THE COST OF LIVING

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13363, 3 March 1909, Page 3

THE COST OF LIVING

BIG DROP IN THE PRICE OF MADE-TO-MEASURE SUITB

Of lato years wage-earners hare been saoro nnd moro put to it to mako "bath ends meet." Despite the frequent increases in wagea, house-rente and almost everything else have experienced n corresponding advance, with the result that most people find themselves little better off for their increased earnings. It is therefore gratifying to learn of ono much-wanted lino that _ ot only has not advanced in price, but on the contrary, has decreaued very materially, viz., the production of made-to-tneasura suits. This hns been made possible by the adoption of modern methods, and it is gratifying to learn that tho pioneers of the system were an old-established Christchurch firm, Messrs Tribe and Co., who introduced these 20th century methods some ton yeans ago. Afi doubtless many of the readers of this paper will be interested in learning how Tribe and Co. are enabled to sell suits made-to-meaaur© from 455, when everything else Ls advancing in price, we will briefly describe the system here. You see, most tailors, ar© kept really busy only in the Spring and Autumn. That means thoir hands are often idlo for weeks at a time. They have got to pay tho*e h«nds. But they aro not in "the charity business, so the cost of keeping their hands in slack times is passed on to their customers. It has to l>c. Yoc hare to stand a portion of it in the cost of every suit you buy from ■* small tailor. Tribe and Co. s«w that if they could mak> several suits wh?rc little tailors made one, they could sell them at about half their price. With characteristic enterprise they set about doing it, relying of course, upon a small profit on the larger turnover, rather than on a big profit on a few suite. But, ono might ask, making the number of suits they do, can they give the same satisfaction? Yes. they can, and do ; for every suit goes nut with a cast-iron guarantee tl-.o r if it is not satisfactory as to fit. style, and wear, they take it back and refund tho customer's money. He has exactly tho same privileges as when buying from a high-priced tailor, und for appeorance nnd 6tyle the suit will usually he taken for an ordinary tailor's hish-prircd suit. | In addition to their big local ruit trade. Tribe and Co. have supplird | hundreds of these suits by mail to men. jin all pcrts nf the colony. The firm i hns never s"en those customers personi ally, but they claim, and with good j reason, that no one can giro better ' value in rraterinl. linin.es. quiltinz ana ] fir.Uhin™ gonrrnllv. That ie why they can 1 afford to tnlie the -.vide risk they do iin ma!:ii:g En re', a Suits to order front ■Mis j Messrs Tr Ik> and Co. had a compre- ' honsivo o-cliiiiit in tho Exhibition, and ! t1... <_e..r>rj] opinion rrf their workrran- ' ship may be i r.)n p: ned when we stole , that n l:ir™e number of orders wero received from visitors from all parts. Those of onr renders who purpose ordering a n«*iv suit, will be well advised if they call nv.d see what this firm enn do. before committing them-n-lvrw to purchase a high-priced suit under the old conditions. C-lOo*)