Wichita eagle., 1889-08-11

so many causes have been assigned for
the success of the celebrated "Tansill's
Punch" cigar that Republican reporter,
learning of Mr.. Tansill's sojourn at the
ALBANIA called on him to ascertain for the
benefit of smokers true explanation Of
those causes Mr.. Tansill expressed
readiness to communicate on this subject
and the reporter piled his questions.
Have you any objection, Mr.. Tansill, to
giving the readers of the Republican an
inside view of the success you have attain
ed in your business"
well. no, can't say that have" was
his reply. "Since / have no patent on my
methods of conducting business and no
secrets to withhold from the public, / am
perfectly willing to crafty you to the ex-
tent of my ability. To commence with;
After the great Chicago fire of II, be-
came convinced that there was large
and increasing demand, tidal wave as it
were, for first-class cent
cigar. How to produce such
cigar and to market it
profitably was the problem
Il was young man at the time and full
OF ambition. After carefully studying the
condition of the trade l settled upon
plan to accomplish my object. But before
give it to you let me explain the situa-
ton as it existed at that time. The aver
age retail dealer in those days meyer
thought it possible to sell a5-cent cigar for
less than 100 per cent. profit, while the av-
eraRe wholesale dealer or manufacturer
made profit varying from $40 to SIS per
1000 on that class Of goods. Such scent
cigars of course were made OF very inferior
domestic stock.
"Now conceived the idea that by reduc-
ing both profits and slightly increasing
the price, and at the same time max
ing cigar that should contain
the choicest Havana filler, and then
placing it in the hands of prom
inent retail dealers all over the United
States, with an exclusive control or agency
for the same for their towns or neighbor-
of the cigar, which at once commanded
largely increased trade, could afford to sell
it at a reduced percentage OF profit. In
other words / first raised the price of the
goods to the retailer, and at the same time
reduced my own profits more than one
half This difference enabled me to fur
nish an Havana filled cigar that could be
retailed for cents.
"Then / personally travelled over the
United States and established my agencies,
relying chiefly on small orders, thereby
with double drumming" and
and the jobber's profit. thus effecting
great saving. l charged nothing for my
services and sold my goods at less than
one half the profit made by my COMPETE
tors. In taking this step trusted solely
to the intelligence of the smoker and
dealer for my recompense. Had l not done
SO the name Of 'Tansill Punch cigar, like
the names of my thousand imitators,
would have been obsolete long ago."
HAS your faith in the intelligence of
the smoker end dealer been sustained?"
YES far beyond my most sangulne ex-
pectations. And as the business has
grown from year to year I have appro
priated percentage of my profits for adj
vertising. l might add in this connection
that have just placed contracts for ad-
vertising Tansill's Punch in nearly 1000
daily and weekly newspapers, with a COM
bined annual circulation of over 500, 600 eco
copies. From this it can be seen that my
methods of selling them is stronger than
eyer before"
''Has your plan of doing business met
with the approval of the merchant"
my success emphatically answers your
question in the affirmative. Could you
but read our correspondence you would
then realize how our agency and goods are
appreciated by both dealer and smoker.
As to the value of our agency, l will give
you an illustration. Nine years ago w.
NJ. Dale, Chicago druggist. was trying
to establish trade on cent cigar. To
accomplish this he was paying $50 per 1000
for his leading 5 cent brand and retailing
but POO of them per week. l gave Mr..
Dale the agency for 'Tansill's
Punch for his neighborhood, and
his trade steadily increased from
year to year until it reached the enor-
nous number of $1,000 'Tansil's Punch
per month while his aggregate sales, all
at retail, mind you, of that single brand
have largely exceeded 2,0O0. 900 cigars. l
could cite you similar illustrations in al
most every part of the United States"
"Then l understand, Mr. Tansill, that
your plan is to sell first rate cigar at a
small profit and rely upon the large vol
ume of your trade for the results?"
THAT is it. exactly"
FIRE AT ALTON KAN