Presto

FIRST OF PIANO SALES CLINICS '
The first of the series of Piano Sales Clinics organized by
Larry Selz will be held at the Hotel Jefferson in St. Louis,
Missouri, on February 10th. The general title to the attrac-
tive announcement of four pages is, "Here's How You Can
Increase Profits and Sales." The purpose of the Clinic is
stated in the following paragraph:
"You are in business to make money. How much money
you make depends upon how many pianos you can sell. The
number of pianos you can sell depends upon how good a
merchandiser you are. To help you become a better mer-
chandiser, the National Piano Manufacturers Association has
arranged a one-day short course crammed with proven sales
ideas and constructive suggestions for business promotion.
This is an invitation to you and your salesmen to be present
and spend the most profitable day in your business life."
Three Special Sessions
The clinic will be divided into three sessions—morning,
afternoon, and evening. The evening session will follow a
dinner, the cost of which (two dollars) will be the only ex-
pense to the piano man attending the clinic. Every thing-
else is free.
Experts To Give Addresses
There will be several speakers of outstanding ability;
among them a noted advertising man, a recognized radio
authority, an authority on windows, a window display expert,
a lighting authority, a telephone sales expert, and "a direct
mail marketer.
MELVILLE CLARK
SPLENDID PUBLICITY BY SELZ ORGANIZATION
A report from the Lawrence H. Selz Organization shows
that the piano received 386 items of publicity in newspapers
and magazines during the month of December, 1940. These
newspapers and magazines have a total circulation of 60,-
000,000, while the space allotted in these publications to
piano publicity amounted to 3,736^ inches. It is interesting
to note that the total circulation of all publications carrying
•piano publicity during the year 1940 was 702.500.000 as com-
pared with a total circulation of 698,000.000 for a similar De-
l
nod in 1939.
'
JAY KRAUS ACQUIRES THE
HARMONY COMPANY
In our last issue we carried a story of the closing o f The
Harmony Company, and it is our pleasure to announce that
The Harmony Company has been acquired by Jay Kraus.
formerly president of The Harmony Company.* The new
Company will be
continued u n d e r
the same corporate
name and will use
the same skilled
force of c r a f t s -
men. The new
Harmony C o m -
pany acquired in-
ventory, machin-
ery and e q u i p -
ment, and good
will of the old
concern but its
new headquarters
a r e located a t
3631 - 3633 South
Kacine Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois.
Presto M u s i c
Times desires to
express its con-
gratulations
t o
Mr. Kraus and to
wish him every
success with his
new venture.
OPTIMISM FOR MUSIC MERCHANTS
How interesting to note that the contest sponsored by
Presto Music Times is being done in an effort to learn "what
music merchants consider as outstanding music merchandise
displays." What is more vital than proper promoting of the
idea of musical instruments in the home? Was there ever a
bigger opportunity to create music business than now?
Building the Foundation for Musical Success
To say that the Spinet piano with its wealth of style and
beauty of tone has "clicked" with the public and set piano
sales soaring, is putting it mildly. Undoubtedly every dealer
is grateful to those who have had the vision and talent to
produce such exquisite instruments at such low prices. This
new attractiveness in pianos, the colossal program of music
in the public schools, teaching music appreciation through
band and orchestra, are all building a great foundation for
future music in the home, since the children in our public
schools today, five or ten years hence, will be our great Amer-
ican music-loving
public with homes and families of their
own. W T hat a great opportunity they will present to the
music dealers. Already the result of music taught in our
public schools has produced a crowning achievement in our
National Youth Orchestra.
Dramatize Musical Instruments
Now is the time to dramatize our lines of musical instru-
ments, so as to make music a dominant factor in the home.
The question then arises—how can this be done? To my
mind, the most outstanding piece of advertising and promo-
tion being done is that done by the ladies wearing apparel
stores throughout America. If piano and other musical mer-
chandise could be promoted by all interested in a manner
similar to the ladies wearing apparel, business for 1941 could
not fail to be good.
For NAMM Members
While we have made great strides during the past few
years through the ever growing National Association of
Music Merchants, yet there is a need for more members so
that the great strength of this Association will be felt and
realized. Yes, I am optimistic for the year of 1941 for music
dealers.
JAY KRAUS
FEBRl'ARY, NINETEEN FORTY-ONE
VAf.E THIRTY-ONE
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/