Spirella Manual (1913)/Section 6
SECTION 6.
[edit]- The Adaptability of the Standard Spirella Models.
66. EACH OF THE VARIOUS STANDARD SPIRELLA MODELS is given an individuality of its own. It is built for some one particular type of figure. A corset cannot give satisfaction if worn by any other type than the one for which it is intended. The Representative who places one of our elite models on the wrong type defeats the intent of our designer and fails to give the satisfaction which the customer has a right to expect. It is absolutely necessary, therefore, that our Representatives should study the lines of every model we manufacture and learn the special type of figure to which each is adapted. It is this knowledge of your corsets and the particular class to which each is adapted as well as the knowledge of how to adapt each style by Special and Custom work to the irregular figures you meet which makes you a finished Corsetiere. If you carry out these suggestions and become thoroughly acquainted with your work, which will require hard study and some experience on your part, you will in time establish a reputation as a Corsetiere and will build up a permanent business. 67. The real Corset Artists are few in number. A thorough knowledge of the corset business and a wide experience in meeting many ladies who have long been handling the corset trade behind the counter or by direct solicitation, convinces us there are less than one hundred real corset artists in the United States outside of The Spirella Company's Corsetieres. If you will investigate the various stores in your town where corsets are sold outside of a few of the larger cities you will seldom find a corset artist, or one who knows even the mere rudimentary principles of corset fitting behind the corset counter. In the majority of cases the saleswoman handling the corset department knows little or nothing of the adaptability of the Line in her possession; if you will investigate you will find that the average dry goods store carries the smallest number of styles possible. Seldom will you find a line in the ordinary dry goods store containing as many as twelve different models. The small merchant, not appreciating the artistic side of the corset business, looks at it only from the investment side and tries to satisfy his trade with the smallest variety and the least investment; therefore, he puts in corsets which the manufacturer claims are adapted to the average figure. In other wards, the manufacturer, in endeavoring to meet the demands of the retail merchant for a general all-around type of corset, too often destroys all trace of corset individuality in his line.
68. Corsets constructed to meet this demand of the retail merchants from the opportunity for Special or Custom work, make it impossible to do correct fitting regardless of how skillful in her art the saleswoman may be. It is not surprising, therefore, that women have so much difficulty in finding a corset that is satisfactory and that we find so few women well corseted. A dressmaker can never supply in her gowns the lack of graceful harmonious lines in the corset. A dressmaker is not supposed to be and in very rare cases is, a good corset artist. She may know that the corset is bad, and the lines very poor, but she rarely has the ability to help you out. If she has the knowledge and ability to do so, the stock of standard corsets in the local retail store is not of sufficient variety to enable her to select one to suit the figure of her customer. It is not necessary for us to go into detail further in this matter to arouse in you the appreciation of the fact that you have one of the greatest opportunities open to women to build up a permanent business and one which will be deeply appreciated by the women of your town.
69. THE SPIRELLA BUSINESS IS PERMANENT if you will obtain a thorough knowledge of our styles and appreciation of the opportunities at hand. If you are conscientious in selecting the right corset for each customer you will make each and every lady you sell to a permanent customer. You will make every customer a talking advertisement for your business, for when women find something that just suits them in wearing apparel, such as shoes and corsets, they tell their friends about it. The most effective advertising is to give your customer complete satisfaction. A business built on this foundation must become permanent; you can work the same field over and over again every six months, something no other line offers to saleswomen. The more Spirella is worn and the longer you remain in the business, provided you push your work energetically, the greater will be the number of sales made. Then, leave no stone unturned in preparing yourself to become the most skillful corset artist in your field. Study the following suggestions about the adaptability of our different models and study these models by trying them on the people whom they fit until you are positive as to the type of figure for which each model is particularly adapted.
70. The permanency of the business is best proven by the success of those longest in the work. Miss L. B. Reinhart, of Cleveland, in July writes: "I sold my first Spirella Corset in September, 1904, giving but part of my time to the work. I soon found that selling Spirella would pay me well, and then I gave my full time to it. The second year my earnings were $25.00 weekly. Since that time they have increased satisfactorily. I have personally sold over 4,000 corsets since taking up this work, and have recorseted 90 per cent of my customers. I have corseted women in all ranks of life, from the washer-woman and middle class to the millionaire's wife and even royalty. Customers have said to me, 'Spirella spoils me for wearing any other corset. I cannot do it after wearing Spirella.' Others have said they would not take $25.00 for their Spirella if others could not be obtained.
"I have had many recommendations and endorsements from physicians to whom they have been shown. I personally believe Spirella is the best corset made. It is healthful, sanitary, comfortable and stylish. What more can one ask for? I consider Spirella work the best opportunity for the wide-awake, energetic woman. I know of many who earn more than the average salaried man. It is in the business. All we need to do is to get busy."
