The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-09
John N. Willys, Business Genius Makes Great Comeback
Pioneer uhe hdyS@ Zenith Field Sheer Dominance viii 1"d
I

comes back. they leap up again. not
so or 80 days later; but the very
same month. 1t is uncanny, bur
figures do not lie.
SALES BEGAN TO LEAP
There never was more brilliant
and | believe I can say truthfully
more heartily cheered Comeback"
in the automobile business. When
WHY'S came on the job in February,
1922, the books "were in red" He
spent 60 days travelling about the
country, calling on distributors and
dealers, marshaling them for the big
fight and telling them that he was
on the job, and would stay on the job
and make go of it! Sales began to
leap. In March, they doubled. In
April and May there were big in
creases. In June $4,000 cars were
built and sold. July was bigger by
almost thousand cars. About that
time WHY'S left for Europe for
short respite and to visit the British
company. While he was en- route, a
price war arose. He wirelessed his
decision back to Toledo. But those
who were in charge there, having
figures on sales and orders, before
them, felt that his decision could,
with profit be deferred for a few
weeks. Then it was too late. When
WHY'S returned in September, all
the marvellous progress of the earlier
months had been lost.
Then WHY'S made his final deci-
sion: "Here in Toledo ! stay, and on
the job l, myself, in person stick,
This can be put across and it will be
put across!"
SALES FULL SEED AHEAD
That fall some progress was made.
But not enough to be written in
black ink. In January. 1928, the cor
ner was definitely turned. The sales
organization was inflamed with fer
vor. Pressure began to be felt all
along the line, from the top down.
Cars began to roll out to the ship
ping docks in rapidly increasing
numbers. And Willy s-Overland was
off to flying start on the biggest
year in WHY'S Overland history,
building in the peak months over
100 cars in an eight hour day, ship
ping in the year a total Of more than
100000 cars, consisting of 1S body
types, mounted on four chassis, and
covering a range of prices from $495
to $1995!
HIS PERSONALITY
Anent this, let me quote from one
of the leading automobile publica-
tions of recent date.
"John NJ WHY'S has taken the ba-
con back to Toledo again. He and
his associates in his home city will
remain in complete control of the
WHY'S Overland Co., which he put
on the map and which the force of
his own personality saved. -.
1t was characteristic Of the man that
he took his losses, running we'll INTO
eight figures, with grin. The whole
industry is glad he is firmly seated
in the saddle
What is he like, personally. tn
! master salesman, this leader iroaI-
nate? Well, to begin with--he is
! small, not over five feet seven,
should guess. And on his body rests
a magnificent leonine head, almost
| Napoleonic in cast. His hair is
thick, unruly and iron gray; his nos
| is aquiline and powerful. His chm
is square and clean shaver. H.
eyes are gray and normally the
twinkle. But they can darkcn ;-..'
10
pince-nez, with which he gestures a
times. His facial expression is one
of geniality-he seems to like PEG.
| pie and people seem to like him.
HIS HOBBY
As to hobbies-well, his collection
of pictures is one Of the finest in
| the middle West. He used to ride
horseback and play golf and go
Yachting. But no more. For his long
working hours, he keeps in condition
by walking half the long way be-
tween his home and his office daily.
and by exercising on arising. Elk
cept in business, he reads practical
" nothing--partly because Of lack
! of time, and partly because his eyes
| refuse to bear the strain of too much
! use.
He lives wholly in the future. They
say he never took a backward step
| or gave backward glance in his LIE.
And living in the future, he sees to-
day for WHY'S Overland in 1924 a
magnificent year. One that will ac-
tually shame the enviable record OF
1923.
And as for that, think | ACCURATE
ly express the general opinion OF the
automobile industry when l say
! More power to him-and watch him
| do it,"