The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-01-17
CUSTOMERS FOR
FARM PRODUCE
Most Satisfactory Way Is to
Write to Friends and ReIa-
tives Seeking Trade.
PROPER BUSINESS METHODS
Newspaper Advertising, Circulars and
Bulletin Boards Helpful to Farmer
in Securing Purchasers-Sta-
tionery Helps.

For producers who wish to market
by parcel post the most satisfactory
way Of finding customers is to write
to friends, relatives or acquaintances
in cities, seeking their trade. Pur-
chasers, on the other hand, often can
locate reliable producers by correspond
ence with friends, relatives or ac-
quaintances in the country. More than
70 per cent Of the produce being mar
keted by parcel post in a number of
cities in which investigations have
been made is sent by persons who OBJ
tanned their customers through friends,
relatives or acquaintance, according
to specialists of the bureau Of mar
kets, United States department OF ag-
riculture.
This method of establishing BUSH
ness relationship is especially recon-
mended for the general farmer who
has a limited amount Of produce.
Those who wish to market a great deal
Of produce by parcel post may find it
necessary to obtain customers by per
sonally soliciting strangers or through
advertising in newspapers and by 9TH
er means.
Information received from persons
who have advertised farm produce for
sale indicates that usually advertising
is not profitable for the general farm
er, but often gives satisfactory results
to the producer who speciaIizes in some
product that can be shipped through
out the year. Advertisements should
be short and should give a description
of the goods, with the prices, and the
name and address OF the person adj
yertising. In some cities the Sunday
edition of a newspaper gives better re-
suits THIN the daily edition. The per
son who advertises must offer a prod
uct that is wanted by the persons who
read the paper at the time the prod
uct is advertised. in the places where
the paper has q circulation. In other
words, he must know what TO aGver-
tise. when to advertise, and where to
advertise.
Must Use Circulars Carefully.
Form letters, circulars or cards sent
to a selected list of persons have been
suggested often as means of obtaining
customers for produce by parcel post.
The cost Of obtaining customers by
circularizing is often great, and unless
the names of persons TO whom the cir
culars are sent are selected very care
fully this method of obtaining Gus
toners cannot be especially recon-
mended.
Customers may be obtained by max
ing a personal canvass in a selected
neighborhood in city. The neighbour
hood should be one which is not sup
piled with great many markets or
green grocery stores in order that the
competition may not be as keen as ii
would be in a neighborhood that has
excellent marketing facilities. A Su-
hurban district of homes with good in
comes offers a good field in which to
solicit trade In many such districts
the delivery service OF the groceries is
not as satisfactory as in the city.
II a producers farm is on or near
a much-trsveled road an attractive
farm bulletin board placed eonspicu-
ously near the road is help to both
producer and consumer in making
business contact. Many city jewellers
now travel far out into the country by
automobile, and this fact can be turned
to account in securing customers by
using bulletin board. This method
viii be especially useful on clean, Well
kept farms. The statements on the
board should give che articles for sale.
together with their prices, delivered TO
the purchasers door by parcel post,
and the main items should be in letter
Ing large enough TO be read quickly.
Stationery Help.
II q farmer expects TO develop
business OF selling produce to strsng-
srs he win ind Ii advisable to have