Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Uncle Sam Counted
6531 MUSIC STORES
IN
1929
H
OW many music deal-
would be interested to know
Yet the public paid only $2.31 per capita
ers are there in the
that there is recognized and
United States? This
sizable business done by sec-
for musical instruments during that year
is a question that has been
ond-hand dealers in musical
the basis for numerous de-
instruments. In fact, the
according to the national summary of the
bates among members of the
government's national sum-
trade for many years and
mary lists twenty-eight stores
particularly during recent
selling second-hand radios,
U. S. Census of Retail Distribution
months when the question of
phonographs and musical in-
satisfactory distribution has
struments with an annual
been so important and at the same time per- to $43,137,795 or .09 per cent of the total re- volume of $311,398, while in addition there
plexing.
are eighteen stores devoted to the sale of sec-
tail sales for the year. The discouraging part
In this connection Uncle Sam has again is that these sales although impressive in bulk, ond-hand musical instruments, including
come to the aid of the music trade in some amounted to only thirty-five cents per capita, pianos, with aggregate annual sales of $134,-
measure at least, for the national summary of compared to total sales of $407.52 per capita 997. Here is a combined total of nearly a
the Census of Retail Distribution issued re- for all stores, being at the bottom of the list. half million dollars in second-hand instru-
The remaining 4,384 stores devoted to the ment sales alone.
cently by the Department of Commerce offers
information that is highly interesting. It may sale of both musical instruments and radio
With so many dealers listed by the govern-
not be 100 per cent accurate but it does repre- give a gross business of $239,186,755, or .48 ment it would be well to consider how the
sent the most extensive, direct survey of the per cent of the total retail business of the gross volume of business is divided among
retail trade of the country ever undertaken nation. This represents $1.96 per capita, the those dealers which will give some idea of the
and fiom that angle presents a definite bulk of course being in radio. How this per strength of the individual retail set-up. The
capita sale for the year compares with lead- figures show that the 2,174 stores which sell
value as a basis for general calculation.
According to the census figures there were ing lines of industry offers an interesting side musical instruments without radio handle an
in 1929 a total of 6,531 stores selling musical light on the situation. The entire list of re- annual average business of $19,842. This is
instruments and radio. Their net sales for tail sales is topped by food with $92.12 per not an impressive figure when it is considered
the year amounted to $282,324,550, represent- capita, next in order coming automotive prod- as an average which may be taken to indicate
ing .57 per cent of the total retail sales of the ucts, $77.76 per capita, general merchandise, that many stores have annual gross sales far
below that figure. The stores handling both
countrv for that year. Here is an impressive $58.16, and apparel, $35.15. A comparison of
figure, although a close analysis, plus a figures shows that sales of musical instruments musical instruments and radio, however, make
knowledge of the conditions, would indicate of all kinds including radio for 1929 repre- a much better showing with average annual
that the bulk or close to $200,000,000 repre- sented only three per cent of automotive sales sales of $54,522, although to make that figure
sents the retail distribution of radio receivers and six and one-half per cent of apparel mean anything at all it would be necessary
to have at hand information regarding fixed
and accessories. These sales, by the way, sales.
amounted to $2.31 per capita of the popula-
The members of the trade who have long overhead, sales expense, etc., in order that the
tion.
complained that many music dealers were de- net profit may be determined.
What the music trade has done in provid-
A breakdown of the figures in the govern- voting more attention to getting rid of used
ment report shows' 2,174 music stores without instruments at any price rather than put- ing the most effective outlet for the sale of
(PIfasc turn to page 24)
radio with net sales for the year amounting ting sales effort behind new merchandise,
RETAIL OUTLETS OF ALL KINDS IN UNITED STATES
Number
of stores
1,549,168
497,715
253,322
Total, ail stores
Food
Automotive
General merchandise
,
.
•
Apparel
Lumber and building
Furniture and household
,
Restaurants and eating places
Country general stores *
Cigar stores and cigar stands
Coal and wood, ice dealers
Drug stores
Feed stores farm implements, and farmers' supplies
Florists
.'
Jewelry stores
Musical instruments and music stores
News dealers
Radio and music stores
Seeds, bulbs, and nursery stock dealers
Other retail stores
Second-hand stores
* Combination food and other merchandise stores.
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
Per cent of
total stores
100.00
32.13
16.35
Net sales (1928)
$50,033,850,792
11,310,627,359
9,546,897,913
Per cent
of total
net sales
100.00
22.60
19.08
70,263
4.54
7,140,515,384
14.27
58.16
112,960
79,839
44,417
135,674
87,683
33,381
22,426
57.716
29,071
9,391
20,095
2,174
7,643
4 384
1,454
'53.980
14,665
7.29
5.15
2.87
8.76
5.65
2.15
1.45
3.72
1.88
.60
1.33
.14
.49
.28
.09
3.48
.95
4,315,234,497
3,637,053,607
2,286,007,992
2,097.170,628
1,927,622,967
417,239,780
1,265,354,398
1,683,834,442
1,228,427,590
177.488,758
536,949.551
43,137.795
127,943,544
535,252,980
70,967,632
1,533,114,912
152,964,163
8.62
7.27
4.57
4.19
3.85
.83
2.53
3.37
2.45
.35
1.08
.09
.26
.57
.14
3.06
.31
35.15
29.62
18.62
17.08
15.70
3.40
10.31
13.71
10.01
1.44
4.37
.35
1.04
1.96
.58
12.49
1.25
This classification used only in places having less than 10,000 inhabitants.
O c t o b e r , 1931
Per
capita sales
$407.52
92.12
77.76