New Britain herald., 1927-05-05

m wants the real thing and not
 imitation. This has led to an in- creased demand for the pearl of value.
 "Diamondsyko slittering many faceted stones are the farorites of the fair sex of this county. and in their train closely follow pearls, emeralds. rubies. sapphires and all the stones that have been precious from the beginning of history"
 How 10 Improve Conditions
 Immediately following the ad- dress of Mir. Dyson and a report of activities during the year made by Secretary Sturman Dyson. the following address on trade condi- tions was made by c. C. Costello of New 1.ondon:
 "My talk to you today M not for the purpose of informing you of anything new in trade conditions, but rather with the intent of bring ing out in discussion to follow an exchange of views and opinions as 10 what methods should be employ ed that will be of material advan- tage to bettcring conditions in the jewelry industry. You are all prac- tical men. as well as business men. and are as familiar with conditions as I am. and often hear the much
  with the retail jewelry business In my opinion the fault is not with the business itself but rather with the jewellers themselves. When you stop and think, of the large number of high class retail jewelry stores that are not members of their state association who are perfectly willing to receive all the benefits of the tax reduction. and who only recently were saved hundreds Of dollars through the efforts of President Dyson and his son, secretary of the association. in notifying all of the jewellers of the state of the clever swindler who was among us, by broadcasting to them at the expense of the association. Then again there are members of the association who do not take their membership seri- ously enough to help themselves. You will find men paying dues and giving of their time and services to clubs and lodges who will not give hardly minute of that time to any tot t. benefit for themselves and in their own business.
 Tn the case of the watch manu- lecturers however We were not able to compete with the prices quoted, inasmuch as civilian and govern ment employees of the local Navy Base are able to buy well known American made watches and jew elry through jobbing concerns. and in some cases the price paid Is less than what we are able to buy these articles for. We also know of cases where the office help in factories located here are able to buy through the purchasing department watches and diamonds at cost. This is unfair to the local jewellers. who are help less to prevent them. unless they impress upon the minds of the job bers and manufacturers, who sell to people that are in no way connected with the jewelry industry, the un- fairness and the unethical detri- mental practice.
 The manufacturer. jobber and retailer, each have their own place in industry, and 1t should be the work of each ieweler through his association to bring about q con- dition that is absolutely fair to all the interested parties. In our city we find the drug stores with their counters covered with alarm clocks, fountain pens. belt buckles, Walde- mar chains, wrist watches and numerous other articles of mer- chandise which were formerly con- sidered to be strictly the merchan- disc of the jeweler. We find cloth Ing stores, department stores hard wa:e stores. millinery stores. crock cry stores. newsSta nds i'll fact nearly every other line of retailing is going into the jewelry business but for tunately or unfortunately the jewell CT cannot put in a stock of drugs and hats, and the other lines to compete with the people who are now competing with him.
 T make these statements to call to your attention these. facts, but at the same time want to give full credit to those manufacturers, and wholesalers, who conduct their business on a very high level of ethical practice, and the retailers should be mindful of this fact when they are buying their merchandise. Good houses send out good lines represented by good fellows who quote good prices. and while We would like to do business with every one, at the same time the jeweler should be mindful of the obligation he owes to those members of the in- dustry who are trying to assist him in the proper conduct of his busi- ness.
 Tt has been brought to my atten-