The story of traveling Dollar Bill, Sylvan Valley News, December 20, 1907.

The
idea of local retailers competing with outside businesses is not unique to the
era of online shopping, big box stores or malls. In the early 1900s the battle
for local retailers was with mail order catalog businesses, such as Montgomery
Ward, Sears Roebuck and others.

There
were multiple sides to the issue.  Customers
sought out the best prices and services.  Local merchants felt that local newspapers undermined their business
by running advertisements for city department stores that offered lower prices
through mail order.  For local newspapers
the large companies willing to buy ads represented revenue.  A February 16, 1906 Sylvan Valley News
article claimed that if “our merchants use the same energy in trying to
convince their customers that trading at home and keeping their money at home
was more to their advantage than sending it out of the county, very little
trading abroad would be done.”

Do you contribute to the prosperity of your town? Sylvan Valley News, June 21, 1907

The
Sylvan Valley News also accused local merchants of setting a bad example by sending
their printing needs out of the county.  A
May 18, 1906 Editorial Brief argued that, “Business men who expect home trade
should be the last to send away from home for their printing.” 

By
1907 the newspaper and merchants had band together to convince customers to buy
local.  A series
of catchy newspaper ads throughout the year implied that customers who took
their business elsewhere were disloyal and causing harm to their
home-town.  The advertisements contained
a short story on topics such as keeping money in circulation locally and with
morals like, “If you want your town to grow, patronize home enterprises.”

In a
February 28, 1908 Letter to Editor T.D. England stated that it is local
merchants who pay local taxes and support charities, not “Mr. Mail Order House”
or the traveling salesman.  Out-of-town
companies did nothing to support the local community, so by shopping local
customers are help their town prosper. 
He also pointed out that only local businesses sold goods on credit or in trade for
farm products.

The
Sylvan Valley News continued to wage a campaign against mail order catalogs and
to promote shopping local through articles over the next several years. 

Photographs
and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina
Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library
hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional
photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.