The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-04-25
FOOTWEAR MARKET
OF HONOLULU HAS /.
UNSTABLE FUTURE.
Advancing Trend Of Prices Of All
Grades OF Goods Is Annoying
H.. Local Dealers
10 b asa -,--S
STOCKS ARE SCARCE ...
AND, SUPPLIES ALSO
Uncertainty Of Leather Supply
and Other Elements In Trade +.
Make Buying Difficult =.

Honolulu dealers in footwear ADM,
that they are completely cat sea
regarding the future Of the shoe mar
ket and while reports from the main.
land are to the effect that the leather
market is strong and active the warn
ing is sounded that supplies of all
kinds are scarce.The advancing trend of
footwear prices, which has been one Of
the most annoying features of the trade
In Hawaii, is as decided at the pre-
sent time as when the war embargoes
were first laid, and no quotations given
to the local dealers by the mainland
wholesalers are guaranteed MANY
manufactures have notified their clients
that prices are day to day figures.
There haTe been exaggerations in the
reported pfiees of shoes, but it is q fact
that staples of all grades from men 5 to
infants sizes show an average advance
over the spring Of 1915 of about IF
teen percent Wholesale. There is, how
ever, a greater distinction than ever
before, between the staple lines and tn,
fancy footwear which the women :,
departments are now making, as in
stanced in the high boot which take
four feet of stock to the pair instead
Of three feet to pair of staples.
Situation Extremely Trying
Moreover, the high boot is cut from
stock which today is not only extremely
Expensive, but the supply is short.
Skins ordinarily selling at eighteen
cents to twenty-four cents foot arc
bringing from twenty.four cents to
forty cents. In some cases fifty cent,
additional in the upper alone is shown
added to which are the advances in tn,
cost of soles and all other material used
in the production.
Although much of this bears equally
upon all footwear, there is certain
1mount of hazard in carrying extreme
styles which must be reckoned with, be-
cause in the end loss In the clearanc,
sales may be considerable.
As conditions in the shoe market are
today, there is scarcely one manufac
turer who will take q fair-size order for
August and September delivery, even
at so-called flexible price. There is Sc
much depending upon elements beyond
control that ordinary calculations are
of no account, and as for anticipating
with any degree of accuracy, merchants
have long since given it up.
The situation, therefore, is extremely
trying for both buyers and sellers, in
fact unequaled in the annals of the
trade. Buyers are offering orders with
no takers, which was never experienced
before.
Buckle Colonials Have Call
Safety, not caution, is manifested on
every hand. Manufacturers of men
shoes, medium or fine grades, figure
contracts from basis of stock in hand,
or what they are sure of getting. Little
account is taken of tanners promises
The volume of trade is good enough
and many orders are booked for early
shipment, but the future is SO clouded
with possibilities that accepting bust
ness offered in the customary way il
risk which almost none assumes.
women footwear il so changeabl,
that 1t keeps the trade guessing what
to make or what to buy. AL factories
making Easter goods were rushed
Manufacturers say the advent of sum
mer should stop the sale of high boots
but there is no surety of it, as orders
are still in evidence for shipment well
into June. The high boot Is incrcas
ing in popularity in Honolulu. Low
cuts are moving slowly, those for street
wear, however, not in quantities usual
to this season of the wear so far buckle |
colOnials have the call. The bane OF |
these manufacturers is the scarcity of |
kid stock, and substituting of all sorts
is the result. Prices are high, but ar,
no bar to buying if goods can be had
in time to catch the trade of the lob |
beTs.
Manufacturers of misses and chill
dren g shoes say they have booked a
liberal amount Of business, high grade,
and low grades being well ordered up
Kid shoes are sold with caution, col
Ors in particular. Often orders for tan
shoes of any kind are either turned
down or accepted with well understood
provisos. AS most of this business i.
along staple lines there is little to b,
concerned about as to regulating con
tracts.
Prices win Not Slump
The recent big start toward clean
up by the packers of their Fobruar,
and March hides could not he'll
but be gratifying. Sales of about
100000 sides at smart advance uvol
year ago prices show there is no an
ticinatiOn Of weakness.
Although there are some left to be
disposed Of, it is the assumption thai
the prices obtained will be maintained
if not bettered.
In the South, shedding was noted in !
March, and April and May takcofrs
PROMISE well, From now GU the quality
will gradually improve, with values
close companion.
The big demand for leather, and a
notable activity in all mercantile cen,
teTs, make u slump in prices almost
imconceivable, in fact, to those in the
business, high valuations are the usual