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Show COM-VERCIAI. OF. VF.I.O PMEVT IN'! .ST. CiLOKCE The coni:. of branches of two hain store institutions to St. George, the J. C. Pcncty Co., and the O. P. i;ka;:;;l Store, marks an Important point In thn bn-'ilnss development of tins town. The recognition of tit. George a.1 a trading center of sufficient Importance to hUract the attention of such institutions, in-stitutions, and to warrant the establishment es-tablishment of such stores here, Is a proper subject for local satisfaction. satis-faction. But the event is one for wider consideration. There was a time not long ago when it was an open question whether whe-ther the chain store was going to drive the individual merchant entirely en-tirely out of business. In some important im-portant points the chain store seemed seem-ed to have such an advantage that it could not be successfully rivalled. Itowever, experience proved that both tho chain store and the individual indi-vidual merchant had their proper places in the business community, and that neither one could crowd the other off the business map. On the contrary, it seems to be generally accepted now as a business I nnciple that towns prosper and i:oiv in proportion to the degree t which they provide for all the lusincss needs of the community which they serve. In a real sense, competition IS the life of trade. As between merchants, the one succeeds suc-ceeds best who follows most closely the principles of good business. The same rule applies in the competition of chain stores with each other, and the same rule also governs the competition com-petition between chain store and in-e:vidual in-e:vidual merchants. The coming of two chain stores to St. George does not mean merely another two to share In the volume vol-ume of existing business. It means new business for St. George, and some of that new business is going to come to the older stores, provided provid-ed always that they go after that business according to good business methods. There is, therefore, no sound reason rea-son why any one should feel alarm or resentment at this latest evidence evi-dence of St. George's growing busU ness importance. The merchant who does not believe in advertising, the merchant who thinks that St. George stores are already too good for the town, and the merchant who wants neither change nor progress, may shrink from competition of any kind, but the merchant who is following the lines of success will welcome the business progress of the community, com-munity, and feel assured that the more business there is in town, the more of it he will get for his share. The people of the trade community commun-ity St. George serves, and upon whose good will the prosperity of this town is dependent, will be pleased with these additions to the business equipment of St. George. More of them will come to St. George to trade in the coming year than have come in the years that are past. Some of them will find in the chain stores things they could not find in the other stores. Some of them will find in the other stores things that they cannot find in the chain stores. All that is good for St. George and for the St. George trade community. We extend to these new businesses our best wishes for their success. They have come - to a good town, and we believe they are going to help make a good town better. |