Presto

May 28, 1927.
43
PRESTO-TIMES
SMALL GOODS, MUSIC ROLLS AND SHEET MUSIC
CLASSIFYING THE ROLLS
And Rules Governing the Best Operation of
the Music Roll Department Applies
Equally Well to Record Section.
There can be no orderly operation of a music roll
department without some kind of a classification sys-
tem. One devised by an ingenious roll department
manager may serve or one of the schemes prepared
by music roll companies may lend itself to the great-
est possible enlargement of the roll section. But
whatever is the plan adopted it will need attention.
A system of classification is a necessity all the time.
Confusion means unpleasantness in sales, trials on the
patience of customers, decrease in the turnover and of
course a diminution of profits. The rules applying to
the classification of music rolls equally applies to the
classification of talking machine records.
Helps the Sales Force.
Classification is a helpful thing for the sales force in
addition to its benefits to the stock generally. It edu-
cates the salesmen and saleswomen in musical titles
and types of music. And it has been found that clas-
sification greatly increases the sales of certain num-
bers generally considered slow sellers. But it is cer-
tainly a sure cure for overstocking as well as for
understocking and it creates an inviting effect on cus-
tomers.
In systematizing things in the roll and record de-
partments the dealer really is promoting sales, be-
cause he is making buying easier for the customers
Often there is created the desire for certain numbers
that otherwise would not be called to mind. A classi-
fied list is a suggestion to the buyers and it makes
the selling easier.
Effect on Customer.
Classification lets the customer decide what he
wants or suggests what he might want. Customers
are always better satisfied with selections of their
own choosing. A classified system acquaints sales
people with the actual musical tastes and desires of
customers and saves time by immediately showing
them just what they want.
Pleasant conditions of trading always makes friends
for a store. Classifying the rolls and records works
that way. It stimulates enjoyment in players, repro-
ducing pianos and new and old type phonographs. In
short classification is a means to many ends.
THE YOUNG AS CUSTOMERS
Interest of Youth in Music Should Be Source of
Great Encouragement to Dealer.
There are no age restrictions, impediments, reserva-
tions or limitations in the sheet music dealer's appeal
for customers and his list of prospects in his mind's
eye or set down on paper—includes all people who
can sing or play or think they can. But in his heart
he has the greatest hope in the youngsters as his con-
tinuous clientele. The older people represent the
ebb of his business; the newer generations the flow.
And the sheet music dealer who analyzes the present
conditions in life and notes the great part that music
is given in the affairs of the youth is cheered by the
possibilities they suggest for future business.
Never before in the world have young people de-
pended so much on music in their school functions
and social amusements. Perhaps the music they are
most attracted to is of the so-called popular kind but
they certainly make themselves familiar with that.
Not to know that latest song-dance in certain circles
is to invite loss of social caste. The young people
who dance and sing are the biggest buyers of music
and it is the plain duty of the sheet music dealer to
keep track of their predilections.
If the young folks love to listen to radio and music
from the use of rolls and records on playerpianos and
talking machines it should not cause dismay to the
music dealer or the music teacher. With the desire to
hear the broadcasted or "canned" music there goes
the strong inclination to emulate the artists repre-
sented in radio, the music roll and the talking
machine record. In this pepful age the number of
amateur musicians increases with the passing of the
days and tomorrow has bigger possibilities than today
for the sale of music.
It Is all the Time and According to a Success-
ful Dealer the Number of Sales Depends
on Dealer.
"There's business all the time if you can induce it
to come your way," was the text on which a promi-
nent western music dealer hung his address at the
annual convention of the music trade in New York
last year. He argued in a bright, impromptu manner
that there is really no particular season of the year
in which the musical merchandise stock is specially
favored by buyers. Every day, every week, every
month may be set down as favored for musical mer-
Drum Division of C. G. Conn, Ltd., Issues Booklet chandise purchases, was the belief he expressed and
he cited his own experiences in support of the theory.
Which Every Merchant Should See.
Attracting Customers.
Inducing customers to come his way is the con-
Dealers who have not received a copy of the new
Drum Catalog, E-l, of C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, tinuous effort of this ambitious and successful dealer.
Ind., should write to the drum division of the com- He does it in a variety of ways, the most important
pany and the new booklet and drum price list will be being attractiveness in the store. And he impressed
forwarded by return mail. New bass and snare the fact that attractiveness is a requisite quality out-
drums, new outfits and new traps are pictured and side as well as inside the store. An attractive ar-
rangement of goods in the show window as well as
listed in the new booklet just off the press.
