He would then write the plaintiff, asking him to call in reference to the judgment, but not stating his knowledge as to the defendant’s condition. When the plaintiff came in he would state he had a report on the defendant, which he could have upon the payment of $2, the cost of obtaining this data, but if the defendant was in such shape that the judgment could be collected, he would offer to collect it for 50 per cent, and have it assigned to him for that purpose. Then he would see the judgment debtor, and in many cases he was able to secure the entire amount. He would then enter satisfaction of the judgment on the court records, remit one-half to the plaintiff, and the balance was his. This plan made him $5,000 the first year.
PLAN No. 530. A CATCH PHRASE CONTEST
A well known firm manufacturing bookcases in an eastern city wanted a new catch-phrase for their advertisements, and offered a cash prize of $50 for the best one submitted.
A man submitted a phrase and won the $50. The firm, in sending him a check for the amount, announced that they would pay him a cash commission on all sales of their bookcases he might secure for them in his community, and being in that line himself, he was able to come in contact with many persons who wanted bookcases. As the merits of this particular one had been brought favorably to their attention through the effective advertising the firm was doing, sales were not difficult to make. The catch-phrase contest put them in contact with many hundreds of prospective purchasers for bookcases which were later turned into business.
PLAN No. 531. CANVASSING PLAN
To the canvasser or agent who has spent his life selling little 10 and 25-cent articles, shunning the homes of the wealthy through fear of being refused admittance, and wishes for something better, the following plan should appeal:
A New York man got in close touch with several of the large importing and jobbing houses in eastern cities, and had become familiar with the better grades of imported laces, sold only by the best stores. He had acquired an intimate technical knowledge of these expensive goods, and was equipped with a complete outfit of samples mounted on cards that folded in four sections, covered with bookbinders’ cloth and mercerized silk. He also had very rich business cards, containing his name as the representative of a big importing house.
Stopping in a town of considerable size, he would go to the best hotel, and soon would be in possession of the names of many society leaders. These he would call upon, send up his card, and, when admitted, state that he recognized the difficulty ladies have in obtaining fine laces outside the large cities, and that his house had therefore adopted the plan of offering its line of high-grade laces direct to the purchaser. In a most skillful manner he would lead the lady to the point of stating when he might present his samples for her inspection and practically every such inspection meant a large order, amounting to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. He would then ask the lady for an introduction to her friends upon one of her own cards, and this meant more sales—big sales—without number, for he used the card plan for introductions until he had supplied all the women in that town financially able to buy large amounts of fine lace. This required high-grade salesmanship, and his profits ran into many thousands each year.
PLAN No. 532. FURNITURE UPHOLSTERING AND REPAIRING
An Indianapolis man made a profitable and permanent business of repairing and upholstering furniture, and by doing first-class work, at prices considerably below those charged by furniture houses, he secured the regular work of a large number of householders and some of the stores in that city. The various materials used, and the voluminous instructions given for performing the work in all its details, are entirely too long to be given in this book, but any one with a taste for this work will have no difficulty in familiarizing himself with the most approved methods, and can rest assured he can make a good living at it by diligent application.