New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-12
DRYGooDs AND TEXTILE NOTES.
President Let's OF the Retailers Asso-
citation on Direct Selling.

In his annual address to the conven-
ton Of the National Retail Dry Goods
Association at the Knickerbocker
Hotel Arthur Let's made an attack on
trading stamps, took up the subject OF
the matter OF returns and exchanges,
urged that steamship lines should be
placed under the jurisdiction OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
criticised the attitude of the jobbers'
association for protesting to manufact'
urers and commission houses that sell
direct. Parts Of President Letts's ad-
dress were as follows:
Most Of you are familiar with the
organization which is composed OF the
principal jobbers throughout the coun-
try. This organization has a great
deal Of influence on the manufacturers
of the various lines of drygoods and
also on the commission houses when
act as the selling agents for great
number of manufacturers. While our
association has worked along the lines
OF improving the existing conditions or
the retail establishments, 1t has not
gone into the matter of securing for
the retailer supplies OF merchandise
where they can be obtained at lowest
prices or from first hands.
"The jobbers' association has
brought about a great many reforms
among the manufacturers, and also &C
complished things that at times ! feel
have not been favorable to the retail
ers, particularly retailers who are IN a
position to purchase merchandise d.
rect from manufacturers and commits
sion houses in certain lines, such as
cotton piece goods, knit goods, etc 4
have personally had experience with
iobbers protesting TO commission
houses who have sold my establishment
direct.
"The commission house or manufaet-
urer had no objection TO selling me d.
rect. but what they feared was the as
ISOLATION. IL our organization could
have the same influence upon the
manufacturers and commission houses
as the wholesale association, ! believe
it would not be long before Jobbers
protests would not be given the consid-
Grafton they receive to-day. The JOB
bers' association some time ago OBJ
jected to all manufacturers and com
mission houses selling to retailers di-
rect who did volume OF business OF
. less than $4,000 a year. but IL seems
that in recent years they have ignored
this entirely, and are now protesting
regardless OF the volume OF business a
retailer might do. This should be
remedied.
Trading stamps have become a mat
ter that should receive serious consid-
Grafton. A way should be brought
about to force their dscontinuance.
Encouraging the distribution OF trad
ing stamps among the public is spread
ing that everlasting feeling Of getting
/ something for nothing, which, If left 20
continue indefinitely, will work a detrl-
ment upon the progress of our people.
"To a dealer who does not carry
trading stamps or coupons 1t creates
considerable difficulty. This matter has
been before our association for some
time. | would like TO have 1t kept be-
fore our officers and directors until
such time as we obtain satisfactory re-
suits either through national or state
legislation"
Secretary F. Colburn Pinkham in his
annual report advocated improved
methods in department stores, so that
there will be larger profits with less
waste and an increasing compensation
70 the employe. Mr.. Pinkhsm took up
the subjects of department store ad-
vertising, vocational training, pre-
MUM giving by manufacturers, charg-
| ing for deliveries, welfare work and
profit sharing.
On the subject of advertising Mr..
Pinkham said that during the last year
there had been a growing tendency
among the best stores OF the country
20 conservative statements IN adver-
Using He said: "If the merchants IN
city would agree to discontinue the
taking of excessive space in the news
papers and would further agree to
| offer only legitimate bargains, and TO
be truthful in the matter of prices, sn
increased saying in advertising waste
would result"
Secretary Pinkham also hit at tho
coupon permium business, saying that
the coupon offers OF manufacturers
which once aroused interest now
arouse suspicion. "The determined cam
/ paign OF the manufacturers and their
allies, the coupon companies, ne said'
should be opposed by every one In
/ terested in legitimate business"
Another subject Of the session was
profit sharing, by T. P. McCubbin, OF
/ Bowman & Co, Harrisburg, Penn,
which brought out discussion by many
OF those present, the conclusion being
that no standard system was possible.
The officers elected were: Alfred b.
Koch, OF the La Sale & Koch Com
pany, Toledo, president, to succeed
Arthur Let's, who refused a renomina-
/ ton. Directors-C. Herzfeld, of the
I Herzfeld- Phillipson Company, Milwau-
kee: Alfred B. Koch, of the La Sale
& Koch Company. Toledo; Frank Nc
/ Dermott, Of the Bon Marche, Seattle;
]. S. Mitchell, OF the l. s. Donaldson
| Company, Minneapolis; William r.
/ owen, Of the Denver Dry Goods Com
many, Denver; s. W. Woodward, OF
/ Woodward & Lothrop, Inc, Washing
ton; +. NJ. Ayres, OF L. S. Ayres & Co,
Indianapolis; j. Hammel, Of the L.
Hammef Dry Goods Company, Mobile;
P. A Bergner, OF P. A. Bergner & Co..
Peoria; F. E. Eastman, Of Eastman
Bros. & Bancroft, Portland, Me-; L. j.
Frost. OF william Filene's Sons Com
psny, Boston; s. H. Halle, Of Halle
brothers Company, Cleveland, and
Arthur Let's. Broadway Department
Stores, Los Angeles.