Mrs. A. V. Smith, of Dale, New York, writes as follows: "I cannot speak too highly of Spirella Corsets, nor of the treatment of The Spirella Company. Their kindness, interest and loyalty for their Corsetieres is all that can be asked. I began work in March, 1905, and am now on my sixth year. I have an established business, visiting my territory regularly. My customers look for and expect me at those times. They greet me cordially, tell me they are glad to see me. They want additional corsets and can wear none but Spirella, because they are so comfortable and easy. Last year one of my customers went to the Panama Zone. She orders her corsets from me, saying she can find nothing there that will not rust. I have sold over twenty-five hundred corsets and am glad to say that at least ninety per cent of my customers are satisfied and give me re-orders."
71. We ask you to make a careful study of the Correspondence Course, one lesson of which will be sent you from time to time until you have received the entire course. Before starting, commit to memory the description and learn the adaptability of the different styles in your Sample Line. Your Sample Line should contain not less than seven corsets. If you are working with less, increase it at your earliest opportunity. The larger your line of samples, the greater your sales and hence YOUR PROFITS. 72. THE ADAPTABILITY OF SPIRELLA CORSETS cannot he presented fully here. It is best studied from the Catalog, the Correspondence Course previously referred to, and the special articles appearing from time to time in The Spirella Monthly. This question demands earnest study and careful thought at your hands. The measurements of all Spirella Corsets sold in any season are given in the Catalog for that season. Do not corrupt any of these styles by putting them upon figures for which they are not designed or intended. Study the illustrations in the Catalog and try the models in your Sample Line upon figures until you get an intelligent grasp of the type to which each belongs.
73. TYPES OF FIGURES.—Figures can be generally classified into slender, well developed, full, stout and irregular. Your Catalog tells you which of our styles are designed for each of these several types. Learn these types and you cannot mistake the figure to which each model is adapted. You will early in your experience learn the necessity of measuring every figure and studying it carefully before deciding upon the exact style which that person ought to wear. The slender type having scant bust and hip development is easily handled. The round, well proportioned figure of medium bust and hip development offers but little difficulty unless, perhaps, it be in the length of the garment desired. The woman to whom nature has granted too great an amplitude of curves often times attempts to improve upon her figure by demanding a small waist line. This is a fatal mistake. It is far better from the standpoint of health and of harmonious lines to get the straight outline with natural curves, rather than draw in the waist and show extra fullness and size below. This attempt to decrease the waist line also raises the bust so that all grace of the sloping neck and bosom is lost. The figure of generous size is often times inclined to select a very high corset. This may prove a serious mistake. A high corset raises the bust and gives that painfully tight and unnatural figure which makes the wearer appear stouter than she is.
This latter type as well as the irregular figure and the very large one would best not he undertaken too early in the work. Begin with those types which are easiest.
74. The Spirella Company manufacture a line of Waists for women and children. The Waists for children are graded from 1 to 14 years without boning. Waists for misses, young ladies and elderly people form a line so complete that the Spirella Waists constitute a business by themselves, and hence are not any part of the Corsetiere's work. Experience proves that no woman can combine the work of a trained Corsetiere and Waist Specialist. The fields are distinct and each one sufficiently large to occupy the entire time and attention of anyone working therein. We ask that Spirella Corsetieres work in conjunction with the Spirella Waist Representatives by each making known to the other any information she may have concerning possible customers for the other's line. By working together in this way Corsetieres and Waist Representatives can help one another and help Spirella business.
75. SELECT THE RIGHT CORSET.—Do not under any circumstances allow your customer to select a style of corset which you know is not adapted to her figure, simply because some one else wears that style of corset, or because she admires that model. Insist on each customer wearing the corset suited to her respective type of figure and make it plain to her that a corset adapted to her figure will give a much more stylish effect than any other corset she can buy. What each woman wants is a corset that will make the most of and bring out her individuality. This comes within the range of your particular profession, and you should make a profession of suiting each individual with a proper fitting corset. Do not become discouraged because there is something to study and learn. Take one corset at a time in your Sample Line and learn all you can about it and especially the class of figures for which it is designed. Then take another and study it carefully and so on until you have mastered every model in your outfit. Then take our Catalog and study each of the additional styles contained therein. By the time you have gained all the information contained in the Manual and the Catalog, read the Lesson of our Correspondence Course upon "Adaptability." This will give you all the information about the adaptability of models not explained in this section. We will send it to you earlier than it comes regularly in the course of instructions if you are prepared for it and feel the need of it in your work.
"OUR MISTAKES MAY BE MADE OUR BEST TEACHERS."