Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-18
What n. E. Retailers
Think of n. E. Goods

Hartford, Conn, NOV. LII dctofS
which are retarding normal growth
of certain New England industries
are clearly brought to light as a re-
suit Of surveys of the shoe, cotton
dress goods and knitted underwear
and hosiery industries, made under
direction of the Research Committee
of the New England Council, reports
of which We're given to delegates 10
the Second New England Conference
arriving here tonight. The COM
mittee reports also deal with effective
methods for overcoming factors
which have been initiating against
the proper marketing of New Eng
land made goods.
style goods predominant in New
England's manufacture OF SHOES,
knit goods and cotton dress goods.
the Council survey shows. The re-
ports state that if New England Is to
maintain her proper position as pro-
Queer of these articles 1T is essential
that constant study be made Oh
modern styling methods and that
leadership in style making be MAN.
tanned within New England.
The retailers were asked to state
WIldI SOOuS al tueSS iiiSo tiiSS
bought IN New Ems .,,,lu, ana 20 give
their reasons for preterring either
New England goods. or competing
goods made elsewhere. These in
quiries developed quickly the strong
and weak points of New England
made goods as viewed by retailers,
and also brought forth many con-
structive criticisms and suggestions
from the distributors. Each study
was made by the Research Com
mittee in cooperation with groups OF
manufacturers, and all the informa-
ton obtained from retailers was
turned over to the manufacturers,
The manufacturers in turn made
suggestions for carrying the studies
further. to show in particular how
some firms in New England, in all
these industries, are making sue
cesses. All the manufacturers
groups, it is stated, gave their APP
prevail to the reports, which will be
further discussed by Mr.. Filene at
the Friday morning session of the
Conference.
an appreciate interest in the cotton
textile industry. This is also true
of knitted underwear and hosiery
industries, and three New England
states are engaged in shoe manufac-
ture. The survey embraces a study
of marketing difficulties, manufac-
turing methods in leading plants,
styling and other factors which affect
distribution of New England made
merchandise in the markets of the
country, and New England In partic-
ular, in competition with like mer-
| chandise produced in factories out
side of the six New England states.
The Cotton Dress Goods Situation
The survey developed that the
problem of the cotton dress goods
industry here, as stated by leading
textile manufacturers, is not one
that can be solved by the industry as
a whole, but must be solved by the
various mills individually.
| Success or failure of the individual
| properties Is likely to lie, according
to the findings of the Committee, In
| % determination through study of
| the problems of distribution of spe-
/ cific plants and resultant policies to
be followed; ca managerial initia-
tive to carry out these policies. and
| CD financial capacity to execute
methods and policies adopted.
Some of the high lights are:
| Some New England mills are using
antiquated equipment.
| Complicated or outgrown methods
of distribution are making sales
| stimulation difficult in some New
! England mills.
| Style leadership is essential to the
success of the industry in New Eng
| land. Success or failure depends on
individual executive initiative rather
than on New England conditions.
Improvement of selling methods is
needed to enable some New England
| shoe plants to meet competition
New England is now making about
one-t third of all the shoes produced
in the United States, but New York
and Missouri have shown the great
est growth in the production of shoes
in the past Is years.
New England is increasing her
number of plants faster than the
South. Retailers are buying much
New England made underwear. ex-
cept silk underwear New England
made hosiery is in a weaker position
than underwear. Emphasis on stvle
minimizes the Importance of price
to buyers of both hosiery and under
wear; many New England manufac-
turers, however, are emphasizing
nj oil