The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-04
furniture SUPPLY
IS UNDER DEMAND
Trade Conditions Discussed
by States Furniture Men
in Convention.

An unprecedented demand for furnI-
ture, combined with the low produc.
ton OF furniture factories during the
war, has created a situation which
makes It difficult for retailers to get
stock to supply their customers, it was
stated at the business session OF the
Retail Furniture Dealers association OF
Iennessee at the Hotel chisca Wednes-
The anpual convention OF the asso-
cation was convened At 9 o'clock by
n j. beasley, OF Memphis. president.
with 70 members present from All over
the state. Among the speakers who
followed Mr.. Beasley were David Lee,
president OF the Memphis Retail Furni-
ture Dealers association, who welcomed
the visiting delegates. + E. Mahoney,
Oh S~hattanooga, responded to Mr.. Lees
cordial greeting on behalf Of the state
association, 2, H. Mcconnell, of the
Mcconnell Furniture company, made an
address on Credits and First Pay
ments, and l.. M. Stratton, OF the
Stratton-Warren Hardware rnpa
spoke on How Much Of Next Seasons
GOODS should be Purchased in Ad-
Another speaker Of the morning was
r @. Brice, Of Charlottesville. N. c.,
president OF the Southern Retail Fur
niture Dealers association. DR.. c. H.
Williamson, pronounced the invocation
and Joseph Hanover assistant city at
torney, turned the city over to the Wis
itors on behalf Of Mayor Monteverde.
Furniture Credits Long,
The afternoon session convened at
1880 O'Clock and was followed by
luncheon at the Hotel Gayoso. at which
George r. James, president OF the VIM.
+. Moore Dry Goods company, and
former member OF the war industries
board, spoke Of his Experiences and
Observations in Washington"
The luncheon was to be followed by
q boat ride on the steamer Princess,
starting at 8 o'clock.
In his address Mr.. Mcconnell COM
pared the financial operations OF the
retail furniture business with that OF
other retail businesses, showing that
the retail furniture companies made a
smaller percentage of profit, extend
longer credits on their sales, have few
er t%urnovers Of their money and re-
quire relatively larger operating capital
than any other retail line. The flrnl.
ture sales on the average are but rs
per cent cash, said Mr., Mcconnell, and
70 per cent credit, on ~ to 16 months
time. Department stores, he said, do
per cent charge, Of which about rs per
cent is paid within 80 days, except in
the case Of club propositions,
Mr.. Brice told the furniture delegates
that the dealer who has not already
placed orders for his fall and winter
stock will have q hard time filling his
needs. The factories In North Caro-
lima, he said, have overaold their pro-
duction up to October. North Carolina
is the largest furniture producing state
in the Union outside of Michigan, he
said, and products probably the great
est amount Of medium grade furniture.
Conditions which prevail in North Car
DINA are true also as to Michigan and
other furniture c~enters, he said.
Factories 0versold.
Mr.. Briee is not far from High Point,
N. c., where more furniture factories
are concentrated than at any place in
the country outside Of Grand Rapids,
Mich. He therefore has an intimate
knowledge OF factory conditions.
He estimated that cheap furniture
has more than doubled In cost over
the prewar normal price and that high
grade furniture has advanced about 30
per cent. FURNITURE he said, chow
ever, has not advanced as greatly az
have many other commodities"
The local association will give the
| visiting delegates a banquet Wednes-
| day night at the Hotel Chisca, at
| which three formal addresses will be
made. The first will be by DR.. Walter
| M. White, pastor Of the Linden Avenue
| Christian church, IN my Experiences
and Observations in France" by U. S.
| Dennison, OF Nashville, Tenn. on "The
Ladies'" and by Rabbi Fneshriber, Of
/ Memphis,