Year: 1876

A writer in the american Writer un
der the non de plume of Robin con
tributes the following interesting read.
ing on the above topic:


Concede to US fine store we'll loca
ted. We own a stock of first class
goods, well displayed and offered a
close bargins of profit; sugars at cost
We want customers, and these, added
to the cardinal points previously nam
ed, assure to Us a we'll merited success
Without customers we are a complete
failure, even if we be indusGr,.CS
economical, perJevering; so, really
this matter is the most serious after
all. How shall win trade? Some men
possess naturally disposition to please


They win trade "from the word go.
There is a personal magnetism the!
possess which draws all sorts O
penHl, tn Tiers. Every body like,
tbeIn They rarely ever lose thei
temper, and il they do they inve seif-
command enough to conceal it. They
meet the customer with a smile and
pleasant words that win at once. They
are always ready to accommodate,
even at a very g ,eat inconvenience,
and though it be a great trouble to dc
what they have offered to, the custom
er never knows of it; such a man is a
treasure to any business. Other men
are naturally directly opposite in dis
position. They were born with and
always will carry a solid looking face
They will fail to attract people to them
and yet they may posses a disposition
that is just as good as that of the per-
sons first alluded to.


To such a one the counter becomes
hard place. By dogged perssrver-
ance that man will in time overcome
the trouble. People after a while will
find out he is a pretty good fellow af
ter all.


Then some of US are msrcurial in our
own make up. We feel good-natured
to-day. cross tomorrow All smiles
and welcome to Mrs. A to day, and Ii
don'tcare-a-continental to her the next
That kind will have to be cured. Some
men by their move, voice and manner
ma ke customers think they are saw
fully independent" while they may be
anything else. Such men have fault
to get rid of. So has the cross sales
man, with his sharp, snappish "yes''
or ''no." If a customer asks questions
he invariably Don't know" We all
differ. We all have our peculiarities,
and SO does every man, woman and
child; and yet, while we differ, we all,
in many ways, like To be treated alike.


We all love to be treated with civil
ity and respect. The poorest laborer,
white or black, does not want to be
so used that he receives the impression
you regard him beneath you. He
comes 10 your store to spend his mon
ey. It's just as good in your till as the
millionaire's. Mrs. A, whose husband
works for dollar day, is deserving
Of just as much courtesy and attention
as Mrs. B, whose husbands income is
800 day. You render civility and
respect to every person who com-s 10
trade with you, and you will be sure
to have customers Let the poor or
middle class get the impression you
are proud, "stuck up" consider your-
self ''bstter than they" and you can
say good-by TO that line of trade. A
Southern man or woman will treat the
old slaves with kindness and respect.
We cannot recall to mind a single in
stance where we have seen Southern
man treat negro with the meanness
of some Northern people.


Gen washington was once saluted by
q negro ard doffed his bat in return.
His companion chided him for saluting
the colored man, when Washington re
piled, 81 shall not allow myself to be
out-done in politeness by a negro"


Kind words are acceptable to all.