2 D
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JANUARY 13, 1918
STOP OF THE SHAFER BROS.
READS LIKE ROMANCE OF
USINESS WORLD
MODERN B
0
Young Men With Genius for Knowing What the Public
Wants Build Up Great Printing Establishment in
Few Years; Force Way to Top Against AH
' Odds by Developing Idea.
I This is a story of how two young men brothers filled
with "pep" and "punch" men who possessed the originality
and initiative necessary to start something worth while, and
who had the bulldog tenacity and tick-to-itiveness to stay with
one particular line of endeavor until their object had been ac
complished, have won their way to success here in Omaha.
These two men are W. E. and M. F. Shafer, president and vice
president, respectively, of M. F. Shafer & Co.
Their first plunge into the publico
i;mi,rVi aa in W2. wnen tnev in
augurated a ' special service" adver
tising business, though prior to this
they had acquired considerable knowl
edge of business problems through
helping in their father's general mer
chandise store in a thriving Iowa
town. The new line of work called for
oodles of "pep" and "punch" and
original ideas galore. In those days U
was their business to take hold of a
run-down store and by injecting
"ginger" and promulgating new ad
vertising schemes to "bring it back."
In other words, their specialty was
the planning and preparation of selling
campaigns and complete business
renovations. A store which was about
to bt turned over to the sheriff for the
benefit of creditors they steered off the
financial rocks and brought safely Into
the narbotfof successful business.
MUST CREATE MARKET.
People no longer sit back, Micaw-ber-like,
and wait for business to
"turn up." Instead,, through advertis
ing, they go iut and create it. They
make it grow in spots where it never
grew before. And then, that accom
plished, .they try to develop it in
tensively, That is just where Shafer
Brothers found their opportunities.
Where owners couldn't see the con
sistency of advertising and up-to-date
business methods the Shafer boys be
came modern business missionaries.
With their ability to hustle and their
fund of new ideas they laid the foun
dation stones on which were built ex
tensive business enterprises.
41119 11HC Ul WVI wailu ivt
ideas in advertising, and from the
outset their enterprise was a success.
Their fame spread to neighboring
states, their business grew by leaps
and bounds, and within a short time
they were operating in 34 states. Bat
there were, at times, long spells be
tween campaigns. The boys were
filled with dynamic action and. they
couldn't sit around and twiddle their
thumbs while watting for new busi
ness. They therefore conceived the
idea of designing their own particular
advertising signs and novelties and
their first, step along thif line was
the purchase of a commercial printing
plant in Council . Bluffs. , Inv other
words they embarked in a general
commercial printing business in addi
tion to doing their own work. From
time to time new sidelines were added,
until today they have, without a. doubt,
one of the largest establishments of
its kind in the middle west.
Sffered Good Prospects,
out the year 1910 the Calendar
and Advertising Specialty business of
fered the best prospects to the two
young men who were seeking new
worlds to conquer in a Business way
and they were quick to take advan
tage of the opening. Omaha was an
excellent location for the business and
the trade territory surrounding of
fered a tempting field. So into this
new business they put eve,ry dollar
- they possessed, ft is true that com
petition was keen. On all sides there
were live-wire competitors already
-stahHshd. But the Shafer bovs
lidn't spend their precious time wor-
ying about tneir competitors ousi-
! Thcv heiteven in letuntr tneir
competitors do their own worrying.
I'll f . -. . U n , .... , 1 1 j. .if.n
A', A n't lenniv thtv had rnmnetition.
Th thrrur n!t their mats, rolled ud
their aleeves and hustled for business
and got it huge volumes of it.
17mm a liftl ahnn in Cnnnril Bluffs.
the business grew to such an extent
that the brotners were soon eompeuca
to seek lartrer Quarters. The first
move was to larger and more com
mnHinns miartrr. in Omaha.
Up until lyiu tne Drotners operated
as a co-partnership, but their business
was growing so rapidly that tney
tinno-lit if li'if tn (nrm a rnmmnv
and accordingly M. F. Shafer & Co.,
1 t ; . - J J
was organized anu incurpuraica unucr
the Nebraska laws. Now, don't get
iita iUn fU r a trAitnar mfn i f ""
around and Rrew up with the busi
nesson the contrary, tney maae tne
Knina err aw im with tVirm. anH thv
managed to keep just about two jumps
1 1 t - . t . t. .
aneaa 01 tne dusihcss au me wine.
Crowded for Space.
At the time of the organization of
the company the floor space occupied
amounted to about 480 square feet.
In less thau a year after incorporat
ing tha rrmt erv was fnr more room
there was too much business to be
handled in the little quarters so the
firm hanched out. A' new location
was taken, one in which ther were
2,600 square feet of working space.
n v ti rinnt3nf airline rif nw mi.
