Mail Order: The Original Internet Still Going Strong
|
While the world continues to go catatonic over the Internet and its endless possibilities, there's another industry quietly going about its business, piling up profitable year after profitable year after profitable year. What industry is that? It's the mail order industry--or as I prefer to call it, "the original Internet!"
Yes, long before the birth and explosion of the Internet, mail order shopping was a hugely popular and preferred method of doing business--and still is. In fact, the Internet has actually enhanced and contributed to the overall success of mail order.
The mail order industry was created by Aaron Montgomery Ward. Ward sent out his first mail order catalog in 1872--for his Montgomery Ward mail order business located at Clark and Kinzie Streets in Chicago. The first catalog consisted of a single sheet of paper with a price list, 8 by 12 inches, showing the merchandise for sale with ordering instructions.
"Ward's gradually expanded the catalog. They became bigger, more heavily illustrated, chock full of goods-- often referred to as "dream books" by rural families."
Aaron Montgomery Ward was born on Feb. 17, 1844 and died on Dec. 7, 1913. He first worked for Marshall Field, a department store, as both a store clerk and a traveling salesman. As a traveling salesman, he realized that his rural customers could be better served by mail-order, a revolutionary idea. He started his business with only $2,400 in capital. Montgomery Ward was a mail-order only business until 1926, when the first Montgomery Ward retail store opened in Plymouth, Indiana.
And the rest, as they say is history!
Over the years, I've actually owned several profitable mail order businesses--selling everything from books to vitamins to my copywriting services.
It really is an amazingly fun way to do business! Absolutely nothing beats the thrill of receiving checks in the mail! And even though I'm no longer involved in mail order to the degree that I once was, I credit mail order for giving me the invaluable training, experience and skills I use on the Internet every single day.
Not having much success on the Internet? Try your hand at mail order. However, before getting started, I suggest you read the following books:
"How To Get Rich In Mail Order," by Melvin
Powers, "Money In Your MailBox," by L. Perry Wilbur, "How To
Make A Fortune In Mail Order," by Al Stern and "Building A
Mail Order Business," by William A. Cohen .
Many books have been written about mail order, over the years, but the aforementioned books are among the best ever written on the subject. Granted, they are somewhat dated in some areas, but the information itself is still solid as a rock.
You should be able to find these books at your local library, since they're all-time classics. However, if you don't have any luck at the library, try Amazon.com.
These books will provide you with valuable insight into the remarkable and enduring mail order industry, and you just might discover a fun new way of doing business you never even considered before!
About The Author
Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net
Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net
|
|
|
Drop Shipping Secrets And Sources Revealed
Unfortunately for those just breaking into the wholesaling business, drop-shipping source information is jealously guarded. With a firm understanding of the service they offer, it isn't hard to see why. As opposed to the typical wholesale resource, drop-shippers offer a myriad of benefits to their buyers:? You have no excess merchandise to house between orders.? You're saved the hassle of calculating shipping, packaging orders, and standing in line at whichever postal service you may use.? Drop-shipping is a great resource for people who own and run web-sites out of their spare time.? Drop-shipping doesn't require you to make any out of pocket expenses.As you can see...(related: Auctions)
From Ebay Zero To Power-selling Hero: What It Takes
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be "the best of the best"; to outcompete everyone who tries to dowhat you are doing--and to keep them guessing exactlywhat it is that makes you so much better?If you've ever owned a commercial website before, youknow who these people are: they're the ones who sell the same product as you, but make $200,000 each year doing it. They have top rankings on search engines, flocks of loyal visitors, and a mailing list with500,000 subscribers.As a webmaster, two things separate th...(related: Auctions)
Attract Ebay Buyers Like Crazy!
