BOOTS AND SHOES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19980, 23 December 1926, Page 6

BOOTS AND SHOES.

Wheu a leading retailer of boots and shoes was approached he remarked that ne could not say' that the conditions of business in this line were satisfactory to either the wholesale or retail dealer. A far as turnover was concerned he thought that no one could truthfully say that the returns were anything like equal to those for last year, anil from what he could gather it would take it all its time to equal the 1924 busii ess. Of course, one should not compare this year with the Exhibition period, when, he believed, most retailers had an increase in business, though not up to expectations, considering the fact that probably all retailers laid in increased stocks to meet a possible demand. . , Generally speaking both wholesale and retail dealers had had a "reat deal to contend with during the past two --pars. The constant changing of fashions had perplexed the most careful and experienced buyers and particularly this last year Dame Fashion had run riot in her demand. For the spring and summer season of this year delicate-coloured shoes had been most popular in varieties of shades ranging from very light champaignes, fawns, and greys and browns, also two-ton&d ond fricoioin, {inci, judging from the ranges of the new samples already showing for the wint and summer seasons of :927, these with various new shades and styles would predominate. One could not say that the Exhibition had been the reason for n Quietness in trade generally since its close. Personally, he did not think it had made the slightest difi ference. Certainlv climatic conditions had had a great deal t< do with it especially as far as white summer shoes were con cerned. In previous years the sale conv menced with these in October, and lasted till well after the holiday season, but this year’s sales of these good? were practicallv nl a standstill. , , , ■ , A noticeable fact was that during the last tew weeks manufacturers’ agents had been chasing round to pick up orders to keep the factories going during January and February and it was very questionable if -here was any factory in the Dominion that was more than just holding its own, comnetition being desperately keen. Most 'English manufacturers of any standing at ali were being represented either by travellers or permanent agent?, and pushing for ill -they were worth for New Zealand business. Here it was that the local manuicturers were handicapped under present onditions to cope with existing demands a fashion, being dependent on the Home • arket for coloured kids and leathers, Inch put them about a season behind, i'fiis also applied to the retailers, whose ~roat difficulties were the ladies’ fashion journals, which reached the public long before the retailer could sec the now season’s samples.