The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-16
1920 Spring Styles Will Be
Much Higher, Springer Says.
Advance of Four Dollars a Pair
Already Agreed Upon.
ASKS FOR AN INVESTIGATION
Topeka Dealer Tells of Some of
Retailers Troubles.
He Asserts He Makes Only z
Cents ON the Dollar.

Shoe retailers make a net profit of
five to seven per cent. They have
been notified that shoes for spring
1920 wear will carry an advance of 81
a pair over the same season this year
That was the text of statement sent
to Governor Allen today by A r.
Springer, of Topeka. secretary of the
Kansas Shoe Retailers association. He
asks the governor to support a move
ment for investigation of shoe prices
from hide to retailer
Springer's letter states that the ex-
pense of shoe manufacture is far
above other costs. Every pair must
be made to fit a situation not con-
fronted by dress goods manufacturers
Springer declares that the threatened
advance il prices means additional
hardships for retailers. He bIames
unjust publicity and propaganda as re-
sponsible for present unrest which he
says classes honest merchants as
profiteers.
With his letter to the governor,
Springer submitted a schedule of ad-
Vances In wholesale manufa curing
costs. He states that shoes which cost
manufacturers $3.26 a pair in July,
1914, were advanced to $6.01 in De-
cember, 1918 and to 1892 in July,
1919.
He Gives Figures.
In his letter to the governor, Spring
er said in part:
When We can prove by statistics that
the average profits of the shoe retailers
only net per cent to Z per cent on each
dollar We take in and cite you to facts
gathered by the Harvard bureau of re-
search that shoe retailing is the most haz-
ardous of all retaiT business we maintain
that our profits are not only justifiabIe
put are too close, considering the chances
We take
That the element of style is the biggest
iactor In our financial success, no matter
how many models we show If these do not
meet the patrons fancy they will not buy
That two or three months required to
to deliver by freight; that 75 per cent Of
seasons purchases must be given factory
Iuliy SIX months in advance; that we must
guess that far ahead just what color will
harmonic best with Mi-lady's dress, what
shape OF toe. or heel. will please her fancy /;
covering the field Of possible needs from
ding day, and to have her correct size in
these before we can possibly make sale.
We merchants must cover this field ;
We must have proper sizes, different types
OF lasts that will fit these feet, must have
them IN all sizes from triple A to z width.
Zach s bakes S,as SIX sixty pairs to get one pair of
sold on the middle sizes. Always there are
ten 70 thirty pairs of each style left that
special sales-and then not until we have
round foot correct size to wear them,
do we make that Z cents.
Carry Large Short Lines.
Fully 40 per cent of the retailers stock
consists of these short lines, rarely ds IT
possible to get factory cost and even So
we must deduct the operation cost from
these. That our entire profits are tied
up In these shoes, necessitates the borrow
ing of money to pay income taxes
When we consider the millions tied up
in army shoes and the governments inabIl-
ity to correctly buy sizes for the soldiers
wherein they only bought one last one
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