As Glasgow grew, some businesses took the opportunity to open multiple business locations to engage with potential customers, or separate differing business functions to different locations.  In total, approximately 12% of businesses registered multiple locations of activity in the 1881 trade directory.

Most of these businesses had just one additional premises listed.  However, at the upper end, some businesses were establishing large networks of activity.

Businesses such as banks grew to have large branch networks in Glasgow and across Scotland by this time. By 1881, the 8 largest joint-stock banks had 79 branches in Glasgow alone. This suggests an increased demand for financial services and expansion into new parts of the city as it grew.

Bank branches shown on 1895 Town Plan of Bridge Street, Gorbals

Map image reproduced with the permission of National Library of Scotland

Some manufacturing businesses such as A & W Paterson’s Clydesdale Boot and Shoe Steam Factory also sold goods. They had separated production and storage from retail outlets, having a factory, a warehouse and a network of 16 different commercial premises.