The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-29
BUIEbING UP TRADE. =
Report OH Opportunity for Shoe Ex-
ports to South America.

Washington, May-24.-For the as
slstance of American shoe manufac-
turcrs in enlargiDg their South Amer
lean trade, the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce has imported
more than $50 samples of the kinds Of
footwear most generally used in Lat
in-America and will publish soon a
series of special reports on the South
American shoe trade by Herman G..
Brock, of Brockton, Mass, who re-
Gently returned to this country after
long tour as a 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
America. High grade shoes are scarce
there, while the countries are very
prosperous from the sales of unusual
quantities of nitrates, other minerals
and foodstuffs 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, Uru-
quay and Brazil. Argentina recently
doubled the duty on imported shoes
for the protection of home industry
and tariffs in the other two countries
also are high.
Peculiarities 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 Bureau collected representa-
tive styles Of shoes to illustrate the
very high instep, broad ankle, short
vamp 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 main
tain the advantage of domestic over
imported shoes. Nicetes 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 roughness Of detail or be-
| cause they were TO heavy. The South
American buyer wants a piano
finish" even on the bottoms of the
soles, which must be flexible and
light, and any loose threads are like
ly to prevent a sale.
Another demand made is that shoe
uppers should come together over
the instep which is directly contrary
to ideas of a perfect fit in this coun-
try.
Except in the very large cities,
there is no such thing as a fixed price
for an article. Every purchase is
the occasion of much bargaining, so
that the American custom Of stamp
ing prices on the soles of shoes is not
in favor.
American machinery is used almost
exclusively in the South American
factories. Buenos Aires alone has
more .han 200 factories some of
which have daily capacity of 5000
pairs.
Before the war, England led in the
sale Of mems shoes to South Ameri-
| ca. Austria. France and Switzerland
sold the bulk of women's aud chill
dren's shoes. but all of the Austrian
product was cleared through. Ham
burg commission houses and the trade
statistics gave Germany the credit for
the sales. American firms have an
excellent reputation. for fair dealing,
the quality Of their goods and man.
ner in which the goods are packed,
which probably accounts for the in
crease in business in recent years.
Mr. Brock pointed out that the
small population of Cuba buys more
American shoes than the $4,000, 900
inhabitants of South America. He
| said that i'm spite Of export restric.
tions necessary for q successful prose-
cutiOn Of the war and notwithtsand-
! ing the difficulties Of doing business
abroad at present, American manu-
facturers who are seriously interested
in building up permanent export
trade. cannot be too strongly urged
to acquaint themselves now with
South American needs.