New-York tribune., 1919-12-03
British Footwear
Manufacturers
Form Organization
To Act as Clearing House;
Enables Merchants to
Standardizc and Special
izc in Export Products

An organization Of British shoe
manufacturers for cooperative efforts
in the extension of overseas markets
for British boots and shoes has been
formed under the title Of the British
Shoe Manufacturers, Ltd. In order
succ cssfully to enter the overseas mar
kcts, this organization has decided it
will be necessary to work up an cflec-
tive standardization Of shoes among
its members for different foreign
markets.
Already the boot manufacturing in
dustry of England is somewhat To-
called. For instance, northampton
produces for the most part mems
boots Of high grades; Leicester pro-
duces the corresponding womcn's boots
and shoes. The counties of which
these towns are the principal centers
produce similar boots Of cheaper
grades. The heavy boots suitable for
agricultural laborers, miners, etc, are
made in Leeds, the Kingswood district
of Bristol, and in Chcsham, in Buck
inghamshirc
Manufacturers in each Of these dis
tricts will be invited to subscribe to the
company, and those who do so will
then proceed to produce range Of
standard samples which will be de-
signed for particular overseas markets.
Tho sampes will be subjected TO the
Critic OF this local body Of manufac-
turers 81 the first instance. and when
finally approved will thus represent the
best that the united efforts of the British
producers of the particular class of
goods can make. The same body will
draw up standard specifications and
standard costings; it will become a
cooperative body, sharing knowledge
and experience to enable the trade to
develops it Will give standards to its
center Of the trade. These standards
will be the basis on which the central
organization viii book orders.
The establishment of a standard in
the production of boots does not, ho.v-
ever, mean anything approaching all
around uniformity, but uniformity Of
be distributed according to the pro-
ductlNe capacity of tie companies If
any order Is too large for one rm
other companies viii lend it a helping
hand.
Manufacturers in England. according
to representative of large British
shoe company, at present can easily get
all the orders for foreign trade they
want without the aid of central or
ganizauon. The central organization,
he points out, however, by acting as a
clearing house for orders bv taking
them to the places most capable Of cX-
ecutlng them in such creditablc man
ner as to bring larger orders, not only
does service to the trade, but enables
the manufacturer to specialize IN
stead Of taking orders for q wide range
or shoes Of various designs. manufac-
turers can specialize on a very small
range, can make this range as near to
perfection as their concentrated ability
Will allow, and then, having done this,
can secure all those economies in pro
duction and in the purchase of raw
material, all those improvements in
factory organization, that can come
through specialization and standardiza-
ton. Furthermore, according to this
representative. labor is very much H.
terested. since such a plan, with its
possibility OF q continuous flow Of
work, means the opportunity of high
plecework earnings.
Production, hacking and dispatch #
goods will all be subject to inspection.
This system is already operative in
the largest English producing district.
Each manufacturer has an identitica-
tlon. with the idea of encouraging buy
ers to note the special characteristics
Of the products OF the several CON
stituent houses.
A further point of Importance to
manufacturers is the terms Of credit
The overseas trade, whether done di-
rect or through exporting houses, has
had no standard of terms Of credit
and discount. Credit has in many in
stances had to be given for long pc
riods. All goods made for the British
Shoe Manufacturers. Ltd, viii be paid
for in cash within ten days This is
one of the most obvious advantages
the company has to offer the manu-
facturer.