Later he prepared another booklet of special interest to farmers and as the matter it contained was so different from the ordinary literature so widely scattered over the country by various corporations, it met with great success, and brought a great many farmers to the surrounding country.
PLAN No. 465. A HOME-INDUSTRY PAGE
When a new daily paper was established in a northwestern city a few years ago, a young man who was an untiring hustler for business, and who had had a great deal of experience in soliciting ads., proposed to the publisher to conduct a page devoted to home manufactures, and make it an important feature of the paper, on a commission basis of 40 per cent. The publisher agreed to this, as he was confronted with very strong competition, and every new feature he could add to his paper was just that much more in his favor.
The young man therefore had a 3-column cut made, showing a large factory in full operation and below was a prominent display line, “Patronize Home Industries and Buy Goods Made in ———,” the name of his town.
Following this were the names of all products made in the home city, alphabetically arranged, the name of the article coming first, with the name of its manufacturer immediately following, so that anyone wishing to buy a certain article had only to turn to this alphabetical list to find the name of the article wanted, the firm or concern that made it, and either phone for it or call in person to obtain it.
The page became so popular that the name of every manufacturer in the city, with the name of his product, was listed in it, and exactly $5,000 was the revenue derived from it the first year. The manufacturers were greatly benefited by it, the paper got $3,000, and the young man who originated the plan drew $2,000 as his commission.
PLAN No. 466. REFRESHMENTS FOR SHOPPERS
A woman in Denver, who had often felt the need of some refreshments while out for an afternoon’s shopping, and yet did not care to pay the fancy prices asked at most of the swell cafés where it was “all style and nothing to eat,” evolved a plan that she believed would be gladly welcomed by the women, and at the same time yield her a good income.
Not having sufficient means to rent a choice store on the leading street, or convenient to the shopping district, she went to the proprietor of one of the leading department stores and made arrangements to establish a little refreshment counter in his store, where she could serve hot coffee, sandwiches, etc., to women during the day. The merchant was glad to add this feature to his establishment, as it would be a benefit to him in attracting trade, and to the women shoppers as well as to the clerks in the store who would appreciate refreshments of this kind, at a very moderate cost.
She made her own coffee, prepared her own sandwiches and the few delicacies she served, and they were exceptionally good. She made a reasonable charge for what she served, and, although the profit was not large on any one article, it was a steady income and paid her well each year, for her refreshment counter became a permanent and popular feature of the store, drawing a large volume of trade, and no charge was made for the space she occupied. In fact, the merchant would have been glad to pay her to stay, if he could not have induced her to remain otherwise.