The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. 31 COLUMBIA CO;S NEW POLICY. Jobbers and Dealers Given Exclusive Selling Rights — Plan a Great Success, Says Geo. W. Lyie, General Manager of the Columbia Co. this an important factor in establisliing and maintaining our new selling proposition." The Columbia Phonograph Co., general, have recently adopted a new policy in connection with the sale of their goods, and reports from all over the country indicate that the new move is proving very attractive to jobbers and dealers. In a general way, George W. Lyle, general manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., said: "The company's new policy differs from that of other talking machine manufacturers in that in establishing jobbers and dealers exclusive selling rights are given them, so that for the first time in the history of the business jobbers and dealers are in position to secure for themselves the benefit of any business their advertising, energyand enterprise produces instead of dividing it with other dealers who are always willing to come into the game and handle any line of goods after someone else has made the market." In inquiring for further particulars of this admirable arrangement, Mr. Lyle spoke more specifically to The World, as follows: "The best and most profitable method for marketing our product has never ceased to be a live issue with us and we have devoted much time to the problem. Different plans have baen tried out, as you know, with the changes and developments in the talking machine trade that have taken place in recent years, and naturally new selling methods have been recommended from time to time. The result has been that about October last a definite policy was outlined for Columbia jobbers and dealers. Although simple of execution it eliminates nearly all the troubles which the trade have complained of for many years. "The plan, warmly approved wherever considered and which has led to the creation of many representative jobbers and dealers in all parts of the country, is substantially as follows: " 'First. — The appointment of exclusive jobbers or distributors in exclusive territory. This meaning that but one distributor is appointed for a given territory; to him are referred all inquiries and orders from the territory; no other jobber is allowed to sell goods within the described territory, and, further, and most important, an agreement is signed on the part of the jobber himself that he will not sell our product outside of the territory which is allotted to him. ' 'Second. — This same plan is extended to the dealer, who is given an exclusive territory in which he has the exclusive handling of our product at retail in the territory which is assigned to him.' "By this arrangement both the jobber and the dealer enjoy the advantages and business created by our extensive magazine and newspaper advertising, as well as our other means of publicity in their exclusive territory, and at the same time are protected against the establishment of demoralizing competition after the trade has been developed by their energy and enterprise in any particular field, which heretofore has been one of the great drawbacks of the business. "Our exclusive policy, as it may be termed, contributes in large measure to the success of the jobber in his chosen territory, and at the same time makes assurance doubly sure that the dealer's ability and personal aggressiveness in the advancement and increasing sales of the Columbia line will not be interfered with by any one who merely steps in and reaps the benefit of his work, and consequently divides the profits. "The discontinuance of our seven and ten-inch single face records, which have been superseded by the now famous double-sided records, with a catalog of about one thousand selections, enables a dealer to carry a full stock with an investment of not over $200, and the introduction of the Columbia indestructible cylinder record absolutely eliminates all loss by breakage in shipping and handling, a no inconsiderable item, and the fact that they can be used on any cylinder machine, of any make on the market, without the necessity of any additional attachment has made been succeeded by W. L. Sprague, formerly of Boston, and more recently of the wholesale department in New York. CONFERENCE OF JOBBERS. New York Men Hold Meeting and Discuss Matters of Interest. THE FAMOUS "CONDOR" NEEDLES. Big,,Demand for This Product Made in Aachen, Germany. A conference of jobbers in the Greater New iork territory was held Thursday evening, December 10, at the office of the Blackman Talking Machine Co., 97 Chambers street. New York. Credits, samples and matters of personal moment to those in attendance were discussed, warmly at times. The session, which was of the most agreeable nature, lasted until 11 o'clock. Those present were: Lou C. Wilber. manager of the Regina Co.; S. B. Davega, of the S. B. Davega CO.; W. S. Moffat, with the Victor Distributing and Export Co.; I. Davega, Jr., A. H. Jacob, president of, and A. W. Barkelew, sales manager of the Jacot Music Co.; J. Newcomb Blackman, R. B. Caldwell and George C. Blackman, of the Blackman Talking Machine Co., New York City; R. H. Morris, of the American Talking Machine Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. All of these men are memuers of the National Association. Joseph Zimmerman, Aachen, Germany, is having a splendid trade on his famous "Condor" needles. We learn from a number of foreign countries that the "Condor" needles are giving the utmost satisfaction and the German consumers have expressed themselves in the strongest terms of praise in favoring this particular needle. The talking machine men of this country who have handled the "Condor" needles, also join in the general praise accorded this product. Mr. Zimmerman's larger and well equipped factory is rushed with orders. PHILPITT WITH WANAMAKER. NEW MANAGER IN ROCHESTER. S. C. Philpitt, for several years connected with the Swisher business in Philadelphia, has taken an important position in the talking machine and small goods department of John Wanamaker. M. L. Bardwell, manager of the Columbia Co.'s store in Rochester. N. Y., has been transferred to the company's store in Toledo, O. He has The big department store of Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Co., Rochester, N. Y., have added a talking machine department, and put in a full line of Victor machines and records. IMPROVE YOUR SYSTEM AND INCREASE YOVR RECORD SALES BY USING THE BLACKMAN CYLINDER RECORD TRAY (Patent Applied for) A. Record Tray "With Record Label for l^ess Than One Cent . The BLACKMAN Folding Trays for Cylinder Records are shipped FLAT and can be FOLDED into STRONG TRAYS in a few seconds, as shown above. This tray, with Rapke Label, makes a handsome looking record stock and a system you can't beat. The labels act as Silent Record Salesman and the customer can point to the record he wants to hear. Adopt this system and your sales will not only increase but it will never take more than a few minutes to make up a Record order. THE BLACKMAN FOLDING TRAY USED IN THE SYRACUSE WIRE RACKS enables you to carry a large stock in a small space, and also use the Rapke Label. We furnish wire racks at regula^ prices, either wall or revolving style, with opening to accommodate Blackman Trays. See illustration in advertisement of Syracuse Wire Works on page 15 of this issue. Write for prices. NET PRICES TRAYS ONLY (.Subject to Change.) Hold Net per 1,000. Weight per 1,000. $6.00 No. 2. 2 Records. " 3. 3 Records. 7.50 " 4. 4 Records. 9.00 " 5. 5 Records. 10.50 " 6. 6 Records. 12.00 60 lbs. 73 87 105 116 NET PRICES RAPKE LABELS Prices Rapke Labels with Edison numbers and titles. Domestic Selections No. 2 to 9721, which includes December, 1908 $3.50 Per month, thereafter (postpaid) payable in advance 12 Columbia Labels (Domestic), per set 3.50 Note. — Price less than 1,000 same rate. In deciding FREIGHT or EXPRESS refer to above weights, and allow for packing. r niLEi i3t%.a/M.ELiKj p^aig^ „r Jobber who writes on business letterhead. SPECIAL DISCOUNTS TO JOBBERS Above prices are RESTRICTED and quoted f. o. b. New York. Dealers are requested to buy through their jobber if he will supply them. If not we will sell direct. Manufactured by BLACKMAN TALKING MACHINE CO. J. NEWCOMB BLACKMAN, Pres. "THE WHITE BLACKMAN" 97 CHAMBERS STREET, NEW YORK