The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-05
ARE ALL BUYING FURNITURE
MIR j. M'GILL SMITH RETURNS
FROM A BUSINESS TRIP TO
GRAND RAPIDS
Says That Dealers In Household
Goods Are Purchasing Heavily In
Anticipation of a Good Trade the
Coming Year.

The outlook for the furniture bust
ness in the United States was never
brighter" said J. McGill Smith, of
Smith & Farwell company. last evening
upon his return from Chicago. while
away I visited Grand Rapids and the
city was crowded with furniture buy
ers from all parts of the country. You
know Grand Rapids is where several
of the largest factories in the United
States are located, and is always a
Mecca for furniture men from every
section at this time of the year. The
hotels are all full and the factories are
behind in their orders. OF course, the
manufacturers always anticipate the
retailer by about month or six weeks,
so we may be looking for the big trade
about April !. which nOW-fallS to the
manufacturer. There are the best Of
reasons why every one in the furniture
business believes that this year will be
& record-breaker for the volume Of
trade. As basis we have fattering
reports Of the improvement of business
conditions in all branches of indus
try, and particularly in those which
most effect the wage earning class.
Again We have last years trade to fall
back upon. Certainly the conditions
this year will be better than last, now
that the uncertainty of the war has
passed from over our heads. I think.
too. that the number of buyers in
Grand Rapids and the amount of their
invoices will greatly exceed the records
made in previous years.
Our business does not begin to pick
up until about April 1. when the peo-
pie commence to recover from the eff
fectS of their coal bills and have lit
tie time to think about other things.
The year of the furniture trade is prac-
tically from April l to Jan. 1. All sum-
mer we enjoy a good trade, but after
the first Of the year it quiets down and
rot much is done until spring.
People bought a much better grade
Of furniture last year than heretofore,
although it can be said that the people
of the Northwest have no use for any
except a substantial piece of house
hold furniture. We sell the best fur
niture that can be made, yet, there is
but little market In the Northwest for
high-priced bric-a-brac, and what
might be called fancy stock. In short,
our trade is mostly in substantial, we'll
built furniture. which Is finished to
a high state of perfection. We sell a
great deal more of the medium priced
stock than of the cheap.
The war has had no effect, other
than in general way upon the fur
niture business in the United States.
1t may be when our American soldiers
lay the foundation of civilization in the
Philippines that furniture may be
large export item. However. this is
for the future. 1t Is our home trade
which we are most interested in.
Yes, there are a number of large
and we'll established factories in Chi
cago. which find market for their pro-
duction in all parts Of North America.
yet Grand Rapids seems to have first
place. as 1t is the place where all buy
ers go when selecting stock. The Chi
cago houses are doing the biggest bust
ness on record this year. And bust
ness cant be any to good this year,
as margins are not as large as they
Id To H.