And banks only allow established merchants with a credit record to accept credit cards.

"I respond to irony," he said of his taste, and "to design more than art furniture" - a reference to the wares of other, more established merchants.

By the time Shabeni was 27, he was an established merchant in his hometown.

He is also, apparently, an established merchant in soft-core pornography, a fact that came to light after the global publicity the stories had generated.

In the Middle Ages, European trade was typically regulated at municipal level in the interests of security for local industry and for established merchants.

Still, the established merchants and the organization representing them.

The new groups started to compete with established Greek merchants.

As landlords up the ante, many established merchants are opting to fold, but Mr. Contreras remains in the game.

"Kaufman's is the oldest established merchant on 42d Street," Mr. Korn said.

The established merchants and plantation operators in the African colonies frequently managed to sway government policies.