Jehovah Witness? NO...Real Estate agent? NO again. Aluminum siding salesmen? NO. How about it is Colonel Sanders? YES. That is what this guy did when he was just getting started with his business. His dream was perfected in his mind and now to add LEGS to it (chicken legs?) and the rest is history but the details are not known. This guy would knock on your door with his pots, pans, ice chest, and carry-all and offer to cook YOU a chicken dinner
WAS IT FINGER LICKING GOOD?
He only needed your kitchen and he would clean up after himself to boot. All he wants from you? To sample his cooking. That's it! If you like it, tell a friend, tell everyone and if you don't, well thank you for the opportunity which in effect makes you like him anyway...therefore accepting the offer as well. What would you have said if he knocked on your door?
START-UP STORIES
How many people do you know that show that type of perseverance? It was an untested business model in the making fueled by hope and expectations that only someone who has a dream in their hearts could make true and living in America made it possible if it ever could be done. many started this way
SEARS PIONEERED
Sears introduced it in the form of free catalogs which people used to look at like the bible. They would see pictures and descriptions of all sorts of things and then start saving for it. When they had enough, they would tear off the ad, wrap it in money and send it to Sears...weeks later, you had it
HEY..THEY CAME TO YOU
Door to door selling was the typical way you promoted your wares. Vacuum cleaners, knife sharpeners, fresh fish, produce, kitchen utensils, and the man who carried everything would visit with you. Even the milkman and the bread guy would learn to do business this way too.
COOKIES FOR FUN?
Mrs Fields cookies started in her house for fun and then into her garage to give away. After that, she needed real space to keep up with the specific demand for some really good cookies. The rest is history.
HOME DELIVERIES
I remember a fast food operation called Chicken Delight. You ordered Fish, shrimp or Chicken Delight and it was delivered to your door in large cardboard plates stapled to another cardboard plate thus sealing the meal. Fresh, hot and delicious, "Don't cook tonight...call Chicken Delight"...we did and often
PIZZA TO YOUR DOOR?...unheard of
No one had any idea of the billions waiting to be made from delivering hot fresh pizza pie to your door. Yes, you usually ate this at the pizzeria and you ate your fill even taking to go what you couldn't finish. Having it delivered to your door was too good to be true. Now, it can be delivered anywhere. win-win
TODAY..DOOR TO DOOR REMAINS IFFY
Sadly today, people knocking on your door solicits more responses of doubt and fear with overtones of intrusion rather than the wonder of "who can that be'? Besides, technology is setting up where you really don't have to talk to anyone when wanting a service or product.
IDEAS COME AND GO
It goes to show you that anything goes when trying to get something off its feet and into the fast lane of enterprise. The desire to succeed and perform will always be in play but the approaches remain ever changing. Who knows? Door to door make make a comeback and people may want it at some point
Bringing what people want to people with little or no hassle remains the model for many a business
Comments(21)