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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 19U
TEN, TRADE!
The Man With the Dinner Pail Appears
A
Convention
Looms
Big
FEW days ago we were talk-
ing with a well known piano
manufacturer who stated
that in going over the statistics for
the years during the last world war
and immediately thereafter, when
piano production was high, he had
discovered that fifty per cent of the
pianos sold at that time were sold to
the man who works with his hands.
He also predicted that during the
next few years that this would cer-
tainly occur again, that for the past
five years the white collared class
have been the buyers and that, while
Carleton Chace
they will still buy, the added busi-
ness will come from the laboring class. Well, from what
happened two days afterward and came under our observa-
tion we are still more convinced than ever that what we
have been saying, as well as what this manufacturer stated,
is the truth. We happened to be visiting one of the swanky
warerooms on one of New York's elite business thorough-
fares two days after this conversation when in walked a
middle aged man with a lunch box in his hand. He said he
would like to look at a piano in light wood. Taken to the
piano he agreed that it was just what he wanted but said
he "I have just bought an automobile which will be paid
for in sixty days; now I would like to have you set this
piano aside for me and I will pay you for it in ninety days
after the automobile is paid for." With a deposit paid the
salesman tactfully questioned his customer who cheerfully
stated that he was an elevator mechanic now making an
average between $75.00 and $100 each week and proudly
displaying a voucher for one week's pay of $142. So watch
for the man in overalls with his dinner pail from now on.
It's a fertile market because when this class commences to
make money they buy things they have wanted for many
moons and have not had the money to spend for them up
to the present time. And, get this too, the man mentioned
above was 62 years of age, has six children the oldest 47
years, the youngest 6 years. Who could be a better prospect.
T
HE 40th Annual Convention of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants which will be held in New
York in July looks even now to hold greater promise
than any convention that has been held in many years. At
the recent drawing for exhibit rooms there were more
exhibitors represented in the list than there has been pre-
viously and many new names appeared showing that there
is an ever growing interest, by industries kindred to the
piano industry, in this affair. With business showing con-
tinued progress there is every reason to believe that al-
though there is objection from some to having the con-
vention in New York there will be a much larger attend-
ance than even at the Chicago convention last year. Bet-
ter make your plans to attend well in advance so that you
can be comfortably accommodated at the convention head-
quarters, the Hotel New Yorker.
Included in Spring Activities in the interim is the usual
"Spring Peak" campaign to be held during National Music
Week which will, without a doubt, perk up enough addi-
tional business for the dealers so that stocks will be pretty
well depleted by the time new models appear at the con-
vention. The natural trend of business combined with the
never ceasing promotion of the piano which is going on
these days should gladden the heart of any dealer and prompt
him to prepare for his convention visit early. At this
early date 217 rooms have been assigned to exhibitors com-
prising 7 complete floors of the Hotel New Yorker.
Used Pianos
Become Scarce
IGN of piano times which has a favorable aspect is the
the fact that according to a recent survey used pianos
are becoming scarcer and scarcer. There was a time
a few years ago when dealers were reaping a harvest in this
business but now it develops that although there still can
be money made in this branch of the business, the stock
has become very much depleted and dealers are getting
Keep Your Store
down to where just current trade-ins comprise such stock
Well Stocked
IHE concensus of the opinion of several large dealers as there is. This is a good sign for more than one reason.
with whom we have talked recently is that they wish Many people were disposing of pianos a few years ago.
they could get more pianos. In one big establishment To-day they are buying new pianos or if they have an old
we visited, the floors looked well stocked and when we men- one they are again using it and waiting for the time when
tioned it the dealer smiled and stated that they only had they can purchase a new one. Opening up the old piano
half what they hoped to have at this time. But as far as and putting it in use again is a promising sign for the future
we can learn the manufacturers are doing all in their of the piano inustry. Where dealers used to send their old
power to keep dealers satisfied. It looks like a busy year trade-ins down south to be disposed of at one time they
for all manufacturers in this respect as dealers throughout are now getting in trade instruments which can be resold
the land are now of the opinion that they should protect to advantage and at trade-in values which make this busi-
>
themselves against a possible shortage later which under ness quite worth while.
the present condition might be caused by anyone of several
conditions which may arise in these uncertain times. Those
dealers who will anticipate their requirements for the period
of a year will be doing themselves the greatest favor as well
as giving their manufacturers a chance to plan systematic-
ally and run their plants on even production basis through-
out the entire year.