Evening star., 1933-12-25
COLD SPURS SALES
OF MEMS APPAREL
Increased Jobs Also Help
Overcoat and Suit
Business.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

cpeclal DlSpatcn TO The Star
NEW YORK. December 25.--C0ld
weather and expanding employment
have enlarged the movement of mems
overcoatS and, to somewhat lesser ex-,
tent, OF mems suits, in this part OF the
country. The quickened demand, not
1fs,s,a usual at Christmastide, when fur.
nlsh1ngs such as shirts, ties and socks
are best sellers, proved welcome to
clothiers, who predict that their Janu-
ary clearance sales will have much less
merchandise to offer than has been the
case in recent years.
This picture in retail trade, quite
apart from the purchases that Federal
and local relief agencies are making at
the moment. has cheered both retailers
and wholesalers, as good part of last
month did not have the sort of tang
In the air that causes men to seek
overcoatS
Volume business in both overcoats
and suits converged around items
selling at $50 or less, though students
home for the holidays sought latest
MODELS In sportSwear. There was a
time when the average male bought an
oVercoat about every decade. Clothing
merchants have gotten the men out of
that habit. Inquiry here, however, re-
Vealed that many overcoats now being
sold were replacing coats worn, through
no fault of the owner, four years or
more.
Inventories Light.
Overcoat inventories are light, so
stocks available for January clearances
are less than usual, according to Col.
William Ullman, who pointed out that
such purchases usually continue through
February and March. The overcoat
buying season this year is likely to be
prolonged because of an upturn in en-
ployment in coming weeks
Retailers this season bought over
coats, unlike suits and topcoats, rather
cautiously. In the case of Mr.. Ull-
mans firm, production stopped Novem-
Der /, except for small amount of
leftover goods. This was true of most
manufacturers this year. Their stocks
were light because Of poor seasons in
the last several years.
Several large cities in the Midwest
notably Chicago, have enjoyed to date
tnls season the briskest movement of
lower-priced overcoats they have had in
several years. From Chicago also
comes word that three of, the leading
clothing producers there have booked
Spring wholesale clothing orders 80
per cent greater in dollar volume than
In the same period last year The
gam in units is up only Slightly. Much
OF TINS business is coming from the
rural regions.
Out IN Detroit pay-offs of closed banks
are expected to help overcoat and suits
over the next few weeks. Replacement
needs IN that section are said to be
unusually large. In Cincinnati retailers
have placed Spring orders cautiously.
though clothing merchants there did a
good business in October and a fair
trade last month There are conflicting
reports there about stocks, but cautious
Spring buying seems to be based On
the probable resistance of the white
collar worker to higher clothing costs
unless his pay evenvelope IS expanded
meanwhile.
Syndicates in Market.
One of the rather unusual buving
trends here recently was the purchase
by syndlcates, representing mostly out
of-toWn stores, of SiZeable stocks of !
medium-weight Fall clothing which /
cleaned out some manufacturers stocks ,
These purchases will be offered below |
Spring levels, perhaps as much as SIS to ]
81 suit less
Custom ciothiers here report slight |
PICKUP IN orders. A considerable part |
of this business is for formal evening |
wear, which has come into demand |
locally since the repeal of prohibition |
and the consignment increase in ban |
quets, dinners and dining out.
The National Association Of Sheep |
lined & Leather Garment Manu- |
facturers, Inc, reports that the season |
just passing was one Of the best in |
history, with sales up 20 per cent over |
those Of last year. Until recently mems
coats Of this type, because of the mild |
weather. moved somewhat slower than
expected.
Buyers of boys clothing for Spring.
at recent meetings here, expressed the
belief that higher prices should prove
no barrier to a quickened demand next
season. They stressed the earliness of |
Easter and in some instances advc-
Gated siZeable buying ahead.
Meanwhile the hum of the home |
sewing machine is disturbing to the |
makers of clothes for very small boys. |
With sewing machines featured as /
practical Christmas gifts, and with |
many women enrolling in sewing classes,
there is a probability that junior will
get new suit out Of dads discarded |
trousers, or that his pants will be
patched with a piece from some ancient |
vest And that is one reason why the |
makers of clothes for little boys are
doing some close figuring these days on
their Spring prices.
(Copyrhht, 1880