Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 28, 1992 TAG: 9201290295
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WENDI GIBSON NEWSFUN WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
SUCCESSFUL SELLING
"THAT big house on the corner looks nice," you think to yourself, walking along the sidewalk, pen on one hand, order blank in the other."Wonder if they'll buy any fruitcakes from me. . . . "
If you've ever sold anything - candy bars, candles, cookies, Christmas paper - you've probably wondered more than once who will buy your product, and who'll buy the most of it.
Selling.
We do it all the time. Sometimes we sell candy bars for the band, magazine subscriptions for our school or dish rags for the church. We even sell our ideas to our parents when we want something special by showing them good reasons why they should let us buy that new toy or go out with a friend.
Simply put, we will be salespeople for the rest of our lives.
But that's not a gloomy fate - if you know how to sell your product and, more importantly, how to sell yourself.
Jonathan Barrickman of Roanoke has found success in selling wrapping paper for his school. His method - telephone selling.
"I call neighbors and relatives; I do not go door to door." He also sends his order blank with his parents to their work places, and, he says, "they don't seem to mind helping."
Jonathan did have an incentive for selling, though. He won a science kit with sets of experiments in it because he sold so much paper. Other prizes can be anything from a Walkman to a teddy bear, a gum-ball machine to a telephone.
Having a goal when you sell, like shooting for one of the top prizes, is always a great starting point for selling.
Sisters Gwynne and Claire Austin, also of Roanoke, are selling Girl Scout cookies now. They do knock on some doors, but "just the houses that I know," Gwynne says. They also telephone friends and ask their parents to help out.
The Austins use the buddy system when they sell cookies, preferring to go with each other rather than footing it alone. Both collect orders of about 200 boxes a year.
And they get more than a bunch of orders to fill from their efforts. Says Gwynne, who is a Junior Girl Scout while her sister is a Brownie, "It's fun. You get to get out and sell cookies, and you get to deliver them. And people are really happy to see your faces when you bring them."
So don't be afraid of the selling idea. Just smile and remember that you've done it before, selling your ideas to your parents and friends - and we bet you've probably succeeded at least once.
Tips on success, safety when selling
No matter what you're asking your friends and neighbors to buy, you can employ these tips from the Girl Scouts of America:
Always use the buddy system; never go alone to sell.
Always sell door-to-door in daylight hours only.
Always tell your parents or another adult when and where you are selling and when you will return home.
Sell in familiar areas and neighborhoods only.
Never enter the home or apartment when selling.
Follow safe pedestrian practices. Obey all signs, signals and rules.
Never walk into the street from between parked cars.
Use only your first name when selling. Do not give your phone number to anybody.
Know in advance whom to call in an emergency.
Carry money safely in a money envelope or in your wallet. Don't carry money in your pocket.
Do not carry large amounts of money. Turn in your money to your selling supervisor often.
Practice selling to your family.
Always be courteous and smile. Thank people, even if they don't buy anything.
Be helpful. Know about your product and offer suggestions to your customers.
Remind customers that your product can't be bought in stores (if it cannot) and of the organization you are selling for.
Carry two sharpened pencils or a pen that writes.
Ask customers to write their name, address and phone number on your order card.
Deliver your product promptly.
Save your order card so your can contact the same customers the next time you sell something.