Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
FEM
THE
VOL. LXIII. No. 10 Published Every Saturday by the Estate o^EdwardfLyman Billet 373:4th Ave., New York, Sept. 2, 1916 Sta| g 00Co pir* ;° e . cfenU
Confidence
B
USINESS is based on confidence. Without confidence no business is possible. Without the confidence
of his banker, or the manufacturer from whom he buys, the merchant will find the credit books
closed to him, and be unable to get stock. Without the confidence of the public, the piano merchant will
find it difficult, if not impossible, to dispose of his stock.
It is confidence in the future that makes the successful retailer; confidence that causes him to plan his
selling and advertising campaigns and to purchase goods in quantities and well in advance, a sy^tefn that
means proper prices and satisfactory discounts, all of which brings us to a consideration of trade conditions
as they exist to-day, and of the promises they hold.
.
-
.**" -
I.
One peculiarity of the American people appears to be that when times are bad and the outlook is blue,
everyone seeks to be an optimist, to hold out hope of better times, of coming prosperity. When the factories
are busy, money is plentiful, and workers are prosperous, the average citizen takes the opposite turn and
conjures up a mass of black clouds rising over the business horizon which he feels sure will mean early
disaster.
) •
It is the business man who can depend upon and reason for himself, and who is not influenced either
by the optimist or the pessimist, who is most likely to win a share of success, no matter what conditions may
happen to prevail.
i
The present year, for instance, has brought prosperity to the country; wages have been high, there has
been little unemployment, and industrial activity, particularly in the domain of supplies for Europe, has been
almost without precedent.
In the face of this, however, comes the Mexican situation, the disputes with belligerent powers, strikes
in the industrial field, the threatened nation-wide railroad strike, and last, but not least, the presidential
election and its varied influence on business.
With the exception of the local labor troubles, every disturbance set forth is of the future—its effect
has not been felt, and may not be felt. As set forth by the Committee on Statistics and Standards of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United States, after a national investigation, there appears to be almost an
entire absence of any concern as to the effect upon business either of the presidential election, the possible
coming of peace in Europe, or any other factors of possible disturbance, in fact, no lull in commerce or
industry is apparent anywhere.
The wheat crop will be only slightly under the ten-year average, and while other grains and cotton have
suffered, there will be a big fruit yield, and the livestock outlook is excellent. There also appear to be
plenty of orders for the factories, manufacturing is practically everywhere in an excellent condition, labor is
fully employed, and products are commanding high prices with little likelihood of there being any early
change in the situation.
It is up to the retail piano man to decide whether he is going to plan and conduct his business according
to the expressions of the pessimist, or according to the conditions as they actually exist. In other words, is
he going to give to his future business that confidence which he desires from all those with whom he does
business—has he belief in himself?
Every indication points to a good fall and winter business in every line of trade. Every month this
year has.shown an improvement in business over the corresponding month of 1915 with a great majority of
concerns. There is no legitimate reason for believing that the same record will not continue to prevail for the
balance of the year.
If the piano man hasn't confidence under these conditions, there is something radically wrong with him
somewhere.