New-York tribune., 1919-07-08
BUSINESS NEWS BUREAU,
Tribune Building
I54 Nassau Street
Buyers, Fearing
Scarcity, Storm
Apparel Market
High Prices Cause Com.
plants; Orders Are Lib
efal; Dress Manufacturer
Advises Against Stampede

Hundreds Of buyers arrived in New
York yesterday from all sections Of
the country. Most OF them came here
that will DE sold by retail stores dur
ing the fall months. They are the van
guard of large army of buyers ex-
pected to invade this market in the
next two or three weeks and fairly
lombard the apparel manufacturers
with orders. The latter are counting
on doing more business than ever be-
fore in a similar period. Most of tho
buyers arrived in the market firmly
convinced that further delay in making
known their wants for the coming fall
and winter would mean their inability
TO get sufficient merchandise
The buying of women's coats and
suits yesterday seemed to be heavier
than that of dresses and waists. 1t is
said that many of the retailers had,
already placed orders for their initial
supplies of the latter earlier in the
selling season and are now devoting
most of their time to selecting stocks
Of heavier articles of apparel.
In most cases the buyers were met
By stories of a great scarcity" of
materials and labor, ad were advised
to place their orders Immediately for
all the merchandise they could carry.
Many of the buyers did not need
further urging to make them order
more than they did last year. All,
however were loud in their complaints
Of present prices, and many of them
expressed fears that their own GUS
toners will rebel when they see the
price tickets on the merchandise a few
months hence. Buyers who ordered
less than their normal takings were
few, according to the manufacturers.
Orders Being Turned Down
Several of the larger manufacturers
are pursuing the policy of alloting
merchandise to their customers and re-
ports Of large orders which were
turned down were common. These
manufacturers are actually turning
away business, not only cutting down
the orders OF their old customers, but
refusing fatty to sell to stores which
we're not already on their books.
Buyers who merely Cooked" at mer-
chandise yesterday and will return to-
day or later in the week to place their
orders will find that prices have ad-
vanced in the mean time in most cases.
The attitude of most manufacturers in
this respect was set forth by William
volpe, salesmanager for II. Gold
water Co.. manufacturers Of
women's, misses and children's coats.
"We tell our customers" he said,
shat we do not guarantee prices, and
that while the garments they are look
ing at to-day are marked to certain
price they probably will be advanced
tomorrow. We do not say this with
the intention of soaring the buyers
into placing his order imme diately,
but to give him an idea of the ACTUAL
market conditions. AS q matter OF fact,
our price advances are behind the ad
vances we are compelled to pay for
our materials and labor. On much of
our early business booked by our
salesmen on the road we will actually
lose money The labor and material
advances that have taken place since
these orders were taken has more than
eaten>up our profits. On the business
booked in our showrooms here we
can control the situation better and
adjust our prices daily to meet the
new conditions.'
Many buyers not in the habit of
frequenting the New York market are
here now. it is said. Some of these
had ordered a portion of their re-
qulrements from the road statesmen
who visited them in their home towns,
but felt that the much talked of short
age demanded their presence in the
market. Finding that most of the
manufacturers were insistent that a
shortage OF merchandise is imminent,
they were inspired to place new orders.
Although large orders were placed
admitted that they had taken care Of
their full seasons requirements, most
Of the rest announcing their intention
Of again visiting the market month
or two hence.
Cautions Against Stampede
Exception to the advice given by
many manufacturers to place orders
for full requirements in fall mer-
ehandise at the earliest possible mo-
ment was taken by M. Benter, of NJ
d H. Benter, manufacturers of
dresses.
$50 much has been written and said
about the shortage OF merchandise for
iiaN," he said yesterday, that many
buyers will be stampeded into crowd
Ing four months buying budget into
one. Such action would only work to
the detriment Of both manufacturers
and buyers. II the shortage does not
already exist. extremely heavy buying
now will bring It into being and dis
1upt the entire market. Buyers who
are IN the market now should limit
,heir purchases as much as possible
.eou ol Trying TO extend them.
Il don't mean to give the impress
non that it would be we'll for buyers
70 mold off looking for drop in prices,
,or don't think there will be any
lower prices this season In fact,
prices will advance materially, in my
opinion, and present prices will seem
comparatively cheap compared to the
esignts that will be reached later on.
cut. II every one buys up to the limit
aow 1t will bring these price advances
mncn sooner than il the market were
showed 10 go up gradually. A real
ssaaarp advance now would be almost
alsaEtrous for the retailer. Women
san be educated to pay higher prices
sor their wearing apparel. The expert
. snce of the last few years has proved
SII they 2ust be led into higher
ysees gradually and not boosted into
'asm suddenly.
holds Mills Largely to Blame
The present shortage of goods
among apparel manufacturers Is due
s.nsoSuy TO the delay in deliveries on
.'is, sas part Of the mills. If the buyers
~ oniy give the manufacturers
sssnee 70 spread the seaso. out over
81 81, exssnded period Of time it viii en-
s sn'e mem 70 corrclatc their output Of
ssImehts with The materials they re-
.s"s from the mills. There are
sign sihougn supplies In sight If we 70
ssn.ysTiy On the fail season and do not
tssn INTO II nrerin{+ouai,,