HOW I LEARNED TO SELL FROM MY DAD

WHEN I WAS YOUNG IN GRADE SCHOOL I TRAVELED WITH MY DAD ON HIS SELLING ROUNDS DURING THE SUMMER. HE SOLD VITAMINS, RALEIGH'S PRODUCTS, UNIFORMS, AND EXPENSIVE SHOES TO NURSES AND VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS IN DAYTON, OHIO. HE WOULD HAVE THE PRODUCTS IN A SUITCASE AND SHOW THEM VARIOUS STYLES AND LET THEM TRY THE SHOES ON AND DISCUSS THE BENEFITS OF THE PRODUCTS AND WHY PEOPLE LIKED THE PRODUCTS. HE WAS AN EXCELLENT SALESMAN AND ALWAYS KEPT HIS CUSTOMERS SATISFIED AND HAD REPEATED CUSTOMERS FROM HIS VITAMINS AS WELL AS HIS SHOES. WE WOULD DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF DAYTON AND I'D LISTEN TO HIS SALES PITCH. HE HAD A GOOD RAPPORT WITH HIS CUSTOMERS. HE HAD AN MA IN PSYCHOLOGY AND USED IT IN HIS SELLING.

HE AND HIS BROTHER AND FATHER OWNED A LARGE WESTERN STORE IN TROY, OHIO WHEN I WAS YOUNG. IT WENT BANKRUPT AFTER THE HORSE RIDERS WERE LESS COMMON. I BELIEVE IT HAD BEEN HIS GRANDFATHER'S STORE. HE AND MY UNCLE TRIED TO OPERATE IT BUT THEY DECIDED IT WAS JUST TO MUCH AFTER ABOUT 10 YEARS OR SO. MY MOM HELPED OUT IN THE ACCOUNTING OF THE ITEMS THEY HAD. THEY HAD SADDLES, WESTERN SHIRTS, COWBOY BOOTS, LEATHER JACKETS FOR MEN AND WOMEN, INDIAN SKIRTS AND LEATHER BELTS AS WELL. THEY ANNOUNCED IT ON RADIO AS WELL. PEOPLE CAME FROM AROUND THE COUNTY TO BUY THEIR APPAREL THERE.

IN ANY CASE MY DAD AND I HAD FUN WITH HIS OWN SALES BUSINESS AND I REMEMBER THAT WE ATE OUT A LOT VS BRINGING OUR LUNCHES. DAYTON WAS A BIG TOWN WHERE MY MOM WORKED FOR THE GOVERNMENT. MY BROTHER AND I BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE TOWN AS WE SOMETIMES BOTH WENT WITH HIM ON HIS SALES ROUTINE. HE SOLD RALEIGH'S PRODUCTS IN TIPP CITY AS WELL AND OUR ENTIRE FAMILY WOULD GO THERE AS A FUN DAY ON SATURDAYS AND THEN EAT OUT. WE WERE NOT AN AFFLUENT FAMILY, BUT DID HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO EAT OUT OCCASIONALLY.