Music Trade Review
Issue: 1921 Vol. 72 N. 3 - Page 3
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
flUJIC TFADE
VOL. LXX1I. No. 3
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave., New York.
Jan. 15, 1921
Single Copies 10 Cents
92.00 Per Tear
Move to Encourag
M
EMBERS of the music industry, either individually, through their local organizations, or through
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, would do well, in considering the present attitude of the
public toward buying and ways and means for changing that attitude, to take heed of the movement
that has developed among manufacturers and.merchants and even bankers in various sections of the
country to promote the "Buy Now" idea.
. . . . . .;,.,. ,.„-., .„„
;
High prices alone are not responsible for the slackening off in buying, for there has been too much talk of
thrift, of buying only necessities, of hoarding money, and of preparing to meet the days of famine, as it were.
Bankers particularly seem to have taken a special delight in preaching to the worker of the coming of hard times,
and the necessity of rigid economy on the one hand, while preaching optimism to certain other elements of our
citizenry on the other.
There has been too much talk of thrift—so much so that the term thrift has apparently been accepted as
meaning miserliness. The public has been told to buy only the necessities of life, and with every manufacturer
and merchant apparently endeavoring by propaganda to bring his own particular product into that category
there has resulted a confusion that has moved the average man to cease practically all his buying and not waste
time endeavoring to differentiate between necessities and luxuries.
The business men of the country have come to the conclusion that the time for watchful waiting is past, and
that a strong nationwide propaganda to "Buy Now" is necessary to overcome the effects of the constant preaching
of economy and thrift. In several of the cities of the country the "Buy Now" movement has made strong head-
way, and has received the support of Chambers of Commerce and business men's organizations.
In New York last week there was formed a National Prosperity Bureau by a number of prominent manu-
facturers, merchants and bankers representing interests from all over the country. The Burean is to carry on
a campaign along the lines used for promoting Liberty loans, using newspaper and billboard advertising and
working directly on the public through local organizations.
The arguments put forth by the Bureau and by the "Buy Now" organizations 'that have been formed in
various cities are that prices have reached rock bottom, that the public can buy most articles right now cheaper
than ever before, or cheaper than they will ever be able to buy them in the future, and that unless there is a
general wave of buying, sensible, perhaps conservative, but nevertheless steady, there will be a severe permanent
blow struck to the prosperity of the Nation. Attention is called to the fact that factories have shut down and are
shutting down, throwing many thousands of men out of employment, and that by not buying, and, therefore,
failing to create a demand for the products of these factories, the individual is simply aiding in bringing about a
condition of depression that must ultimately affect him and his interests directly.
It may be a long while before the public can be induced to buy on a normal basis, but there is no question
but that they have the ability to buy. Savings bank deposits have never increased so tremendously as during the
past couple of years, and with the average of wages, very little below wartime standards the question of the
financial status of the ordinary individual does not enter.
Any general movement to encourage buying, and to bring the Nation back to sensible spending, must, of
necessity, have some effect in stimulating-the'sale of musical instruments of various sorts. It is, therefore, the
wise thing for the music industry to be represented in the campaign so that the effects will be as direct as possible.
It is much easier to persuade a man to resume buying as a practice than it is to preach thrift and then endeavor
to persuade him to put part of his money, saved by denying himself, into one or two particular products.
It is, of course, too soon to determine just what effect the "Buy Now" campaign will have in stimulating
retail sales and consequently wholesale manufacturing, but it is a move in the right direction.
THE
flUJIC TFADE
VOL. LXX1I. No. 3
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave., New York.
Jan. 15, 1921
Single Copies 10 Cents
92.00 Per Tear
Move to Encourag
M
EMBERS of the music industry, either individually, through their local organizations, or through
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, would do well, in considering the present attitude of the
public toward buying and ways and means for changing that attitude, to take heed of the movement
that has developed among manufacturers and.merchants and even bankers in various sections of the
country to promote the "Buy Now" idea.
. . . . . .;,.,. ,.„-., .„„
;
High prices alone are not responsible for the slackening off in buying, for there has been too much talk of
thrift, of buying only necessities, of hoarding money, and of preparing to meet the days of famine, as it were.
Bankers particularly seem to have taken a special delight in preaching to the worker of the coming of hard times,
and the necessity of rigid economy on the one hand, while preaching optimism to certain other elements of our
citizenry on the other.
There has been too much talk of thrift—so much so that the term thrift has apparently been accepted as
meaning miserliness. The public has been told to buy only the necessities of life, and with every manufacturer
and merchant apparently endeavoring by propaganda to bring his own particular product into that category
there has resulted a confusion that has moved the average man to cease practically all his buying and not waste
time endeavoring to differentiate between necessities and luxuries.
The business men of the country have come to the conclusion that the time for watchful waiting is past, and
that a strong nationwide propaganda to "Buy Now" is necessary to overcome the effects of the constant preaching
of economy and thrift. In several of the cities of the country the "Buy Now" movement has made strong head-
way, and has received the support of Chambers of Commerce and business men's organizations.
In New York last week there was formed a National Prosperity Bureau by a number of prominent manu-
facturers, merchants and bankers representing interests from all over the country. The Burean is to carry on
a campaign along the lines used for promoting Liberty loans, using newspaper and billboard advertising and
working directly on the public through local organizations.
The arguments put forth by the Bureau and by the "Buy Now" organizations 'that have been formed in
various cities are that prices have reached rock bottom, that the public can buy most articles right now cheaper
than ever before, or cheaper than they will ever be able to buy them in the future, and that unless there is a
general wave of buying, sensible, perhaps conservative, but nevertheless steady, there will be a severe permanent
blow struck to the prosperity of the Nation. Attention is called to the fact that factories have shut down and are
shutting down, throwing many thousands of men out of employment, and that by not buying, and, therefore,
failing to create a demand for the products of these factories, the individual is simply aiding in bringing about a
condition of depression that must ultimately affect him and his interests directly.
It may be a long while before the public can be induced to buy on a normal basis, but there is no question
but that they have the ability to buy. Savings bank deposits have never increased so tremendously as during the
past couple of years, and with the average of wages, very little below wartime standards the question of the
financial status of the ordinary individual does not enter.
Any general movement to encourage buying, and to bring the Nation back to sensible spending, must, of
necessity, have some effect in stimulating-the'sale of musical instruments of various sorts. It is, therefore, the
wise thing for the music industry to be represented in the campaign so that the effects will be as direct as possible.
It is much easier to persuade a man to resume buying as a practice than it is to preach thrift and then endeavor
to persuade him to put part of his money, saved by denying himself, into one or two particular products.
It is, of course, too soon to determine just what effect the "Buy Now" campaign will have in stimulating
retail sales and consequently wholesale manufacturing, but it is a move in the right direction.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).