- J W. ...... O V - . .
chinery and the increase of business
the company was soon again cramped
trr anar and nnrf more hrancned
out, this time it purchased another
complete printing plant ana ODtainea
a location where tne total iioor space
amounted to 4,600 feet.
Early in the year 1913, the calendar
and advertising speciality business
hart trrnwn tn nrh extent that a rain
larger quarters became necessary and
another location was procurea in a
larger building. This plant afforded
6.000 square feet of work room, but
within a short time it, too, proved too
small a space for the rapidly growing
kii.ln.n anil in 101ft nnnther floor
was taken over by the company. This
new floor gave an aaamonai o,uuy
feet of space, making in all 14,000
square feet. 1
Demands Became Great.
During the early part of the year,
1017 the enormous business demands
made still larger quarters necessary,
So the company oectaea to ao away
with mnviner once and for all.
They determined to erect a home of
their own one large enougn to ac
commodate' its needs for years to
come. The new building, a modern,
fireproof five-story structure with a
full basement which is in reality a
sixth story, has a floor spacs of 52,
000 square feet- It is located at the
corner of Seventeenth and Webster
streets, and though not quite com-
nletalv emiinnert it! to far advanced
that the firm has moved in and are
maKing preparation' iv unc
housewarming on Thursday, January
17. The finished building, fully
equipped with the proper machinery
with which to carry on the business
of the company represents an outlay,
of 50,000 not much perhaps you
say, because your mind is filled with
Uncle Sam's operations involving
millions and even billions. But have
you ever paused to consider just
what $350,000 means. If you had
been the one to get down and root
for 15 years to obtain it, you would
then have some realization of how
much it is. It means just 35 $10,000
bills, 350 $1,000 bills, or 3,500 $100
bflls. If you had that much money
in .silver dollars and could lay them
edge to edge it would make a ribbon
of silver about II miles long. This ii
the grand achievement of two broth
ers who started just 15, years ago
and the end is not yet, for they are
both in the prime of life and still
ready to do battle with the cold
blooded business world. The struc
ture is a mute attestation of the bus
iness acumen, yim and vigor of two
young men who launched a business
with the determination of making it
pay dividends. This splendid mod
ern plant at Seventeenth ana wco-
THE MECHANICAL F1KDEB OF MEN" 1
ttt II Ti II I f I
A Feature of M. F. Shafer Service
. . a. a
It is the service qualities and
Time Saving features of the
Autocall that gained a place
for it in our , new "home9
M. F. Shafer & Co. ,
No one ever becomes
"lost" witfi the sturdy,
watchful little Autocall on
the job. No chance! -
When a man is wanted
the Autocall sounds his"
code signal and wherever
he is in the building he
gets his. "call" and re
sponds right on the dot.
Telephone service be
comes more efficient. when
supplemented by the
Autocall. Trunk lines are
never held up while cer
tain parties are being
"searched" for. Customers
are never kept waiting.
Therefore, jAutocalling"
pleases customers, as well
as saves valuable time.
Autocall equipment is
moderately priced. The
service is as easily-installed
as any lighting circuit
Upkeep and operating ex
pense average but a few
cents daily.
If you are in doubt
about the value of Auto
calling in your business
ask Eggerss-O'Flyng Co.,
Iten Biscuit Co., People's
Store, Burgess-Nash -Jo
IT. E: Smith & Co.
Our free trial proposi
tion will interejt you.
Write for details,
Composing Room Which is Completely .
Equipped With the Monotype System
ster streets in Omaha stands a monu
ment to their efforts.
Why and Wherefore of the Finn.
Now, then, gentle reader, you have
read quite a lengthy explanation of
the formation of the company and of
its constant moving about, and the
writer presumes that you wish to
know the why and wherefores of the
firm, why it exists, how" it exists? and
what it does to exist and a lot of
other detail matter. .
Well, you shall be enlightened
pronto pronto in Spanish means
''right now.". But as authors of se
rial stories are se fond of stating,
"that is another story," and you will
find it elsewhere in this paper.
Up Serrlc.
Th Otnuni talk about their tor et
PMC, but auch talk la only from tha lipa,"
aid Senator Lodge at a dinner In Boston.
"When I hear a German talking about hta
defenalv war, about thli war which waa
forced upon him, I am reminded of tha
married man who wife laid bna avening to
blm, aadly;
" 'Qaorge, you do not speak as affection
ately to ma as you used to do. I fear you
have ceased to love me.' .
"'Ceased to lovs you?' growled George
from behind His paper. 'There you go again.
