Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE 7Vt\JSIC TRKDE
REVIEW
13
ing, but it is the kind of a footing that doesn't hold, for it is on a
ft /I ANY a piano man deludes himself with the idea that he is
mighty slippery foundation.
* " *
Now, during such times as these, man-
ufacturers should do business at a profit.
If not now, when, in the
making money when really he hasn't figured out the actual
cost of selling pianos.
It may be that a system could be put in vogue by which changes
name of common sense, can they ?
1 N our opinion, the power, the importance of any newspaper does
could be made in the store, so that a material attractiveness would
*
greatly enhance the possibilities of sales-making.
not depend wholly upon the editor.
The readers have a great
Put in adoption a system so that piano stocks are most attrac-
deal to say and are a vast influence either for or against the ad-
tively displayed.
vance of a paper.
Now, it is a poor system that will keep them huddled together
The greatest newspaper is the one that has the greatest num-
ber of thinking rea'ders. A paper must be strong to interest them,
but they also strengthen it by their support and their opinions, for
public opinion is the great impelling force in all lines.
As a newspaper's real power lies with its readers, naturally
like a flock of hungry ducks and dust-covered so that they look as
if they had been take.n overland on a long journey when the dust
storms were in order.
A
SYSTEM which keeps a stock attractively displayed and in
we are gratified at the influence which this paper exercises in all
**
perfect condition, free from dust and in splendid form for
sections of the country.
exhibition purposes is a pretty good system to have.
We have believed for years that a paper
should not alone be a mere chronicler of news, but it should be a
Now, how many piano merchants of the smaller calibre are
leader in thought, in ideas, in suggestions, and form the great
running their stores on the same watchful lines adopted by the big
educational power for the good of the industry.
establishments?
We have tried
in our humble way to live up to our beliefs and are gratified at the
A limited number, we believe; yet there is no reason why the
many letters which we have received from prominent dealers who
smaller merchant should not know as much about his business every
warmly endorsed the policy of this paper.
day as does the head of an immense establishment whose supervision
Their encouragement
is indeed stimulating.
We have believed that The Review was right, but we were
is exerted by means of the reports that are put into his hands by
the heads of the various departments.
Constant figuring is essential if the best results are to be
not aware that a large proportion of our constituency were en-
tirely in harmony with us upon this subject,.
Some of the opinions we have reproduced, not in the spirit of
weakness, or boastfulness, but to emphasize the fact that The Re-
reached. Without frequent observation of gauges and signals the en-
gineer is liable to find himself grievously behind time when the
train rolls into the depot.
Now, a system is desirable which brightens up every department
view has in its work the hearty support of the successful, indus-
trious, sober and thinking element of the industry.
H P H E awarding of damages against a labor union for loss result-
of the business, for under such circumstances, a business is in line
to reap all of the successes to which it is entitled.
HE old idea of merchandising was to buy goods as low as possi-
V t , creates a precedent which is likely to have a far-reaching effect.
T
The verdict is in line with the decision rendered in England some
were kept in stock before selling did not make any difference; the
weeks ago, by which a labor union was held liable for financial loss
merchant felt that the goods in his store were equivalent to so much
resulting from a strike.
money. To-day the conditions are entirely changed. The less mer-
*
ing from a strike, as was done recently by a jury in Rutland,
ble and sell them at the best prices obtainable. How long they
It has not yet been ascertained whether execution may be levied
chandise the average storekeeper has beyond what is necessary to
upon the property of individual members, as well as upon the union
fill the immediate wants of his customers the better, the reserve
as a body. There can be no question, however, that the decision will
stock is reduced to a minimum.
act as a deterrent to the intimidation of non-union men and the
Talk with the great department store chiefs and they will tell
destruction of property which have hitherto been such prominent
you that no matter what a thing costs it must be sold, as it is not
features of the majority of strikes.
modern merchandising to carry any kind of stock for a long time.
YSTEM is the secret of many a substantial business success now-
adays, and some of the most successful men in this industry
have been sticklers on system.
Look at the great houses of Kimball and Lyon & Healy in Chi-
cago, and observe with what care and precision all their business is
handled—the correctness of system which prevails in every depart-
ment!
Now, no matter whether a store be large or small, system is
an absolute necessity to complete success.
Time is money, whether it be the time of employer, of a single
salesman, or of help whose numbers run into scores.
W
H I L E pianos are less apt to get out of date than any other
manufactured product in the country, yet instruments do
not improve lying about warerooms, and pianos that are lagging
should be brought out and served up to the public in some attractive
way.
We do not believe in indiscriminate price-cutting, but there arc
always attractive ways in which slow-selling stock may be moved.
The average piano man whose quantity of sales is somewhat lim-
ited runs a risk of having an apoplectic fit every time he puts the
knife into the slow-moving stock.
Now, slow-moving pianos can be sold just the same as any other
No matter how small a business a piano merchant may be doing,
manufactured line when the proper motive power is placed behind
he should seek every possible means of saving time and effort—put
them, and it is a pretty good system that brings out the slow stock
in force a system that is thorough-going and by which the profits
and sends it to the front, where it is bound to be moved.
on all sales are summed up in dear and concise terms.
Don't you think so?