The new Okay model street drum and new Para- inside are necessities for creating business every day.
gon model snare drum, the Dandy outfit and the The show window, like the newspaper advertise-
Tuxedo ballroom outfit, are described as well as a ment, creates the buying thought which salesmen on
new Conn trap table. This is the very latest in the inside change to realization. The prospect must
drummer's equipment and is designed especially for first be made interested in the thing he eventually
buys and the show window provides the most potent
the traveling or jobbing drummer.
means to sales.
Other novelties listed in the new drum catalog are
A Convention Show.
the Charleston Cymbal Holder and the Universal
Cymballam. The latter is the latest Charleston or
A notable feature of the convention of the trades
sock pedal with which all kinds of cymbal effects are to be held at the Hotel Stevens, Chicago, next month
possible. Just the right height for working with the will be the exhibit of photographs of show windows
hand and combinations of stick, hand and foot, make made in many cities during Music Week. It will con-
possible effects never before obtained. The cymbals tain many practical suggestions for future displays by
are adjustable to length of stroke. Any kind of cym- music merchants. Similar exhibitions in previous
bals may be used as well as any make and size. years were acknowledged to be of vast service to the
Crashes can be choked with the foot. Non-slipping, smaller stores. The larger stores in the big cities
folding spurs insure a steadfast position.
realize the importance of window shows and consider
the window dresser as powerful for impressing the
public as the ad writer. But too many smaller stores
PHONOGRAPH CONTEST SALE.
ignore the effectiveness of both the window display
The Thalman & Levi Co. department store, Ko- and the tasteful interior arrangement.
komo, Ind., obtained the first phonograph turned out
But, all the same, the big stores in the cities have
by the Wolf Manufacturing Co., Kokomo's newest no monopoly on the evidences of modernity. All over
industry. This store has been holding a contest sale the country are little stores where everything shows
among the department managers, and the one making the carrying out of an admirable plan which recog-
the largest gain in percent for the first two weeks nizes no favored season for the purchase of musical
in May will get this beautiful instrument as a prize. merchandise. The places are always conducive to the
The contest ends Saturday evening. Sixteen depart- buying desire. The professional and amateur are at
ment managers are making big efforts to get this home in these stores and feel encouraged by the
prize.
methods of showing the goods.
NEW CONN DRUM CATALOG
FEATURING CONN INSTRUMENTS.
The Consolidated Music Co., Salt Lake City, Utah,
is one of the most enthusiastic representatives of the
line of band and orchestra instruments made by C. G.
Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind. The University of Utah
and the Latter Day Saints University are located in
that city and band and orchestra music are promi-
nent features of the institutions. That fact gives the
Consolidated Music Co. continuous opportunities for
tie-ups in which the merits of the Conn instruments
are forcibly brought to attention.
WOMAN'S RADIO ACHIEVEMENTS.
A woman who holds high position in radio is Mrs.
Flossie Erickson of Bloomington, 111., whose achieve-
ments in reception has set new records. Mrs. Erick-
son, with various receivers and many different aerials,
has brought in foreign countries as well as nearly
400 American stations. She has received four cups
from the Radio World's Fair and the Chicago Radio
Show, by vote of the judges designated at these offi-
cial exhibits of the radio manufacturers.
C. G. CONN, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.
C. D. GREENLEAF, Pres.
J. F. BOYER, Sec'y
World's largest manufacturers of High Grade Band and Orchestra Instruments. Employs 1,000
expert workmen.
The most celebrated Artists use and endorse Conji Instruments.
Famous Bandmasters and Orchestra Directors highly endorse and recommend the use of the
Conn Instruments in their organizations.
Conn Instruments are noted for their ease of playing, light and reliable valve or key action;
quick response, rich tonal quality, perfect intonation, tone carrying quality, artisticness of design,
beautiful finish and reliable construction.
Conn Instruments are sent to auy point in the U. S. subject to ten days free trial. Branch stores
or agencies will be found in all large cities. Write for catalogues, prices, etc.
C. G. CONN, Ltd.
BEST SEASON FOR SALES
DEPT. MS.
ELKHART, IND.
BUYS DALLAS BUSINESS.
Durward J. Cline recently purchased the interest
of his partner, R. A. Pryor, in the Pryor & Cline
Music Co., 1905 Elm street, Dallas, Tex, and re-
named the business the Cline Music Co. Band and
orchestra instruments and Columbia phonographs are
carried.
THE FAMOUS
CLARK
ORCHESTRA ROLLS
of De Kalb, Illinois
CLARMflgROLLS
The Best for Automatic Playing Pianos
Organs and Orchestrions
Whether you sell automatic playing in-
struments or not, it will pay you to
handle and be able to furnish
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLLS
Monthly bulletins of new records. Write
for lists, folders and FULL PARTICU-
LARS.
Clark Orchestra Roll Company
Manufacturers — Originators — Patentee*
De Kalb, Illinois
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/