The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-03
CITY FURNITURE
FIRMS REPORT
BUSINESS CAIN
Manufacturers Say Trade
Is on Upgrade; Retail
Increases Shown.

crate sales gain among representa-
tive local retail firms, officials said
today.
In showing this business gain, |
indianapolis firms are keeping pace
with the burst of activity which the
industry has shown in other centers, !
with many factories working at ca
pacity in an effort to meet demands
of furniture buyers covering their
requirements into late fall
The enthusiasm of furniture buy
ers is explained chiefly by the in
crease in raw material and labor
costs, but the psychology note is
struck by H. T. Griffith, president
of the Udell works, 1902 West Twen-
ty-ninth street.
Get Homes of Their Own
"All during this depression" Crit
fifth points out, young married cou-
pies have been living with the par
ents of one or the other, and now
that some advance toward prosper
ity has been made they've started
doing more than thinking about a
home of their own"
Griffith said that inventories gen.
orally are low, that an improvement
in the Udell business has been
marked during the last six weeks,
and that manufacturing costs are
rising The company has found it
necessary to put on several new en-
ployes, Griffith said
One of the most notable business
strides in the Indianapolis furniture
manufacturing field is reported by
the John j. Madden Manufacturing
Company, 1900 North Sherman
drive.
Operates at Capacity
The company is operating at Ca
pacity and has been doing so for
three months, according to John
Madden, president. Madden SAID
his company is "swamped with or
ders" and a full force Of approx
mately $50 is at work.
The Madden company has called
back on a fulltime basis all its old
employees who have been working
short days or weeks.
First business increase in year
was noted during May and June at
the Enrich Furniture Company,
324 West Morris street, and gain
is reported by the Lindeman Wood
Finish Company, 1902 West Wash
ington street, which is erecting a
new warehouse, to be ready in
thirty days.
Otto P. De Luse, president of the
Western Furniture Company, 1893
Madison avenue, is not as opt1-
mistic over the furniture business
revival as are some of his con-
temporaries but he said that his
company has had a small but sat-
isfactory business gain in the last
ninety days.
Prices Go Up
The buying gain is not common
surate with the increase in lumber
and raw material increases, DeLuse
said. He asserted he expected the
industrial recovery act would do
much to correct the starvation
wages" paid by southern manufac-
turers which have done much to re-
tard the industry's recovery.
New product prices at the factory
are ranging from 10 to 40 per cent
higher. a general survey Of the
manufacturing field indicates.
While the majority of the lead
, ing indianapolis retail furniture es-
adjustments report a slight increase
in business during the last thirty
days, none have marked up prices
on furniture on the floor. What
ever requirements were necessary
receA nave been at about IS per
cent nlarkup and most houses have
received new price lists from fac
tories noting increases.
Other Industries Gain
Gains in the manufacturing and
retail end of the furniture business
have been reflected in the busine;N
of allied industries, such as the
indianapolis Paint and Color Com
pany, the Lilly Varnish Company
and the indianapolis Varnish Com
pany.
w. I. Longsworth, general man.
ager of the Lilly firm said several
persons have been added to the
pay roll. due to gain in business
during the last sixty days.
f. Elmer, president of the Indian
apolis Varnish Company. also noted
a marked business improvement and
said several out-state furniture fac
tories have boosted their varnish
orders.
officials of the indianapolis paint
firm said ma jority of concerns with
whom they do business are on a
contract basis in lacquers. colors
and stains. but that contract re-
newals probably would be on a
higher scale because of higher costs,
such as linseed oil.
Shoe Polish Trade Booms
Despite the depression, the public
has kept its shoes as well polished
as in more prosperous times, ac-
cording to an official at the Two
in-One- Shinola -Bixby Corporation,
1437 West Morris street.
Because of a big boom in white
shoes this season, the corporation
has hired fifty additional workers.
1t was to aid in manufacture of
white polish. II was stated that
business has been good all through
the lean years.