18 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



plentifully sprinkled with valuable hardwoods and would amply repay development. No 

 squatter has seen fit to raise even a temporary shack, and the forests are only visited by the 

 hunters of wild pigs and beeswax. But parts of the Cuban Republic are fast building up, and 

 it is quite likely the existing conditions in the extreme eastern part of Cuba may soon change 

 when capitalists inform themselves of the riches that are awaiting development in this hitherto 

 neglected portion of the Republic. 



CUBAN COMMERCIAL MATTERS 



JEWELRY 



Cuba to-day presents a very unusual 

 opportunity to American manufacturers of 

 jewelry and silverware. The island is excep- 

 tionally prosperous, as a result in great 

 measure of the high prices that have been 

 paid in the last few years for sugar, which 

 is its chief product. Cubans are fond of 

 jeweh-y, and are lavish in their expenditures 

 for it. Their fashions especially favor the 

 wearing of such articles. 



"The Cuban markets are open to-day to 

 American manufacturers because Europe is 

 shipping little or nothing on account of the 

 war," says Special Agent S. W. Rosenthal of 

 the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- 

 merce, who is now investigating Latin- 

 American markets for jewelry. "In normal 

 times Germany supplied about 75 per cent, 

 of the jewelry imported by this country, 

 while nothipg is beijiig shipped from there 

 to-day. Since the beignning of the war 

 several small jewelry factories have been 

 started in Cuba, but these operate principally 

 in platinum goods set with precious stones. 

 There is a need in this market for medium- 

 priced goods, preferably pieces that can be 

 sold to the trade for less than $50 each. 



Advanlages Over Evropean Competitors. 



''Americans have two great advantages over 

 their European competitors — their proximity 

 to the market, since goods reach Habana 

 in about three days after leaving New York 

 City, and the lower duties paid on American 

 goods. These reductions are substantial — 

 on articles made of gold, silver, and platinum, 

 20 per cent.; on goldplated and silver-plated 

 goods, 3tt per cent. ; and on American watches, 

 40 per cent." 



In taking up the practical questions in- 

 volved, Mr. Rosenthal states: 



The American manufacturer should not get 

 the impression that he can sell the Cuban 



jeweler any kind of goods at any prices. He 

 will not find the trade at the pier anxiously 

 awaiting his arrival^ The local jeweler 

 knows values, since he has received a thor- 

 ough training in buying from all the markets 

 of the world. It should also be kept in mind 

 that the tastes of this market are decidedly 

 different from those of the United States. 

 They are European, which in most cases will 

 mean the making up of special goods. The 

 Cuban market, however, is of sufficient 

 importance in many articles to warrant this. 

 To the American manufacturer who seriously 

 contemplates entering the export field with 

 the idea of building up a permanent trade, 

 the island offers an excellent start. The 

 market should prove profitable to him if he 

 spends the time and the money to cater to it 

 properly. 



Many Suhstantial Jewelry Firms. 



There are several ways of selling goods in 

 Cuba, but undoubtedly the best one is to 

 send a salesman with a complete line of 

 samples, either to cover the territory himself, 

 or to appoint a capable local representative. 

 The language of the country is Spanish, but 

 several of the important houses also speak 

 English. There are many substantial firms 

 in the jewelry line, some of which have been 

 established upward of 40 years, working with 

 a capital of more than $100,000. 



In general credit standing of the jewelry 

 trade in Habana is good. No failures have 

 been recorded in the last few years, although 

 when the European war started one firm 

 experienced difficulties and settled with its 

 creditors at 85 cents on the dollar. It -is not 

 advised, however, that credit should be 

 extended indiscriminately. The financial 

 standing of each house should be carefully 

 investigated, just as would be done in the 

 United States. Both Dun and Brads^treet 

 have agencies in Habana, while most of the 

 banks furnish credit information. 



