> Thanks, but that's not a service I want to
> get into. It shouldn't be TOO hard to find a
> couple or three semi-responsible kids to do
> the footwork, especially with Tom's contacts
> at his kids' school. (Though I'm not sure
> how high the grade levels go.) I guess a
> bored housewife/househusband wanting to get
> out of the house for awhile is also a
> possibility.

My initial thoughts were to use kids. But seeing as most people think, "Kids means I get it done for cheaper," I didn't want to be one to promote "slave" labor. - If you're going to pay kids, pay them the same you would pay an adult because they are doing the same job.

> I guess I should have added "in one
> sense" to the end of my sentence. I
> suppose it depends on your definition (at
> least, in this instance) of the work
> "push". In any case, the point
> here, I think, is whether or not Tom
> EMPHASIZES the fashion aspect over other
> benefits. It probably depends on the
> patient. In general, I would guess 'no';
> but, if Tom knows the person is particularly
> interested in fashion or he can make an
> educated guess based on appearance or
> something they say, then I'm sure he would
> talk up that particular "benefit".

It shouldn't depend on the person because he can't know what each person wants before they walk in the door. Pushing the Fashion Aspect is designed to get 'em in the door - it's a marketing angle. Not something to be talked about after they get in the door.

For instance, at the end of "The Matrix" Keanue Reeves puts on a pair of glasses. Those who see a sign in Tom's window which reads, "The Matrix Glasses Sold Here" will either think of Keanue's glasses or the glasses the agents wear. And if they want either of those types of glasses they will walk in the door.

> Yes, we're all agreed on that. :-> I
> doubt he would do this himself, so it would
> be a matter of whether there was enough
> demand to justify hiring someone P/T (or
> on-call F/T) to do the driving. Or, perhaps
> he could use OPR -- like the dry cleaner's
> deliveryman -- in exchange for a cut.

You doubt he would do this himself? Why wouldn't he?

See, it's this reluctance to DO anything that lead to my previous comment about him wanting a Magic solution.

I can understand if he is busy. But, it appears he is not busy.

But what if a customer walks in the door while he is visting a customer?

In that case I say, "take care of the pizza in the oven." In other words, look after the certain customer - the one in front of you - instead of foregoing them in favor of a phantom maybe customer.

Look. I understand a reluctance to not want to travel to see a customer. But if it generates more sales, right?

And if he is that concerned about it - specially if it is merely a pickup for a repair - then outsource it on an as needed basis. No need to hire anyone. Just call someone (courier you've done a deal with) to do the pickups. (See below for another solution.)

> Maybe I'm dense or I just need to go to bed,
> but I'm not getting just who these
> commissioned salespeople would be. Business
> owners or commissioned salespeople in other
> industries (e.g., insurance, cars,
> clothiers, jewelers) who would make
> referrals and/or hand out flyers or coupons?
> Or just Joe or Jane Citizen who may or may
> not be employed elsewhere? Or...? Could you
> flesh this out a bit more?

They aren't professional salesmen or women. They are normal people who want to make a few extra bucks. - Stay at home moms or dads, people who do many things (like me), and so on.

As I mentioned in my P.S.... there is a business in my area that advertises, "Make $80 - $120 for 8 to 12 hours work just dropping off and picking up catalogs."

Those who respond to this ad and go with it, put the catalogs in letterboxes. On this catalog is a key-coded order form and a request to leave the catalog outside a few days later. The "walkers" then pick the catalogs back up and forward the orders to the company whose catalog it is. The company then delivers the ordered products and sends the walkers their cut.

It would work the same for Tom...

A PROVEN flyer - the flyer does the selling. People who want to make a few extra bucks would drop the flyer off. If it was for glasses repair, then any pickups could also be done by those who drop off the flyers. So no need to use a courier.

Not only would some initial business be had, but also residual business as someone's glasses need repairing 3 or 4 months later. The walker and Tom both win.

IF the success of the flyer was extraoridinary - was able to make several hundred dollars per week for a person in their area - then Tom might even be able to "sell" areas for a fixed sum and then an ongoing yearly license fee (but now I'm getting ahead of myself).

Clearer?

Michael Ross