New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-20
WHAT THE BUYERS
WILL LOOK AT TODAY
DRYGOODs AND TEXTILE NOTES.

The new retrenching system OF a
large Western department store IN
placing orders, has met with such sue
cess that many other concerns are get
ting into line. Heretofore buyers
would place orders that would carry
them through the entire season, and
have stock left over that would have
10 be sold "a almost cost price. Inc
buying season Of this spring has been
a Zigzag one from the manufacturer
standpoint. The irregularity Of the or
ders placed caused a scare for time,
but the wise buyers knew what they
were doing in not placing quantity
business. The merchandise manager
Of the firm that started the "order as
you need" system Informed his buyers
that he would not confirm any orders
that looked too large. lie explained
that the buyers could come 10 the rnnr-
ket on second trip, and not only
duplicate their merchandise, but have
a chance OF buying more up-to-date
models. This was done, and the result
is that the entire buying force is now
in the market looking for new modes.
The system has done away with the
returning Of merchandise. and there
fore il benefits the seller as well as the
buyer.
A Tribune representative called on
well known dress manufactures ana
asked his opinion Of the new buying
system, and he said: 81 think that 1t IS
brilliant idea. Instead of a buyer
loading his stOckrOom with merchah-
disc that he thinks he can sell, he buys
only enough to last him for about.
months business. By doing this the
manufacturer does not suffer IN any
way. for the reason that when snip
ment is made there should be no rea-
son why all or part of it should be re-
turned, unless 1t IS not made up as
ordered. Then again, the buyer that
places a large order compels the manu-
facturer TO turn out the order in ess
time than it really should take, and in
some cases the workmanship is not OF
the highest, and then the evil OF re
turns follows. The manufacturing
concerns will soon find out what SPLEEN
did idea il is, not to force the buyer TO
place large orders"
Most of the resident buying oHices
will be open or Monday, February -,
Washington's Birthday, on account OF
the rush of buyers now in the market
anxious to complete their buying and
return home. The larger factories will
remain closed. but their salesroom
forces will work as usual.
Spring and summer trade is pro-
crossing steadily on silks, with an &C
tive demand for a wide variety OF
goods. Crepe de chine sales, which
showed a decline about week or ten
DAYS ago, are now reported as larger
than ever. Mills and comWisslon
houses are refusing to guarantee de-
liveries and are asking advances on
each new order offered. Shipments re-
ceived from the mills are being divided
up among many customers, with a
view to relieving the most pressing
demand and TO take care Of as many
customers as possible. Authorities IN
the trade predict that crepe de chine
will continue popular we'll through into
the coming fall season.
In commenting on this situation The
Commercial" says that other silks
popular for spring and early summer
wear are poplins, failles, crepe meteors,
and a wide assortment of "trb" or wash
silks. Tussah and pongee silks are COM
ing back strong. and are already sell
ing in a large yardage 10 cutters-up
Z
tailers are now in the New York mar
ket looking after their spring needs,
and silk departments in jobbing houses
find trade active as well as satisfac-
tory. Prices have reached firm basis,
and buyers appear to have more conf
dence in current levels being main
/ tanned than has been the case in sew
eral months.
Waist manufacturers are using up a
considerable yardage for separate silk
waists, particularly in crepes, while
: quite demand is reported on pongees
/ and Tussah silks for similar purposes
! Petticoat manufacturers claim that the
silk petticoat is back in favor again
, and owing to the wider skirt will be
used to a large extent this spring and
/ summer. Taffeta petticoats are being
I used to hold out and keep in proper
shape wide skirts of soft silks. such as
crepes, etc, and in this way taiteta
manufacturers hope for much larger
consumption of their goods this spring
and summer.