The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-12-06


breed an antipathy in their customers.
They have some trait that is rerellent
which causes failure where others
succeed.
Resourcefulness is an indispensable
quality that oftentimes proves to be
the genius that turns failure into sue
cess. Can you imagine more unlucky
feature than eight of your competitors
in town and all ready to leave in the
morning by the same train to the same
town? You must get ahead of the
bunch, either by driving, jumping q
freight, or to telephone. The writer, bya
little enterprise and proper placing
of presents to the right parties, was
always thoroughly posted about the
scheduals or route lists of his competi-
tors The first man in town always
takes the cream and leaves the skim
milk for those that follow.
A pleasing manner with an attitude
of attention to the customers wishes,
are often the means of sale, even
when the goods are not exactly what is
desired. The successful salesman has
not only complete knowledge of his
own line with their best selling points,
bnt has studied those of his c"mpeti-
tors so that he is able to illuminate as
we'll as illustrate by comparison to his
own advantage.
The demand for men who can make
good as salesmen is constantly increas-
ing, and the compensation offered is
greater than in any other profession.
Many Eastern firms pay from one
thousand to twelve hundred dollars
year, with liberal expense allowance.
The-average salesman who has 4smade
good" receives from $500 per week
up, including all expenses. Armour &
Co and Swift & Co. start their car
route statesmen at $500 per week, with
railroad fair and $14.OO expense money.
Statesmen for these packing companies
live hard life, which if they are able
to stand the pressure on their moral,
mental and physical system, will turn
them out top notchers.
Of course, there are many men on the
road and standing behind the counters
in the large department stores who
have little or no ability. They are
mere order clerks, and barely earn
$1,000 or $12.0O per week. This article
would not be complete without some
notice of the figure cut by the female
clerk or sa]eswoman. A few years ago
the new woman held the attention OF
the world by her demand for equal
rights and equal pay. Visit the large
department stores in Chicapo and you
will note the preponderance of women
clerks. The question will naturally
arise in your mind as to the degree Of
success she is making in this new
sphere OF life, and the answer is the
same as in all departments Of COM
mercial life that has been entered by
her. AS rule, she is not competent
nor a successful saleswOman. She
looks on her position as only tenn
porary burden to be borne as easily
and lightly as possible. Life is too
short for her to learn her stock, price,
and cultivate a proper manner. She
will dance all night and be dopey all
day, and then cry becaui the floor
manager tries to put some e in her
sales. The average salar aid sales
women is five dollars per ok. The
top notchers receive froI six to ten
dollars per week. There re, l am
glad to say, many fine women to be
found behind the counters of our de-
partment stores, and who by their
untiring energy and unfaillng cour-
tesy, are an honor to their profession
and sex, but in a store that has from
four to FIVE thousand women clerks on
its pay roll, these peerless ones are
hardly noticeable.
In closing, wish to call attention to
the keystone in the arch of success
full salesman's life, and that is honesty.
Exposed to all kinds of temptations
and with every excuse for their indul-
! gence, q salesman must never forget
the straight and narrow path. 1t is SO
easy to be good fellow on your em-
! pIoyer's money that the wide, white
way claims many q brilliant, talented
man who, had he only stuck to that
elemental principle of successful COM
: mercial life, would at the end have been
happier, richer and healthier instead ~
j being g mental, moral and physi<
wreck. I. s.s} S..