As an ebay(TM) seller it happens very often (too often) that listings close without any bids. Did this happen to you? Many sellers are frustrated and quit their eBay(TM) business. Have you realised that these fees from unsold items can sum up quickly. We asked ourself: "What are the reasons for so many items not being sold on eBay(TM)?"We did some research on compared many listings on eBay and to see which sites get the most hits. Of course the item itself plays an important role. But we have also found that many ebay(TM) sellers try to sell their items with very unprofessional...(related: Auctions)
A New Definition Of Buyer Beware
"Who's Suzie?"My wife Katrina had been acting strangely ever since I had returned home from my Native American cultural class, not to mention the weird phone call I received just before I left, full of little pauses instead of our usual fast-paced communication. Now that I was home she had been pretty much ignoring me completely, then comes this strange question. Katrina was calm but I could tell there was something under her ...(related: Auctions)
Auction And Its Benefits
An auction is basically a public sale wherein any object issold to the highest bidder. It can be defined as a process of purchasing and selling things by offering them up for bid, taking bids and selling the things out to the highest bidder. This is what is generally the case. However, a sale to the lowest bidder may also take place, in cases where land is sold for non-payment of taxes to anyone willing to take it for the shortest term; or where a contract is offered to an individual or party willing to take it for the shortest term; or where a contract is offered to an individual or party willing to perform it at the lowest price. Such cases too seem to fairly...(related: Auctions)
Mr. Rich Vs. Mr. Job: How To Start A Dropship Business On Ebay
Mr. Asset vs. Mr. Job....Discover the Secret Formula of the Rich!Mr. Job (a.k.a Just Over Broke) Mr. Asset (a.k.a. Financially free)Would you like to work less and less to earn more and more?Sounds crazy, but not if you know the secret of the rich!ASSETS! ASSETS! ASSETS!There is only one way to become financially free...CREATE ASSETS CREATE ASSETS CREATE ASSETSCREATE ASSETSIt's easier to create ASSETS on ebay then it is to work 40-50 hours a week in a dead-end job! Then why do 97% of the population work hard at a job to create money and only 3% create assets?...The answer...white hot desire!3% of the population have a burning, white-hot desire to become rich and the other 97% hope to become rich.If your desire to become rich is an...(related: Auctions)
Online Auctions: The New Way Of Shopping For Mauritians
Since their introduction several years ago, online auctions, such as eBay, have been one of the hottest destinations on the World Wide Web. Auction sellers are attracted by the prospect of a broad venue for their products and the possibility of high profits. Bidders on online auction sites are drawn to the unique shopping opportunities and potential to purchase hard-to-find items at low prices.One such website in Mauritius is www.mauritiantrader.com . As an online marketplace, MauritianTrader offers a window of opportunities to businesses and individuals by allowing them to...(related: Auctions)
How To Find Real Wholesale Dropshippers For Almost Any Product
With more and more people getting online, many of them are searching for information on specific products that they are interested in purchasing.Thus one of the best possible ways to turn a profit online is to find wholesale sources that will drop-ship thes products directlyto your customers who come to your website for more informatation. Also you could set up ebay auctions to sell these products.BUT....Most of the wholesale sources ebooks, list of 10,000 drop shippers etc. that you see being offered online just don't cut it. Either they are full of links that lead to websites that are no longer active, lead you to wholesalers who carry junk products (dollar storeitems, as seen on TV stuff), or the price are too high fo...(related: Auctions)
Profitable Paper Piecing On Ebay -- Part 2
Basic Paper Piecing TipsHere are some tips that will help you create paper piecings that will sell!Save some time by eliminating the "tracing" of patterns. Take your pattern, lay it over your cardstock and use your stylus to "trace" it onto your cardstock. You won't need a light box or copier for this and you can re-use your p...(related: Auctions)
5 Sure-fire Ways To Make More Money On Ebay
Have you ever dealt with a salesperson or a waiter who gave you unbelievably good service? How about someone who didn't seem to care about you one bit?Which of those people would you go back to the next time you needed to make another purchase or eat another meal?I'm willing to bet you would go back to the business or person who gave you great service. Have you ever considered that this same...(related: Auctions)
Fed Up With Ebay?
For many people, their first experience of working online involves selling products on eBay. This was how I got started back in 1998 and I know countless other people that have done the same.However, it is important to remember that eBay is not the 'be all and end all' - there is a much bigger online world out there. My reason for mentioning this is that I have spoken to three people this week who each make a decent full or part-time income on eBay but who are fed up with it and looking to move in other directions.Having sold on eBay myself, I can understand why sellers do get tired/bored/frustrated with the auction site - it is highly competitive and it takes an incredible amoun...(related: Auctions)
Using Online Ebay Auctions To Promote Your Website - Confessions Of A True Traffic Junkie
If you are looking for traffic to your e-commerce site, you should look no further than Ebay. The reason for this is Ebay is an online auction site that has a huge following and millions of hits on a daily basis. Because of this, if you have your products and services being auctioned off on Ebay, your storefront can be linked to the auction which increases your site's visibility. Here are a couple benefits Ebay auctions can provide:1. You'll Have More LinksIt is affordable to auction things off on Ebay and the price could come out of your advertising budget. Regardless of how you pay for it, you wil...(related: Auctions)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Auctions