The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1910)

THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. NEWS FROM THE PACIFIC COAST. Dealers Looking Forward to Large Holiday Trade — High-Priced Machines and Records in Demand — W. S. Storms Takes Charge of the Spokane Columbia Branch — Other Columbia Changes — Business with This Concern Excellent — A. G. McCarthy Reports Lively Victor Business at Southern Points, Where He Recently Visited — Dealers Awaiting Larger Supply of New Style Victor Victrolas — Kohler & Chase's Active Columbia Business — Other News of General Interest. (Special to the Talking Machine World.) San Francisco, Cal., Oct. 29, 1910. A few of the local retailers say that the October business has hardly been up to that of September, which was unusually active, but nobody is inclined to make any complaint, and judging by the majority of reports, the month seems to have been fully as good as September, and possibly better. At any rate, no anxiety is felt regarding the holiday trade. With the approach of Thanksgiving and Christmas a more liberal spirit is already becoming apparent, more people are shopping, and money is coming out much more freely than during the early fall. High-grade records are in excellent demand, and the new lines of improved machines are gaining ground all the time. Many people have been waiting to see the new Victrolas, which will undoubtedly fill a long-felt want, and a large number of sales will be closed as soon as these machines can be placed in stock by the retail stores. With the jobbers the past month has been a record breaker. They are well satisfied with their local sales, but are giving most of their attention to the outside trade, in which they find ground for the highest hopes. Many more new stores have been started this month, and while a large amount of promising new territory is being opened up, a remarkable growth is taking place at the same time in districts which have been covered fairly well in the past. Shipments have been going forward at a rate which would already have depleted the stocks carried in former years, but, owing to the precautions taken early in the season, and the constant arrival of large quantities of new goods, stocks in the local warehouses are kept in unusually good condition. The advantage of this becomes more apparent as the season advances, and the outside retailers send in hurry orders for all sorts of goods of which they are running short. The growth of the Columbia Phonograph Co.'s business on the Coast has caused a number of changes in the organization in the last year or two, and a new shifting of positions has just taken place. Willis S. Storms, who has distinguished himself by his efficient work in covering the outside district in this State, has been promoted to the position of manager of the Spokane, Wash., branch. That city is the commercial center of a large and prosperous district known as the Inland Empire, and its business has grown to large proportions of late necessitating a strengthening of the store there. Arrangements have been made whereby Mr. Storms' former territory will be looked after, for the present at least, by E. W. Cyrus. Mr. Cyrus traveled for the Columbia Phonograph Co. for several years in the past, and has for the last year handled their line in the northern part of California for Kirk, Geary & Co., their distributing agents at Sacramento. He will continue his work for that house, in addition to handling the country, both coast and interior, from San Francisco south, for the Columbia Phonograph Co. Mr. Storms leaves his territory in first class condition, having placed Columbia agents in every town of any importance. He left for the North about the middle of the month, and is now familiarizing himself with his new position. Mr. Cyrus will make his first trip about the middle of November. Mr. Scott reports a busier season for the holidays than ever before, the sales being increased by the opening of a number of. new agencies during the month. He notes an extremely large demand for the new $17.50 machine put out by this company. Wm. Hurst has heen calling at the local office this month. The Pacific Phonograph Co. have about completed their stock, the -large arrivals of the last few weeks filling up the space recently added to its establishment, in addition to supplying material for current orders. This company are living up to their promise to keep a full stock of Edison goods on hand at all times, though it is by no means easy to do so. This company are making a strong feature of the Music Master horn, the agency for which was taken on a few weeks ago, and are already getting a substantial volume of business in this line. C. M. Jones returned from his Southern trip a couple of weeks ago, and reports a very successful business, with favorable conditions everywhere he went. Andrew G. McCarthy, of Sherman, Clay & Co., made a visit to Southern California recently, spending several days at the company's distributing branch for Victor goods in that city. He found the southern business in a highly satisfactory condition, with a keen interest in Victor goods, and especially in the new Victrolas, which are expected to be a tremendous success there. Samples of these machines have been on hand at the San Francisco store for some time, but the arrival of goods for distribution has been somewhat delayed. The goods are expected within a very few days, however, and every effort will be made to fill the orders on hand, though it may be several weeks before the demand can be fully supplied. It is believed that by the end of the month sufficient stock will be coming in to take care of the holiday requirements. It might be supposed that the anticipation of the new models would interfere with the sale of those on hand, but they are still in good demand and moving off rapidly. Peter Bacigalupi & Sons, the pioneer talking machine dealers of San Francisco, have moved their store to the second story, directly above the place formerly occupied. They have installed practically the same fixtures as before, and have additional display room for the machines, with plenty of light. Mr. Bacigalupi says that since the confusion of moving has quieted down business has been fully as good as before, and believes that the gain in display room, etc., more than offsets the disadvantage of being on the second floor, while he is especially pleased at the great saving in expense. James Black, of the Wiley B. Allen Co., reports only a moderate business for the past month, but is making preparations for a big holiday season He is anxiously awaiting the new Victrola, which he recently inspected at the factory, and which he believes will be one of the most attractive features ever offered, appealing to a large class of trade which was formerly difficult to reach. It is just about a year since this department was launched, and during that time it has built up a very successful business in Victor machines. Mr. Black is very optimistic concerning the future and is confident that the second year will bring a great advance over the first. The local retail business in Columbia goods conducted by Kohler & Chase has been very satisfactory this month, though no record-breaker. This house is increasing its efforts on this line, making frequent displays of the Grafonola machines on the ground floor, which was formerly entirely devoted to pianos. WOULD YOTJ BE A SALESMAN? Would you be a salesman? Then make up your mind that you will be a salesman, and set about becoming one, and no man shall stop you. Will powder is greater than the greatest obstacle. Study people. Study your customers. Study yourself. The greatest study for the man who is to handle people is people. The only way to succeed with this study is to keep at it until success does come, until what in others seemed at first to be hypnotism becomes merely the knowledge of how to lead the mind opposed to you. The harder you make it for the buyer to be cold and distant, the easier you make it to sell him goods. Get him warmed up to a point where he must take an interest in spite of himself, and the sale is pretty well sprouted. Won't You Have a Lesson in Spanish? It's so easy to learn by the I. C. S. system — and a knowledge of Spanish is so useful nowadays. The I. C. S. system of language instruction by means of the phonograph makes easy the mastering of a foreign language, and appeals with compelling power to thousands. The dealer in phonographs who does not carry I. C. S. Language Outfits is neglecting a quick and sure way to increase his business. The new $35 Language Outfit of the I. C. S. is a marvel. It represents the highest art in the teaching of languages, and embodies a method that has won the warmest praise of thousands qualified to speak authoritatively. The Spanish, French, and German Embassies at Washington, as well as the leading colleges, have cordially indorsed the I. C. S. method of teaching languages. The I. C. S. Language Outfit consists of an Edison Gem Phonograph made especially for language work; small horn; headband hearing tube; oil can; and 25 Conversational Records teaching pronunciation guaranteed to be absolutely correct, with native intonation and inflection. In addition to these Conversational Records there are pamphlet Instruction Papers teaching the theory of the languages. The new Outfit is at one and the same time the best and cheapest ever offered — the price being only $35. If you want to increase your business, write to-day for full particulars. International Correspondence Schools Box 918, Scranton, Pa.