The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-04-27
TIPS TO TRAVELLERS.
How to He Successful In q Social rs Wei
as q Commercial Way.

ttGS ~ InSSI6GpO'
How to he Successful In a Social rs Well
as Commercial Way.
Young man, IL this is your trial trip,
take some advice and store it up with
the practical points you have aleady
obtained regarding the goods you ex-
pect to sell for your concern.
Remember that we are all human and
liable to err. DO the best you can, and
with Davy Crockett, be sure you're
right, and then so ahead.
When you strike small town don't
imagine that you own it, simply be-
cause you represent big house and a
big city. II you do, possible customers
who find it good enough and large
enough for them may get an idea that
you don't affiliate, and buy elsewhere.
Modesty is the best policy.
Don't get the notion that silk hat
placed on your head in a jaunty way
and a cigar stuck up in one corner of
I your mouth, is a sure indication to the
Merchant that you know how to sell
goods. In the first place, he may OBJ
jectto the way it is introduced. and
an objection either way may be bad
introduction for you.
Don't sit down at his desk If you find
him disengaged and fire off some of the
vulgar stories you have heard on the
road; it may be that he has had good
moral training. and by the time you
arrive at the laughing point, there
won't be any laugh at all.
Don't use profanity; your customers
will understand the quality of your
goods without stamping the different
samples with three or four DIS; in fact,
trade mark y this kind may be an
effectual one of condemning them.
Don't swear.
If you must chew tobacco throw your
ouid out before going into place of
business; do this out of respect for the
property rights Of others, and to save
yourself from the imputation of nasti-
ness. Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Don't make a conffdantof every bust
ness man you meet; remember he may
have a family, and desire to see them
occasionally; and may also be sub
scriber to a newspaper, and familiar
with the entire budget of stale news
you are imparting. Talk business
short, sharp and decisive, and get
about your business. Don't talk too
much.
Never let your right hand know
what your left hand is doing. Don't
brag to the opposition drummer of the
big order you took at the last stop.
Don't imagine you own the firm be-
cause of a successful trip. and above
all, don't think you know it all.
Practice politeness. This is an ex-
cellent commodity, and goes "A long
ways. II you don't sell goods to GER
tain firm this trip, you may next. es-
pecially IL you leave a pleasant impress
sion behind you. This is good way
to never lose your grip.
Don't prevaricate If customer ex-
poets a greater performance from the
goods you are showing than you know
they are capable of. Lose the sale
sooner than make misrepresentation
1t may work for while, but later the
sin will find you out; and to be dubbed
liar is equal to being known as thief.
Honesty is the best policy.
Remember that this world is peopled
extensively. Consider philosophically
that there is ample room for all. This
point is quite essential, as A, B and C
are seeking to sell the same kind of
goods you are handling, and are bound
to compete in the same quarter In or
der to dispose of your wares it is not
necessary nor fair nor gentlemanly to
undervalue the worth of your COM
petitors personally, or the quality of
the goods they manufacture. The
consumer, whom you do not reach
directly, places the amount of value on
the manufacture from each factory.
Therefore, adhere strictly to the Golden
Rule.
These are few of the items recon-
mended for your guidance. If you
have the capacity in other ways, and
sense enough to paste them in your
gripsack and follow them. we guarantee
you the respect of your employers and
courtesy of the trade. Richard B.
Wright, in Boston Budget.
THE AMERICAN GARNET