White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-11-03
Broom Corn and Broom Prices.

The compiling of data by the United
States government through it's COM
mission has developed many interest.
ing side-lights. Broom manufacture
ers are learning that most of them
have sold their product at far too
low prices during the past 10 to is
years. This was not through any de-
sire to be philanthropic, but due
largely to inadequate methods of fig
uring costs of manufacturing and
marketing, says Broom Corn Review.
Now that the majority of broom
manufacturers are alive to the true
situation, they find it not only neces-
sary to increase their selling price to
cover costs as they were under nor
NAL conditions, but with the advance
of from is to several hundred per
cent in materials, that it is absolutely
necessary to revise prices in keeping
with the advance of materials.
Aside from the slightly higher
prices which would be necessary even
under normal conditions, a substan-
tial advance in broom prices this fall
and winter is sure to be put into eff
feet by those manufacturers who are
able to remain in business.
For the past two years the yield of
broom corn has steadily decreased,
and the consumption of brooms, from
all appearances, has steadily in
been reached and passed, with the re-
suit that the surplus stock of broom
corn in the United States has been
used up, forcing manufacturers to de-
pend on the short crop of this sea-
son.
With a demand greater than the
supply, there can be only one result,
and that is evidenced by the highest
broom corn market recorded in many
years, and it is problematical whether
all manufacturers will be able to get
enough corn to supply their needs.
In spite of this condition, the wide
awake, up-to-date retailer really fares
better, at least, no worse if he posts
his clerks as to the correct reasons
for price changes. The consumer also
profits if facts are properly presented
by the dealer
In all probability, the advance will
be largely on the lower grades, as
we'll as lower priced brooms, which
are generally sold too near cost Of
production, and ofttimes below. The
better grades give the dealer a wider
margin of profit and the consumer
longer and more satisfactory wearing
service.
1t follows naturally that the dealer
should take pains to show his Gus
IN, +1of 1xrhi1 +hn init fol
ture is little more, one high-grade
broom at use, s5c or 81 is more eco
nomical to purchase than two or
three soc brooms, the one high-grade
article outwearing several of the low
er grade brooms.
Mrs. Broom-Purchaser reads her ia
vorite magazine or paper and under
/, stands better than she is ofttimes
given credit the necessity of mod
est advance in the price Of brooms
and other commodities. If she is the
wife of farmer, simply call attention
to the high price on all farm prod
ucts and how much greater the adj
vance is on them than on most arti-
cles of merchandise she is obliged to
buy, and no other argument is
needed.
Summing up the whole situation,
consumers are accepting with good
grace the general advance in price of
practically all commodities. Gener-
ally speaking, the broad-minded re-
taller will make an effort to thorough
ly post himself and all of his en-
ployes as to the cause Of higher
prices, that an intelligent explana-
ton may be offered customers. 1t is
the duty Of jobbers and manufacture
ers to voluntarily send out conserva-
tive reports, giving in detail market
and other conditions which affect or
influence the change in prices.
Last, but not least, dealers should
not substitute an inferior or lower
grade article simply to maintain their
retail selling price. Stick to your de-
pendable merchandise and get the ad-
vance. This is constructive merchan-
dising, the kind successful retailers
do, and there is no better time than
the present to be successful.