16 THECUBAREVIEW 



is naturally coquettish about his feet, being a great admirer of the fancy shoes. Colored 

 tops, gray, green and tan ooze are largely used, with the recent ascendency in favor of 

 green ooze. Fancy buttons are in great demand. Silk laces and a very good quality of 

 mercerized cotton lace are wanted. All laces should be very wide, especially on the 

 oxfords, and all low cuts should be furnished with large eyelets. The popularity of the 

 American-made man's shoe in this market is evidenced by the statement, authentically- 

 furnished the writer, that a Massachusetts manufacturer, whose product is largely ad- 

 vertised, sold over 75,000 pairs of men's shoes in the Cuban republic during the year 1908. 



To supply the female trade in Cuba there is a large de- 

 Li^ht Tan Shoes "land for a medium-priced shoe with very light soles, clcse 

 Ti/ . 1 edges, medium-pointed toe, high arch and high heel. In the 



yy antea better grades the French Louis XV heel is preferred, 16- 



eighths to 20-eighths over all measurements, although many 

 leather-covered wooden Cuban heels, 14-eighths to IS-eighths, are sold. The favored 

 leathers are black and tan vici, while in the cheaper grades there is considerable sale of 

 Cabretta in black, tan and white. This Cabretta is well liked, owing to the soft, pliable 

 appearance of the leather. Shoes made from the same, costing in the United States 

 from $12 to $30 per dozen pairs wholesale, are retailing here for $2 to $4.50 per piir. 

 In tan kids the Cubans not only prefer but demand a medium light color. They very 

 much object to the dark chocolate color sent out by many manufacturers in the United 

 States. I was told that if some of our tanners would make more of a soecialty of 

 medium light shades, and if our manufacturers would use the same in making shoes for 

 this market, it would greatly help the sale of the American shoes. A tan shoe is sold 

 the year around in this climate, since tan footwear is considered much cooler than black. 

 Women's black vici kid shoes are nearly always desired with patent leather tips. Re- 

 cently, however, shoes without tips have been put on the market and are finding a fair 

 sale, but where a tip is ordered it should be invariably furnished. In manufacturing 

 women's shoes for Cuba a last with high instep and full ball should be used. There has 

 always been a good demand in the Cuban market for a champagne kid ladies' shoe of 

 fine grade, and during the winter months a certain quantity of patent-leather goods are 

 wanted. The larger percentage of trade, however, for the entire year is in tan and 

 black vici. Comparatively few high cuts in women's shoes are sold, the preference 

 being in blucher oxfords, sailor ties, colonials and pumps. 



The above styles should be furnished in McKay and turned shoes, as the Goodyear 

 welts in women's shoes do not find favor with the trade here to any appreciable extent 

 Fancy leather tops on the low cuts are more or less in vogue, and large eyelets and 

 wide laces are wanted as in the case of men's shoes. Women's sizes range from 13% 

 to 6, and for supplying the colored trade 6%, 7 and 7i/4 ; widths D-E and E-E should 

 be furnished, as narrow widths are not marketable. 



These goods as found in Cuba are largely of American 



Misses' Children s and manufacture. Styles are bals, blucher oxfords, sailor ties. 



, ' . » CL Gibsons, etc. Sizes range from 1 to 6, having no heel, 5 to 8 



injants onoes ^j^j^ outside or spring heel, and 8% to 11 with o:utside low 



heels; in misses', ll¥2 to 2, with outside low heels. These 



shoes are made in black and tan kid and cabretta. They are procured in the United 



States at wholesale prices ranging from $4.80 to $9 per dozen pairs, and are retailed in 



Cuba for $1 to $2 per pair. 



Regarding children's shoes, it is suggested that if the American manufacturer would 

 carry a stock for immediate delivery he would be able to do twice the business here that 

 he now does by making them up on order. 



The American shoe is usually bought by the leading jobbers 



How Purchased directly from the manufacturers in the United States. Some 



P 7. buy their stocks from manufacturers' agents on the island, 



K^reaits while retailers often purchase through commission merchants 



in New York. Shoes for other points in Cuba than Havana 



are bought largely of Havana jobbers; also from manufacturers' agents. The retail shoe 



business is in the hands of the Spaniard, and almost without exception his credit may be 



considered as very good. 



There are few failures among the retail dealers, and while some may be a "little 

 slow" at times, their payments are practically sure. The larger number pay on 60 days 

 from day of shipment ; many, however, are looking for the cash discount on the 30 days, 

 and since about 30 days are required to obtain the goods from the manufacturer in the 

 United States and have the same passed through the Cuban custom-house, taking ad- 

 vantage of the discount and paying in 30 days practically means paying on receipt of 

 goods. 



The open-credit system prevails. Very few goods are being shipped here against draft. 

 One business man in Havana sold last year over $500,000 worth of shoes of American 



