The talking machine world (Apr-June 1921)

108 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD April 15, 1921 INDIANAPOLIS A LIVE CENTER OF TRADE HAPPENINGS Baldwin Co. Takes on Brunswick — Stores Make Artistic Window Displays — W. E. Kipp Arranges for Fifteen Dealers' Group Meetings — Original Efforts by Victor Dealers Bring Results . Indianapolis, Ind., April 6. — IManager Scott, of the Columbia Co.'s branch in this cit5% saj^s the Grafonola has been moving considerabb^ faster since the reduction in prices. The retired record sale also, he says, has brought encouraging results throughout the territory. The talking machine business generally, he thinks, shows a firmer trend with dealers bujnng more freel}'. Jack Bryant, from the executive office of the Columbia Co. at New York, visited Mr. Scott and conducted a salesmen's meeting early in March. Frank E. Felt, Brunswick dealer at Newcastle, Ind., while visiting at the salesrooms of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., reported a big business in records and machines. He said the Maxwell automobile plant, the Hoosier Kitchen Cabinet Co. and the Jesse French Piano Co. had opened on full time with the expectation that all the employes would be put back to work early this month. Other Brunswick visitors were L. C. Pitts, of Harris & Pitts, Bedford, who reported he had enjoyed the biggest business in Brunswick machines and records the first week of March of any week in the historj^ of his store. Kirby & Howe, of Greensburg, here to buy more stock, said they had experienced a* better March trade than in the corresponding month last year. J. L. Hamilton, of Greencastle, also reported increasing business in Brunswick machines and records. The Baldwin Piano Co., of this city, has been added to the list of Brunswick dealers. In addition to these machines and records the Baldwin Co. is handling Columbia machines and records and the Medallion records. The Brunswick 'contract became eflfective this date and gives Indianapolis two Brunswck dealers, the other being the Brunswick Shop, of which C. A. Grossart is manager. Window displays that attracted much attention and praise the last week of March were arranged bj' the Indianapolis Talking Machine Co., Victor dealer, and the Edison Shop, as a tie-up with a showing at the Circle Theatre of Charles Ray's latest motion picture, "The Old Swimmin' Hole," The Indianapolis Talking Machine Co. arranged a miniature stage with a naturalistic reproduction of a swimming hole with a lad sitting under a tree and fishing. By means of an electrical device the fish pole was made to jerk occasionally as if from the nibble of a fish. The Edison Shop's displaj' included a large portrait of the Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley, from whose poem the title of the motion picture was obtained, and on one side an idealistic painting of a swimming hole, while on the other side was a photograph of an Edison macliine and beneath it a list of Harry Humphrey's Edison Re-creations of J. W. Riley's writings. A large demand in the past thirtj^ days for the higher-priced Edison models is reported by H. G. Anderson, general sales manager of the Kipp Phonograph Co., Edison distributor. He saj's the March business done by the company shows a. very excellent increase over January and February. "This, we believe," he said, "is due to the character of the selections released and to the factory supplying us with catalog numbers that have not been available for some time. The Mood Change Chart Party idea is going over very big with our dealers and these parties are bringing them some wonderful results. The parties have been given before professors from Purdue, Illinois and DePauw universities and thej^ have expressed themselves as being much impressed with the results. They have asked that the tests be given before their classes in the universities." W. E. Kipp, president of the company, is featuring the slogan of the Chicago Tribune, "1921 Will Reward Fighters," in his methods of going after business. Beginning Tuesdaj-, April 12, he is going to hold fifteen dealers' group meetings, at the rate of three a week, in which he Vv'ill, in person, carry his business message to the dealers. "Instead of holding one large convention here in Indianapolis this }'ear," says he, in his circular to dealers regarding the meetings, "I intend to practically pack up this office of mine and carr}^ it to you. It is some job that I am undertaking, but my coat is off and my hat is in the ring and I am 'ready to go to it.' All I ask is that you co-operate with me and attend these sales conferences." Mr. Kipp has issued an elaborate 12 x 18-inch four-page circular, printed in red and black. A photograph of himself in his office is shown on the first page with the display' lines, "Feeling fine — thank you — in fact, I'm feeling great and hope you are also. W. E. Kipp, your Edison jobber." He then sets forth in detail his estimate of the business conditions and of prospects. He heads the second page with "How Is Business?" and follows with an interesting explanation. Mr. Kipp's plan is to hold the group meetings in Bloomington and Mattoon, 111., Terre Haute, Lafayette, Logansport, Vincennes, Eransville, North Vernon, Richmond, Shelbyville, Fort W'ayne, Marion, Muncie and Bloomington, Ind., and at Louisville, Ky. He will hold rrjeetings from 10 a. m. until 6 p. m. and will arrange for the luncheons and dinners. He asks every dealer to bring his salespeople to the meetings. Indianapolis Victor dealers were prett)^ generally represented at the Victor educational conference held at the Congress Hotel, Chicago, March 28, 29 and 30. The conference was ar Stewart TalkiiiQ Machine G>mpaii^ JOBBERS ranged bj' ten Victor distributors in the Chicago territory. Among the lecturers on the program was Miss Caroline Hobson, head of the educational department of the Stewart Talking Machine Co., who spoke on "What Educational Work Means to the Live Dealer." .\s a result of a scheme successfully tried by the Bargain Store, Victor dealers of Tipton, Ind., the Stewart Talking Machine Co. is advancing the plan of stores advertising their Victrola departments through other departments of the store. Tlie suggestion to dealers is that the clerks in other than the Victrola department be instructed to mention to each customer, on a certain day, some particularly attractive record which can be heard in the Victrola department. The use of package inserts also is suggested. The plan carried out by the Bargain Store was that of providing its notion department with a package envelope on which an illustration of a school machine was reproduced and in which was a note that one of the county schools had just made a purchase of a complete Victrola equipment. The Craycraft Dry Goods Co., Victor dealer, of NoblesA-ille, reported excellent returns in March from the distribution of an inexpensively printed poster presenting a long list of records in stock. The poster, printed on a 14x22 sheet in one color, was distributed in packages over the counter, through the mail and by hand. One displa}' line — "If you can not come in, order by mail. We pay the postage" — made a marked impression, the dealers said. A rearrangement of booths and the installation of a new vertical record rack and counter have given the phonograph department of the Taylor Carpet Co., Victor dealer in this city. "SERVICE" IS OUR SPECIALTY The Artophone Corporation Distributors of The Record of Quality Records 1 103 Olive Street ST. LOUIS, MO.