Ceased to love you! Why, I love you more
than life itself. How shut up and let me
read the foot ball dope'." Washington Star.
SHAFER EMPLOYES
AREREWARDED Attitude of Company Toward
Members of Staff is for Best
Welfare of All Con
' cerned.
Naturally a company which has had
Such remarkable success as M. F.
Shafer & Co. must have developed an
especially capable plan of organiza
tion. And it is very largely due to
the attitude of the company towards
its employes that this is traceable.
And this in turn is Erectly traceable
to heads of the establishment.
' It has been the policy of the com
pany always to consider the welfare
of their working force, and seek by
co-operation rather than coercion to
obtain that loyalty so necessary to
the existence of. any large business.
So when plans were made for the
new building the features conducive
to pleasant working conditions were
not slighted. The plant is probably
Vi Vief 1torlnfH hct vpntitatprl and
most completely protected from fire4
and accident hazards of any insti
tution in the city.
Not AU Work.
But a step farther than this was
made. Not only safety and efficiency
were considered but pleasure as well.
A lunch room was equipped for all
employes. In the basement a shower
bath is provided for the men. An
automatic elevator is available for
going, between floors. Toilet rooms
are provided on every floor and hot
and cold water are procurable the
year around. Lockers will be pro
vided for aU. And the Auto call
system proving in addition to a
fire alarm which rings automatically
on all floors, a private signal for
calling each department head to tu
pnone can aiso uc mauc m ns v. v.,,.
where in the building simultaneously
Each month there is a meeting of
all employes at which prizes are
awarded fir efficiency reports, and
announcements or discussions of gen
eral interest take place. Indeed,-
t. CKiforc has an mneli rtf
pleasure as of labor in it and helpj
problems have become strangers at
their doors. One of the features that;
helps cement the organization is the
issuance every few weeks of the
house organ, the "Shafer Shaft." This
is sent to all road men as well ana
does much to unify the interests of
the 150 or more employes.
Vapor Vacuum System
' . Of Heating Installed
The heating system which has been
installed by the Western Heating &
Plumbing Company is a Vapor Vac
uum system which allows an even
temperature of heat to be obtained
with a minimum consumption of fuel.
By the use of an overhead system
of pipes, the usual amount of steam
pipes on the ceiling in the basement
have been eliminated, permitting the
installation of large machines requir
ing unusual head-room.
Th nlnmhinor and pa DlDinST have
been installed by this same firm, and
the neatness of the piping in regara
to same is characteristic of this firm.
We Menn Business.
".Vow that America has entered the war,"
said Commodore J. W. Miller of New York. ,
president of the National Training associa
tion, "the blockade really aeemi to amount
to something. j
"America's attitude reminds me f am
anecodote. ' . !
"A little chap who was ill refused to take
his medicine, and his mother, In her wild
terror, wrung her hands and walled:
"'Oh, my boy will dlel My boy wont .
take his medicine, and he will die!'
"Then a frail little voice spoke up en-
couragingly from the pillow '.
" 'Don't worry, mamma. Fatherll w
home at dinner time, and he'll make mo ;
take It.' " Washington ejar.
SSTT Tp-
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tjfrmj " til-ill ; mm tzs Wm. -
ii..irrtii iiwiTriiwnftaiMtawaanaMiMflaM
Bring Your iViotor
Troubles to
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JJ
II 1
MOTOKS-
IN THE NEW M. F. SHAFER BUILDING
WERE INSTALLED BY LE BRON
NO electrical construction job too small or too big. We install motors, genera
tors and itower plants.. We wire houses and apartment buildings. Men of
long experience in charge 6f every job. . We install telephone systems in factories -and
wholesale houses. No matter what you want done electrically Le Bron Has It.
ELECTRICAL REPAIRS
EVERY kind of electrical machine repaired. We
repair dynamos, generators, rewind arma
tures, reinstate commutators. When in trouble Jet
Le Bron fix In rewinding we use a water and oil
cproof compound which protects winding and gives
x extra insulation. U , v
ALL KINDS OF MOTQRS
TX7E sell every kind of motor from the smallest to
V ; v the largest of horse power. We rent motors,
we buy old motors, repair old motors. Before you
buy your next motor see Le Bron-you'll save money
sure. Ours is the largest motor plant in the West.
THE new motor equipment in The Bee's composing
room was installed by LeBron. The new Athletic
Club building is also being electrically equipped by Le
Bron. -
15)
o)
f!lfV
318' SOUTH 12TH ST.-PHONE DOUGLAS 2176
- r
tGia)l Work
Bert Le Bron, Pres. and Treas.
Harry Binder, Secretary
THE AUTOCALL COMPANY,
- Shelby, Ohio. -