A farmer’s wife who was making a good quality of butter was securing but little more than half retail price a pound for it when a trial shipment was made by parcel post to a consumer in a large city.[7] As the result of this shipment, a demand was developed and customers obtained for the entire product at an advance in price to the farmer’s wife and with a considerable saving to the customers under the retail price of the best creamery butter.
[7] Those desiring to obtain suggestions regarding parcel-post business methods should make request to the United States Department of Agriculture for a copy of Farmers’ Bulletin No. 922, entitled “Parcel-Post Business Methods.”
A number of creameries have developed an extensive parcel-post business. One which has a large output markets practically its entire product direct to consumers or retail distributers, except in the flush of production in spring and early summer. Another has developed a substantial parcel-post trade by sending out a weekly price list. Formerly this creamery used newspaper advertisements, but the manager says that the quality of the butter is sufficient advertisement.
Fig. 5.—Various styles of American Cheddar cheese suitable for parcel-post shipping.
Essentials for Success in Marketing Butter by Parcel Post
Successful parcel-post marketing of butter requires that extreme care be taken to insure the delivery of a satisfactory product to the customers. The following are a few of the important considerations to be observed to market butter successfully by parcel post:
1. A uniformly high-quality product should be produced.
2. It should be properly packed in neat and attractive packages.
3. The shipping container used should amply protect the butter from deterioration and damage.