Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1909 — Refused to Advertise. [ARTICLE]

Refused to Advertise.

A special to the Indianapolis News from Marion, Ind., says that after a hard fight of seventeen years against competitors who advertised, Gunder Bros., dry goods merchants, the oldest mercantile firm in Marion and at one time the largest retail house in northern Indiana, have given up the hopeless struggle and sold out their business. « . When gas was discovered in Marlon the town began to grow rapidly, and competition in all business was soon encountered by all the local merchants. The new merchants advertised, but many of the old established firms were slow in believing that it was necessary for them to use printers’ ink, aB they knew nearly every man in the county. All of them who are now in business concluded that it was necessary to advertise in order to hold what trade they had and to increase it, except Gunder Bros., who absolutely refused, claiming it was money thrown away. The firm had the best business Bite in the city, but the store was never filled with shoppers. Thousands passed and repassed the place day after day without stopping. The firm carried an excellent line of goods and treated customers well, but only a few fanners and some of the old cltlsens of Marion patronised the piece. The store is how closed for Invoice. Most merchants now agree that advertising Is a necessity and that the best medium is the local paper.