Sales Campaign 101

When it is found necessary to sell a product therea line of goods which he has never pushed, but for
must be some definite series of plans by which saleswhich he thinks there is a sale. He will make up enough
are to be made. These plans make up what isof these goods to supply a small territory and then
commonly termed a sales campaign. Such plans mayproceed to work that territory with the means that he
be made in outline; they may be worked out to thehas at hand. He is not able, of course, to do extensive
smallest detail. Obviously, where every possible meanspublicity advertising or advertising for anything but
is to be used in making sales it will usually bedirect sales in this territory, but he can use every other
preferable to make an outline of the scheme and fill inmethod of trade-getting that there is known. He may
the details as far as possible. How far this will becircularize the place, distributing samples, send out
possible will depend greatly upon the size and certaintyletters, co-operate with the dealer and use every
of the plan which is to be pushed. A dealer with limitedmeans possible to work up a demand except
capital who wishes to exploit a new product willconducting a general publicity campaign. Experience in
necessarily be unable to do much more than make athe marketing of his regular product will help him in
broad outline of the things he expects to do, and thedetermining whether the results are such as to put his
general means by which he helps to accomplish them.new product on a profitable basis.
On the other hand, take the case of a large industrial inSure Schemes. This method of trying out a scheme is
the jobbing trade. Suppose this to be a leadingthe opposite of that used by a large manufacturer or
wholesaler of all kinds and grades of tobaccos. Thisjobber, who has the money and who knows that his
huge industrial, having ample capital and far-reachingproduct will succeed. When the promoters of Uneeda
trade relations, decides to go into the retailing business.Biscuit started out they did not need to make any try
It is possible for such a concern to plan a campaign inout, for they were satisfied that the scheme was all
detail for a year ahead. This campaign they can carryright and that it would pay. To quote a later example,
out as planned, for they have the trade experiencewhen the same firm which had made such a success
from which to draw in making trade plans and theof a certain well known breakfast food decided to put
funds to put these plans in execution.out another similar product they did not need to make
Trying Out. Business is uncertain. This uncertainty hasany try-out in a limited territory, for the experience of
brought about the use of methods the object of whichthe promoters and the field for the product made it
is to determine whether or not a plan undersure that the marketing would be a success.
consideration will pay. This is known as "trying out." TheFor a large manufacturer or jobber there is one thing
general scheme of try-outs is simplicity itself. Instead ofto be remembered, that the try-out does not get the
risking a large sum on a venture of any kind, as smallimpetus that a campaign does. As a general thing, a
an amount as possible will be hazarded for thesales campaign will not reach its "gait" until everything
purpose of trying how the "paper plans" materialize. IThas gotten to running smoothly. In a try-out campaign
this test results favorably it is probable that the entirethe employees who are handling it cannot become
scheme may be made to go. If it fails it means that thethoroughly accustomed to their work; then each may
plan must be remodeled.not have the faith in the product that the promoter
Try-outs may be applied to schemes in general, butdoes; finally, unforeseen obstacles are all the while
more commonly are used to determine the relativecoming up. This explains the reason why in marketing
pulling powers of circulars, letters and advertisements.a product that so many times it is necessary to put a
Trying Out a Scheme. The ordinary method of tryinggreat deal more money and energy into a campaign
out a scheme is as follows: A manufacturer may havethan was originally planned.