur at this season than
at any other time.
4. If the article must be delivered
find out from the clerk the probable
time Of delivery and have some re-
sponsible person at your home at the
time to receive the package Much
Christmas merchandise is delayed in
delivery through failure to do this.
S. Keep young children out of the
downtown section during the rush
season unless accompanied by parents
or some responsible older person.
g.. Make every possible purchase
during the next few days. Early shop
ping has been unusually heavy
throughout the country this year and
the merchants stocks are being de-
pleted rapidly.