26 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



CUBAN COMMERCIAL MATTERS 



RETAIL SHOPS IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA 



Tlu'iv liave Iti'fii iiiiiiioroiis imi)rovf- 

 iiK'iits ill till' ri'tiiil shoppiug clistrict of 

 Santiago «lo t'uha simv 11)18. New stoivs 

 have been Ituill and others remodeled 

 along uiodern lines, some of which will 

 rompare favorably witli the shops of Ha- 

 vana and tlutse of many Aiiiericaii cities, 

 both in the wide range of stocks carried 

 and in the general stock display arrange- 

 ments. Several women's furnishings 

 stores have recently been (jpened, carry- 

 ing excellent lines of imported ready-made 

 gowns, millinery, lingerie, etc. 



For a city of the size of Santiago (the 

 poitulation being GH/MiO in 1910) the num- 

 ber of well-dressed wtjinen is particularly 

 noticeable. Fashion's dictates are rigidly 

 followed and changes in styles are quickly 

 noted. Tlie demand in women's dress 

 goods is mainly for delicate shades and 

 materials, although there is a manifest 

 desire to wear heavier-weight goods dur- 

 ing the winter season, furs being worn 

 whenever possible. In the winter season 

 in millinery the call is for velvets, etc., 

 and straw hats are laid aside by the bet- 

 ter-dressed women. 



In men's furnishings iliere are some 

 very complete lines carried. .\inerican 

 cu.stom-made clothing sells well, particu- 

 larly in summer weights. Popular brands 

 of American clothing are handled exclu- 

 sively by certain stores, and alsrt leading 

 lines of hats, shirts, underwear, and neck- 

 wear. Retailers make good use of adver- 

 tising on their own account. American 

 shoes are the only ones r)n the market, 

 and a number of leading makes are han- 

 tlleil by various retailers, who have the 

 sole representation in this district in the 

 line they carry. 



Other well-.stocked stores sjiccialize in 

 office furniture and eiiuiiauent, dental and 

 surgical furniture and instruments, elec- 

 trical supplies of all kinds, including 

 <-ooking appliances, bathroom fixtures, and 

 toilet accessories, household furniture, 

 and in many other lines such as are han- 

 dled in markets of this size in the United 

 States. 



Much more iitteiilion is now being given 

 to window trimming, and the displays are 

 arranged very artistically and changed 

 frefjuently. Good use is being made of 

 the newer display fixtures and of wax 

 figures, while s(»ine stores are using wood- 

 work background very effectively. Prac- 

 tically all the shops keep their show win- 

 dows illuminated at night. 



Due to the present revenue-producing 

 power of Cuba's staple crop, sugar, this 

 market is consuming an ever-increasing 

 quantity of general manufactured prod- 

 ucts. 



During the period mentioned there have 

 Iteen no apparent difficulties exiierienced 

 in obtaining .stocks of general merchan- 

 dise, and imports have greatly increased, 

 amounting in value to over .'i;"24,0()0,()(M1 in 

 1019. 



The up-to-date relniler of Santiago 

 keeps in close toucli with nortliern mar- 

 kets, and makes at least one triit a year 

 to New York. He is also a clos(> reader 

 of market reviews in the lines he handles. 

 It is believed that the trade journals now 

 being print«>d in Siianish by American 

 concerns are of great value in advertising. 

 —Vice Co)hsi(l -littnt />. (Iri/jilli. Xnnlidijo 

 (le Cuba. 



CASH REGISTERS AND PARTS 

 According to figures furnished by the 

 Statistical Division of the P>ureau of For- 

 eign and Domestic Commerce, the exports 

 of cash registers and parts from the 

 United States to Cuba were as follows 

 during 1919: 



Cash registers Parts of 



Number Value \'alue 



S20 .$17:'.,4t;2 $2,:!73 



CHOCOLATE FACTORY 

 The National Manufacturing Company 

 has decided to build a chocolate factory 

 in Cuba, with a capacity of 1,000 quintals 

 per day. This company recently pur- 

 chased the chocolate factories of Baguer 

 and Habanera Industrial. 



