I get it. Times are tough. Many people are knocking on doors asking for work. Or calling on the phone. Because of my early entrepreneurial experiences, I have more empathy than most for door-to-door salespeople and telemarketers.
All I ask in return is a little respect.
When I was about 10, I started making potholders with the loom and a bag of loops that I received as a birthday gift. Pretty soon, I had my own little business going. I sold my homemade goods door to door in our suburban neighborhood. Along the way, I learned some important sales techniques.
In an effort to personalize purchases, I took orders for special designs to match kitchen colors. Sometimes I would pick flowers from our yard to give us an offering along with my sales pitch. I often approached prospective buyers when I could smell dinner cooking in their kitchens and they might actually need a potholder. But never when they were at the table eating and not wanting to be disturbed.
Soon neighbors were referring me to their friends. When I needed money to replenish my supplies in order to stimulate business, I started putting my potholders on sale. Two for $.25 instead of $.15 each. It was a big hit. Patty’s potholders turned a nice little profit. I also took away an important lesson that stays with me. Respect people’s time.
Mrs. Waters, an elderly woman who lived in the big two-story gray house diagonally across the street from us, was the first person to buy from my sale. Her hair, that matched the color of her house, was neatly pulled back in a bun and her shoulders were hunched. She was honest that she only needed one potholder but would keep the second one for a gift. She explained she was a widow on a budget.
Because she used a walker, getting to the front door was not easy for her. So she requested that I kindly not come to her door again to sell more potholders. After all, she knew where to find me. I respected her wishes and did not return. Almost a year passed between that initial sale and the placement of her second order. This time she bought several potholders for Christmas gifts.
So, my fellow salespeople, if I ask you nicely not to call or knock on my door again please respect my wishes. Like Mrs. Waters, I may just place an order when you least expect it.
Email patriciabunin@sbcglobal.net follow her on Twitter @patriciabunin and her website www.patriciabunin.com
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August 29, 2021 at 09:28PM
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This early business experience taught me a lesson to share with today’s salespeople - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
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