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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
A NATIONAL BUSINESS PROGRAM
(Continued from page 3)
At present, with a few exceptions, no such standards exist.
Now, if the head of a store or factory found his expenditure for a given purpose considerably above the
standard, he would naturally wonder how the stores or factories which outdid him at that point kept the item
down. The third new function of the Department would be to tell him—that is, to circulate information con-
cerning the methods of the more efficient.
But would the efficient men like this? Wouldn't they want to keep their good idea to themselves? Mr. Shaw
says the experience of private agencies which have pioneered in such work—his own publications, for example,
and the Harvard Bureau of Business Research, which was founded at his instance several years ago, and, more
lately, other universities and a number of trade journals and trade associations—leaves no doubt that the more
efficient would not only consent to the work, but gladly co-operate in it. Business men are realizing more and
more, he asserts, that what helps one helps all, that a badly constructed concern damages not only itself, but its
competitors also.
The fourth new function for the Department would be the working out of still better methods than it found
in use in any actual business. This might properly follow the others.
Much evidence of benefits derived by business concerns from the work of the private agencies named is cited
in the article. Practically all these agencies, as well as a large number of co-operating business concerns, are con-
vinced, it is asserted, that the work should not be undertaken on a larger scale than the private agencies can
support. Yet the government, with an appropriation of as little as $100,000, could make a very profitable start.
Much as has been said on the subject, we are only beginning to realize the enormous business wastes in this
country, Mr. Shaw believes.
"The head of one great shoe manufacturing and distributing concern recently told me," he says, "that the
retail shoe business of the country could be done on forty per cent, of the shelf stock now employed. Who is in
a position to dispute it? How do we know that wastes in other lines are not equally great? Certainly we
know enough to be sure that here is one of our great national problems."
While the work would tend to promote our trade abroad as well as at home, Mr. Shaw points out that the
method is essentially peaceful.
"It would be only a special effort to do our share of the world's work," he says. "As soon as the war ends,
we shall be confronted by a special opportunity to aid in the reconstruction of Europe. If we are not efficient, if
we are not in a position to supply things as cheaply as we should, Europe will probably have to pay more for them,
either here or elsewhere. The cost of reconstruction will have been increased by so much, and both sides will
be losers. To work our best toward the ends of the plan here outlined is our obligation to our foreign competi-
tors no less than ourselves."
of our foreign trade, and it will be needed after the war to enable
our exporters to compete on equal terms with the export combi-
nations of Europe.
The Merchants' Association of New York in a report sug-
gesting a number of modifications remarked: "Under the terms
of the Webb Bill, the smaller American manufacturer will be en-
abled to co-operate with his fellows upon any basis of joint ef-
fort. While the bill will, and should, leave each co-operating
American export association free to decide what individuals shall
belong to such associations, the bill offers complete freedom to
every American exporter to enter the export trade either singly
or in co-operation with associations mutually congenial, and abso-
lutely insures that neither he nor the American public, nor any
American producer or consumer, shall ever be restrained or
prejudiced by reason of such co-operative enterprise."
HE modern business houses are fast learning to rate the trade
paper at its true value in stimulating the members of their
T
staffs and keeping them well informed regarding trade events gen-
erally, the new products marketed and the new conditions that ob-
tain at various times. Business men for the most part have over-
come the idea that a large knowledge of the trade outside of their
own establishment was calculated to cause salesmen to know too
much and be more or less independent. A number of piano es-
tablishments not only encourage their salesmen and other members
of their staff to read trade publications, but some urge their em-
ployes to subscribe individually to trade papers in order to peruse
their contents at leisure and in their own homes.
It sometimes happens, however, that the head of the busi-
ness sees something in a trade paper that he is desirous of bring-
ing to the attention of his staff members. He, therefore, marks
the paper and causes it to be passed from hand to hand, for a well
informed staff shows a well balanced business organization. An
example of the manner in which the modern business man regards
his trade paper is offered in the following extract from a letter
sent to The Review by Willis & Co., Ltd., Montreal, Canada:
"We are always well pleased with the copies of The Review
as they come along, and might go further and state that we look
forward to receiving it each Monday morning. It always finds a
warm welcome at our president's desk and from there it is handed
to the various members of the staff with the different articles
pencilled for perusal."
AMERICAN BRASS FORGING CO., INC
Manufacturers of
PIANO AND PLAYER-PIANO HARDWARE
SUCCESSORS TO THE
168-172 Southern Boulevard
N e w York Piano Hardware Co.
New York City