The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-05-24
SHOE TRADE PUSHING OUT.
American Manufacturers Branching Out
Into South America.

Washington, d. c., May 24--For the
assistance of American shoe manufac-
turers in charging their South American
trade, the bureau OF foreign and domes-
tic commerce has imported more than
$50 samples OF the kinds Of footwear
most generally used in Latin America
and will publish soon a series Of special
reports on the South American shoe
trade by Herman G., Brock of Brookton,
Mass, who recently returned to this
country after long tour as special
agent for the bureau.
/ The best opportunities for the sale of
American shoes were found by Mr.. Brock
to be on the west coast of South Amer
| lea High grade shoes are scarce there,
while the countries are very prosperous
| from the sales of unusual quantities of
nitrates, other minerals and foodstutfs
at war prices. On the east coast there
| Is an over production of fine shoes by
the numerous and up.to-date factories in
| Argentina Uruguay and Brazil. Argen
| tina recently doubled the duty on i'm
ported shoes for the protection of home
industry and tariffs in the other two
countries also are high.
Peeularities of the Latin American
foot must be considered in making goods
for sale in those countries. 1t was with
this in mind, particularly, that the bu
reau collected representative styles of
shoes to illustrate the very high instep,
broad ankle, short samp and high heel,
which the South American demands
In styles. the South American fac.
tories generally copy American types,
adapted to local conditions The modes
are varied frequently to maintain the |
advantage of domestic over imported |
shoes Niceties of finish are required, |
rather than long wearing qualities. and |
objection frequently has been made TO |
high grade American made boots for |
women because there was some rough |
ness of detail or because they were too |
heavy. The South American buyer wants
piano finish" even ON the bottoms of /
the soles. which must be flexible and
light, and any loose threads are likely
to prevent a sale.
Another demand made is that shoe up
pers should come together over the in
step, which is directly contrary TO ideas
of perfect fit in this country
Except in the very large cities. there
is no such thing as fixed price for an
article. Every purchase is the occasion
of much bargaining, so that the Amer
lean custom Of stamping prices on the
soles of shoes is not in favor
American machinery is used almost
exclusively in the South American fac
tories. Buenos Aires alone has more
than 200 factories, some of which have
daily capacity of 5000 pairs.
Before the war, England led in the
sale of. mems shoes to South America.
Austria, France and Switzerland sold the
bulk of women's and childrenis shoes.
put all of the Austrian product was
feared through Hamburg commission
houses and the trade statistics gave
Germany the credit for the sales Amer
can firms have an excellent reputation
or fair dealing, the quality of their
FOODS and the manner in which the
FOODS are packed, which probably ae-
cunts for the increase in business in re-
ent years
Mr.. Brock pointed out that the small
population of Cuba buys more American
hoes than the 50000000 inhabitants of
'outh America, He said that in spite of
xport restrictions necessary for a sue
essful prosecution of the war and not
the difficulties of doing
BUSINESS abroad at present. American
who are seriously inter
sted in building mp & permanent export
rade cannot be too strongly urged to
equaint themselves now with South
american needs.