Music Trade Review
Issue: 1920 Vol. 71 N. 10 - Page 3
raw
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
VOL. LXXI. No. 10
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave , New York.
Sept. 4, 1920
Single Copies 10 Cent*
$8.00 Per Year
A Study of Fall Trade Prospects
S
EPTEMBER FIRST, in theory and also usually in fact, represents the formal opening of the Fall
business season. With the vacation season out of the way, the business man comes back to his desk with
stimulated vigor and the feeling that he has accumulated a sufficient supply of energy to carry himself
and his affairs on to fresh achievements during the Fall and Winter months.
The coming of the Fall naturally represents the beginning of the buying and selling season for the
music merchant, whose product is particularly fitted for indoor use and which naturally receives most attention
when the fireside again becomes the haven of rest and entertainment. Accepting September first as the date
when increased business activity in the retail music field may be expected to make itself apparent, it is inter-
esting to learn in what frame of mind the retail trade of the country finds itself at this particular time. The
Review has taken occasion to sound out many retailers in various sections of the country, and, in addition
to learning that the dyed-in-the-wool pessimist is a rare bird among music men, it finds that there is a surprising
unanimity of opinion relative to general industrial and agricultural conditions, the attitude of the public towards
buying, the character of sales methods and terms, and condition of stocks.
In the first place, production, while not yet normal, has caught up to the demand, in a most satisfactory
manner, arid is backed by an excellent condition of stocks in the retail warerooms. Secondly, buyers in all
sections of the country are reported to show a tendency toward conservatism. They have not stopped buying
nor will they stop buying, but they have ceased to accept the first thing offered at any price asked, and are
demanding'a fair measure of value for their money. This is to be interpreted as a healthy sign, for it means
the upholding of a quality product.
Business conditions in any retail trade are affeGted primarily by industrial and agricultural conditions.
When industrial workers are kept at a high peak of activity, and crops are excellent and valuable, then there
is always in prospect the money to keep the retail stores going. Just now industrial conditions in the various
sections of the country range from good to fair. In Massachusetts, for instance, there is a slowing down
in the manufacture of woolens, but most other indus ries are fairly active. In other sections certain lines
of manufacturing are likewise experiencing a slowing down process, while other industries in the same sections
are working at normal speed or better. From the Atlan.dc Coast to Texas, and from New England to Florida,
the industrial situation shows the most surprising uniformity. There is nothing for the retail man to worry
about. There is little or no unemployment, and, with all the slowing down, factory operations are on a better
than normal basis.
While in some sections bumper crops are reported, in other districts certain crops have proved disap-
pointing. This is particularly true as relating to cotton. There are no crop failures in prospect, however. Tak-
ing the agricultural situation as a whole, it measures up most satisfactorily with previous years, especially in
view of the fact that farmers are receiving much higher prices for their produce, which means that the rural
trade is going to prove a highly important factor for the music merchant this Fall.
Terms, it is declared, are for the most part well within reason. From twelve to twenty-four months
seems.to be the scale in piano sales, and terms of thirty months are the exception rather than the rule. Present
wholesale prices and the condition of the money market make it essential that terms be kept short and that
business be done as a result of a greater selling effort and more effective advertising rather than on a term
or price basis. The majority of the dealers with whom The Review has been in touch appear fully cognizant
of the conditions that exist and promise to develop in their respective territories and have fully prepared them-
selves to meet those conditions. With stocks in good shape, there is no reason for sitting still and waiting for
things to happen, and the music merchants apparently thoroughly appreciate that fact. It is a condition that
speaks well for trade prospects up to January first at least, and probably well after that date.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
VOL. LXXI. No. 10
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave , New York.
Sept. 4, 1920
Single Copies 10 Cent*
$8.00 Per Year
A Study of Fall Trade Prospects
S
EPTEMBER FIRST, in theory and also usually in fact, represents the formal opening of the Fall
business season. With the vacation season out of the way, the business man comes back to his desk with
stimulated vigor and the feeling that he has accumulated a sufficient supply of energy to carry himself
and his affairs on to fresh achievements during the Fall and Winter months.
The coming of the Fall naturally represents the beginning of the buying and selling season for the
music merchant, whose product is particularly fitted for indoor use and which naturally receives most attention
when the fireside again becomes the haven of rest and entertainment. Accepting September first as the date
when increased business activity in the retail music field may be expected to make itself apparent, it is inter-
esting to learn in what frame of mind the retail trade of the country finds itself at this particular time. The
Review has taken occasion to sound out many retailers in various sections of the country, and, in addition
to learning that the dyed-in-the-wool pessimist is a rare bird among music men, it finds that there is a surprising
unanimity of opinion relative to general industrial and agricultural conditions, the attitude of the public towards
buying, the character of sales methods and terms, and condition of stocks.
In the first place, production, while not yet normal, has caught up to the demand, in a most satisfactory
manner, arid is backed by an excellent condition of stocks in the retail warerooms. Secondly, buyers in all
sections of the country are reported to show a tendency toward conservatism. They have not stopped buying
nor will they stop buying, but they have ceased to accept the first thing offered at any price asked, and are
demanding'a fair measure of value for their money. This is to be interpreted as a healthy sign, for it means
the upholding of a quality product.
Business conditions in any retail trade are affeGted primarily by industrial and agricultural conditions.
When industrial workers are kept at a high peak of activity, and crops are excellent and valuable, then there
is always in prospect the money to keep the retail stores going. Just now industrial conditions in the various
sections of the country range from good to fair. In Massachusetts, for instance, there is a slowing down
in the manufacture of woolens, but most other indus ries are fairly active. In other sections certain lines
of manufacturing are likewise experiencing a slowing down process, while other industries in the same sections
are working at normal speed or better. From the Atlan.dc Coast to Texas, and from New England to Florida,
the industrial situation shows the most surprising uniformity. There is nothing for the retail man to worry
about. There is little or no unemployment, and, with all the slowing down, factory operations are on a better
than normal basis.
While in some sections bumper crops are reported, in other districts certain crops have proved disap-
pointing. This is particularly true as relating to cotton. There are no crop failures in prospect, however. Tak-
ing the agricultural situation as a whole, it measures up most satisfactorily with previous years, especially in
view of the fact that farmers are receiving much higher prices for their produce, which means that the rural
trade is going to prove a highly important factor for the music merchant this Fall.
Terms, it is declared, are for the most part well within reason. From twelve to twenty-four months
seems.to be the scale in piano sales, and terms of thirty months are the exception rather than the rule. Present
wholesale prices and the condition of the money market make it essential that terms be kept short and that
business be done as a result of a greater selling effort and more effective advertising rather than on a term
or price basis. The majority of the dealers with whom The Review has been in touch appear fully cognizant
of the conditions that exist and promise to develop in their respective territories and have fully prepared them-
selves to meet those conditions. With stocks in good shape, there is no reason for sitting still and waiting for
things to happen, and the music merchants apparently thoroughly appreciate that fact. It is a condition that
speaks well for trade prospects up to January first at least, and probably well after that date.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).