The World Of The Door To Door Salesman

Meanderer

Meanderer

Supreme Member
Location
PA
$7,000,000,000 for Door-to-Door Salesmen (Apr, 1952)

According to this article in 1952 fully 2% of the American workforce were door-to-door salesmen. I wonder what it is now? I love how they speak approvingly of one organization’s “pyramiding partnership”.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/7000000000-for-door-to-door-salesmen/

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Interesting, Jim. It goes along with an opinion I posted elsewhere about home deliveries back then. I was thinking a lot of families didn't have a second car like so many today- or even one car, so bringing goods to the home was needed.

I remember the store on wheels, the milkman, breadman, dry cleaner , also the door-to- door Fuller Brush man and the door- to door- Avon lady.
 
You're right, Rose. the man's home was his castle, and the merchants, and tradesmen, came to the castle! ;)HAHA!
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I remember those guys. Every so often on would show up trying to sell their wares, but some came pretty often. Fuller Brush, Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners, Jewel Tea Co. all come to mind. Then, we also had the butcher, the egg man, the milk man and the frozen food guy.
 
oldman said:
I remember those guys. Every so often on would show up trying to sell their wares, but some came pretty often. Fuller Brush, Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners, Jewel Tea Co. all come to mind. Then, we also had the butcher, the egg man, the milk man and the frozen food guy.
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I recall Electrolux but not tea, butchers, eggs or frozen food guys. I guess our store on wheels had those. But we had the popcorn guy with his little white truck. The back was a giant popcorn machine behind glass. He didn't last long, sorry to say.
 
During WW2 my mother walked to the grocery store with a wooden shopping cart.
In 1943 my father put the car up on blocks and didn't drive it until the following year. Gas was rationed.
 
Truly, Nancy?? :sentimental:

I only remember the milk man in his little truck delivering fresh milk and dairy products daily. No rag men or fuller brush men.
 
I tried selling Singer sewing machines one summer. Ha, what a joke that was. I came close to selling one, one time, but it was an old women that I knew couldn't afford one, so I put the stopper on that sale. I had to live with myself, too. Lasted about two months. The kids needed milk.:rolleyes:
 
Manatee said:
During WW2 my mother walked to the grocery store with a wooden shopping cart.
In 1943 my father put the car up on blocks and didn't drive it until the following year. Gas was rationed.
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My Dad as a Tool & Die Maker, was considered "war-critical", and I believe he was given a near-unlimited gasoline stamp. imp
 
The most outrageous "salesman" to come to our door was our Alderman. He handed out dollar bills to secure folks' votes! Only in"Crook County" Illinois. :(

imp
 
Avon Cosmetics have been known to me for many decades. From 1964 to 1969, mother became a consultant for Avon. As a kid, I remember the "Pretty Peach" line for children, it was amazing... I still miss it to this day.

After I retired from full-time work when my health took a turn from bad to worst, I did a bit of it myself. It was a good time and I've managed to get a wonderful collection of cute figurines for our crèche which are still with us this day.

When daughter graduated from university, she gave herself a year in which to find local businesses that would cater to her certificates. Unfortunately, they were all overseas. Therefore, we got her into Avon. She's received many accomplishments and awards. So since 2012 and she has her own Avon Superstore Online.

Her customers-base is much smaller since the Pandemic. Currently, she's looking in adding to her repertoire by joining BodyShop Beauty Consultant from home. She's supposed to receive news in 2-3 working days. She's hopeful!

PS, I particularly remember the brolly man in the 60s. He didn't came to your door but his horn on his pail let you know he was in the pavement waiting to offer his repair services or a new brolly. Hoover salesmen were the most current weekend visits, but after showing them we had a great one already, you'd wished they understood to take a note and not ask the same questions on the next weekend, hey?
 
We had the neighborhood Avon lady. Nobody would buy from anyone but her in a 1/2-3/4 mile radius. We once saw a rival Avon try, and once a "Mary-Jay" also. Nope, that one woman was a neighborhood treasure.

Funny how she became moms supplier, guess getting hit by her husband, as I came shooting out of a blind driveway helped a bit. 😳😳
 
oldman said:
I remember those guys. Every so often on would show up trying to sell their wares, but some came pretty often. Fuller Brush, Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners, Jewel Tea Co. all come to mind. Then, we also had the butcher, the egg man, the milk man and the frozen food guy.
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Jewel Tea had a coffee cake mix my mom would buy for me to bake on Sundays after church.
 
We had Milk man, Juice man, dry cleaner, Jewel Tea, knife sharpener guy, and the Garbage men opened the garage door, dumped the cans, returned them with lids on and closed the garage door!
 

The World Of The Door To Door Salesman - 1952​


We lived quite a ways from town
But did get an encyclopedia salesman
Funk and Wagnalls
He had a program that you could by one book at a time
Mom bought just the one
But it was a great
Got really educated on the aardvark
 
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There was the blind guy who sold brooms, the vegetable-and-fruit seller who came by my grandma's house in his wagon pulled by a mule who wore a straw hat, the photographer who came around every year with his pony and a couple of cowboy outfits to take pictures of the neighborhood children. I was perpetually disappointed that my mother wouldn't pay for our pictures to be taken.

Don't forget the "home parties" where Tupperware, household goods, make up and jewelry were sold. My grandmother sold high-end costume jewelry at home parties for years; she was very successful.
 
I know that you started this thread, several years ago,
@Meanderer

But it's fascinating. I'm glad it became yet another old thread,
that was brought back to life.:geek: 😁🤩

Or is it, back into the light? ☺️
 
We had the vaccum cleaner, broom and encyclopedia salesmen come by. My mom got the Electrolux vacuum and I really wanted the encyclopedia but we did not get it.
 

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