Re: Thanks Boyd, here's some resources...
 

Boyd -- thanks for the pointer on the video. I'll have to track it down. I do have some pitches on video that I taped off the TV years ago. Should dig them out.

Two interesting resources on "pitching", no make that three.

First - Dien referenced a site a while back on the "Cool Finders" or something like that. The index of stories on that site has a long article on Ron Popeil. Very interesting.

Second - one of my favorite books on selling - "Secrets of Closing the Sale" by Zig Ziglar - has lots of examples of the "pitch" throughout it's pages. Zig made his living selling cookware and food choppers before getting in the motivation biz.

Third - "Unlimited Selling Power" by Donald Moine (sp?) is about applying NLP to selling. It's a pretty good book. In the back they have a couple of Ed McMahon's pitches word for word.

When my job was to pull in the crowd the favorite lead in to use was "Excuse me -- did you get your dollar yet? We are giving away dollars..." That was usually good to get at least several people's attention and get the pitch off and running.

Gordon I find the "Home and Garden" shows still have some good pitches running. Vitamix, pots and pans, etc.

Have a good day!

-- Dan Butler

> I love these people.

> As other's might learn in the White Bread
> Post, I too was a "pitchman",
> although the company preferred the tamer
> DEMO guy. Same thing.

> I was recently at two golf shows in the
> area, where dozens of booths were set up,
> and this relates to what has been talked
> about recently in Flea Markets and Trade
> Shows.

> MOST of the people at the golf show just sat
> there. Hardly any initiated contact or
> conversation, many seemed embarassed to be
> there.

> What a waste of time and money. But there
> were a couple of booths that had stacks of
> people, and these were the ones with a
> "pitchman" and a product DEMO.

> The pitter patter hasn't changed since Ed
> McMahon was doing his schtick on the
> Boardwalk.

> Fast talk (because the brain can keep up
> with it and stays engaged)...by frequent
> QUESTIONS, punctuated by the AMAZING part of
> the demo...all leading to a ASKING for the
> money...

> and during this time, we find the TIME
> limited offer (show special only)...the
> bonus...

> buy the soap we throw in the mop for free.

> Excitement. Enthusiasm. The kind you now see
> so rarely unless you attend a seminar by a
> Utah company...where they have mastered the
> pitch.

> All the elements of SALESMANSHIP.

> Cossman, Harvey Brody, Popeil were schooled
> in the DEMONSTRATION and built successful
> careers from this.

> Nothing beats face to face selling, and the
> PITCH in a crowd is equally educational.

> What most people CAN'T do, or WON'T do
> allows others to make money.

> Funny thing, in an audio program I've just
> recorded I teach the Wallflower how to
> become a dynamo in less than 3 hours using
> principles of the NEW paradigm in selling,
> the NO REJECTION SELLING method...and it has
> it's foundation on the old world principles.

> Thanks Boyd, hope you're feeling better
> soon.

> Gordon Alexander

I'm going to get the Ziglar and Moine books [DNO]
 

dno dno dno dno dno ndod dnod dndod dndodndodnd o

> Boyd -- thanks for the pointer on the video.
> I'll have to track it down. I do have some
> pitches on video that I taped off the TV
> years ago. Should dig them out.

> Two interesting resources on
> "pitching", no make that three.

> First - Dien referenced a site a while back
> on the "Cool Finders" or something
> like that. The index of stories on that site
> has a long article on Ron Popeil. Very
> interesting.

> Second - one of my favorite books on selling
> - "Secrets of Closing the Sale" by
> Zig Ziglar - has lots of examples of the
> "pitch" throughout it's pages. Zig
> made his living selling cookware and food
> choppers before getting in the motivation
> biz.

> Third - "Unlimited Selling Power"
> by Donald Moine (sp?) is about applying NLP
> to selling. It's a pretty good book. In the
> back they have a couple of Ed McMahon's
> pitches word for word.

> When my job was to pull in the crowd the
> favorite lead in to use was "Excuse me
> -- did you get your dollar yet? We are
> giving away dollars..." That was
> usually good to get at least several
> people's attention and get the pitch off and
> running.

> Gordon I find the "Home and
> Garden" shows still have some good
> pitches running. Vitamix, pots and pans,
> etc.

> Have a good day!

> -- Dan Butler

Here's the article about Ron Popeil....
 

Hi Dan,

> First - Dien referenced a site a while back
> on the "Cool Finders" or something
> like that. The index of stories on that site
> has a long article on Ron Popeil. Very
> interesting.

I found this and linked to it below.

You're right, it IS an interesting article, and thanks for the other resources too.... :)

- Dien


The Pitchman - Ron Popeil and the conquest of the American kitchen

Re: Salesman of the Century..
 

I just read this book on the life of Ron Popeil.

Very interesting and what a incredible salesman he is. He certainly paid his dues. No wonder he is so good on his infomercials... with no script. He's just doing what he has always done...demo products and bringing in tons of money.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about "pitching" and read about his very interesting life.

Ron




Come See What George Haylings Would Be Doing If He Was Younger!