San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-08
HIGHER PRICE
OPPOSITION IS
NOT APPARENT
Retailers Are Buying Care
| fully and in Small
Quantities.
| BUILDING HELPS SALES
| Aggressive Policy and Ad-
vertising Will Bring
\ Results.
BUILDING HELPS SALES
By j. G.. ROYLE,

Copyright, 1928, by The San Antonio Light.
New York, Feb. S.-Merchants
| Throughout the United States have not
tyet encountered vigorous consumer op'
position to the higher prices for goods
(which have gone into effect. Repre-
ssptatives from dozen different sec
(yShs, here for the meeting of the Ma
tional Retail Dry Goods Association
(which began here today, confirmed that
statement. Nevertheless they said the
majority of retailers were proceeding
cautiously as the full advances in raw
commodities had not yet been passed
on to the public.
The more farsighted retailers, they
declared, were reducing their expendi'
ktures rather than buying in extremely
large quantities: Advances in prices,
it was added, were made cautiously and
Reluctantly and manufacturers and dis
tributors were being urged to do like
wise. Nevertheless, it was apparent
hat all advances in costs of raw ma
erials and manufacturers are going to
be passed down the line to a greater
pr less extent to the ultimate consumer.
New weayes and designs in silk wool
ms and cottons together with altera-
ions in womens styles, merchants said,
would be of great advantage as the new
offerings would not be handicapped 10
such a marked degree by comparisons
With prices of previous years.
Aggressive Policy Needed.
Retailers emphasized that the year
would be one of keen competition and
lose profits. The general opinion was
expressed by A. o. ROrabaugh, head of
chain of stores in Kansas and Okla
IONA cities, who said:
Ill Il, hn an
tressive and must devise the wants OF
heir patrons more exactly than in the
bast. Newspaper advertising, firmly
believe, will bring results probably new
r equalled before in business history.
"Mid-Western merchants are slated
pr a splendid year. in spite of the
pck of encouragement in present farm
rices. 1t will be a year calling for
he best of mercantile intelligence and
Merchandising methods. 1t is true we
annot expect much in farmer patron
ge until another crop is raised, but 10
alanee this is the vast amount of build
hg construction contemplated, UMPIRE
edented building programs are out
ned for the Midwest and all this &C
witty will reflect on mercantile sales. v
Mems Furnishings Active.
Dealers IN mems furnishing goods said
-srs they expected a record season
it'll a wide variation of prices in diff
brent lines, especially shirts. These
i'll retail in some cases as low as 81
ut will range up TO SO and above
teavy stocks Of ties and neckwear are
eing laid in by retailers.
1t is generally believed that the labor
butroyersy which involves 35,OOU
eedle workers here in the waist and
'ess manufacturing industry will be
beedily adjusted. The workers demand
at pay be on week work basis, while
anufacturers declare it is impossible
r them to abandon piece work.
l. is understood that the sales Of the
oolworth stores in the first five
eeks of 1923 fully maintained the
ce which made 1922 the biggest year
company ever had with total sales
S167.319.265 for the year. Other
ain stores are establishing remark
lie sales records this month.
The purchase of the Milburn Wagon
bmpany's automobile body plant at
bledo, by the General Motors Corpora
bn for S2,000,000, is regarded among
tomotire experts as another step in
trail most large manufacturers are
lowing, which leads to at least partial
dependence from outside sources for
rtain parts and raw materials.
Commission merchants who handle
ne grapes in eastern territory are
eparing for a tremendous business
is year, in view of the success of ship
,nts from California made by steamer
way of the Panama Canal. Some
alers declared today they expected
cir 1923 sales to increase at least 20
r cent, .-hs-