the carriage trade

the carriage trade

Affluent patrons of a store, restaurant, or other such establishment. The name refers to the usual mode of transportation for wealthy people in bygone eras. Don't worry about this slight economic downturn—the carriage trade will keep us in business.
See also: carriage, trade
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

carriage trade

The best customers. Restaurants, stores, and other establishments were especially pleased to serve wealthy customers who arrived and departed in their own private horse and carriage, as distinguished from people who came and went by foot or public transportation. It was the purchasing power of the carriage trade that produced a reaction from the establishment's personnel that was solicitous to the point of obsequiousness.
See also: carriage, trade
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • carriage trade
  • wait at table
  • wait on table
  • wait tables
  • wait (on) tables
  • bygone
  • bygone days
  • clip joint
  • take the Browns to the Super Bowl
  • days gone by
References in periodicals archive
In the meantime, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and others were capturing the carriage trade in ever-increasing numbers.
In New York City the car replaced the horse carriage within the first 15 years of the 20th century, killing off the carriage trade and giving birth to the taxi trade - as well as to highly paid auto mechanics.
Originally servicing the carriage trade and later setting trends in retailing that were followed by other merchandisers, Hahne's was sold to May Department Stores Company, owner of Lord & Taylor, in 1987 and has remained vacant since 1987.
He services the carriage trade: shotguns from the Perazzi level of the pricing stratosphere, fine custom rifles and his personal love, superbly crafted bespoke handguns.
Virtually all of the Victorianera British sporting arms made for the carriage trade feature exquisite hand-cut markings.
"In our new location we will provide an experience of privacy and pure luxury as was done for the carriage trade in the 1800's and early 1900's," states Alfredo Molina.
But unless you cater exclusively to the carriage trade, you know that most people won't save nearly that much by age 65.
Catering to the carriage trade, the store stocked service meats and a wide assortment of groceries, and provided home delivery of orders phoned in by Upper East Side residents.
It is targeting two main channels of distribution: upscale, independent retailers and the carriage trade, "retailers that value high-enddesign and embellished product." A recently signed agreement with OneCoast will help bring the line to these specialty steres, Moore said.
Extra wrapping would have solved this problem but they wouldn't give me extra wrapping because I was local, it was really for the carriage trade.
Meticulously researched and impressively written, The Carriage Trade: Making Horse-Drawn Vehicles In America by Thomas A.
Their discontent found voice in the mouth and person of Jim Crow, who mocked the carriage trade.
(27.) "Not Just the Carriage Trade: Jewelry is shifting from a class to a mass business," Barron's (19 April 1965), 3.
Made for the carriage trade in gold, silver, ebony and ivory, they reflected one's social status.
"The wood, leather, and chrome found in today's interiors are throwbacks to the earliest days of the automobile, when it was little advanced from the carriage trade," he says.