The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, APHID 18th, 1922. MAY 15th—20th.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 April 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, APHID 18th, 1922. MAY 15th—20th.

At the Progress League last week arrangements were advanced for the coming Winter School, hut it did not appear the townspeople were taking that interest in the event they should. This is an omission. The event should he turned into the most important happening of the year. The occasion will bring many visitors to the town bent on taking part in the instructional side of the work in hand. Why not seize i..e opportunity and make May week of wider interest still. It would be an opportune occasion to blaze forth the resources of the-town and district —particularly the town. There is the chance to hold a lucrative Shoppiru Week! There is a Trades Assoeiati >u here—almost moribund unless it is a

matter of arranging more holidays! Why not galvanise the Association in. to life, and let it organise something practical to promote business and trade and so hold the commerce of the district in its own allow so

much money for the purchase of gooes Ito go out of the district? Shopping week could he made a distinctive and profitable event, Rightly organised, it could he made to attract large iiutni hers of our countiy cousins to town and a greater volume of trade, pro--, m and prospective could bo ni'rangcd. There arc many mov shopkeepers cooling into the town. This inllux of new blood should supply the stimulus to make Shopping Week a groat success. Window dressing competitions (ould ho made a feature, and this mode of advertising would prove a profitable channel lor the disposal of goods. The oidi.i aiy means of adveitising could be pur sued to advantage also. What there is to sell—display it, proclaim it, make it known to all and sundry by feature advertising. The Trades Association might offer prises fc-r the window displays, giving preference to striking novelties. but particulaily to effective results. There could be classes .dealing separately with drapery, groceries and serviceable at tides, and this variety would add to the interest. The individual tradesman could organise free gift schemes to popularise any special lines, or by •‘cut” rales introduce to tile public popular brands. The wholesale houses might lie brought into the competitions also, and the interest of the school children could lie arrested by pri'/.es for essays on the different classes of window displays. If the matter were taken i.p enthusiastically there could be a Pageant Day for trade displays, animate and inanimate. This could lie held in the open air and special competitions and tradesmen’s sports indulged in. The "boosting” side of the opportunity for the ad vaiieement of the district should not he lost sight of, and May 15-20 seems to offer u special opportunity for a display of photographs and pictures relating to Westland scenes. An interesting art display of this Kind could be made a great success, and a source of great pleasure and entertainment. The foregoing are a few thoughts for turning the important week in May to the fullest advantage. The ideas are sug- j gested for the use of the Trades Association primarily and a meeting of the tradespeople at least might lie called to discuss the • project. Capturing and holding the. local trade will mean a great deal to the business people as time goes on ( for there soon will he the readier opportunity to buy outside the Province. Now is the time to make good, by showing the ability and enterprise to eater for all classes of local trade and May week supplies just the. sort- of opportunity to make a Shopping Week a pronounced success all round. Will it be done?