Of Sales Adventures
I recently enjoyed some recollections of my childhood. Where some early signs of entrepreneurship were evident. It was in a discussion about a new adventure...When I attending Ross Intermediate school (Year 7-8 I think in modern-speak), there was a local Fish and Chip shop we occupied often. You could buy 1 x fish and 1 x scoop of chips for 80c. (Yep. Oh crap, I got old).However, in my family we didn’t buy takeaways often at all. And as far as us buying lunch for school, at the most it was once per year. On our birthday. And usually we were given only enough money for a pie.Anyway, back to the story.
Many of the kids in my class loved their Fish and Chips. But they hated the walk to the shop. So, for the nominal cost of 5c, I took their orders, went to the shop on their behalf, and usually had enough money to buy my own.This was an early lesson in providing service, at a cost, for personal gain.During my incarceration at Palmerston North Boys High School (Year 9-13).Note: this is prior to my getting a paper-round (twice per week, including 7am on a Sunday) and a Friday afternoon job at a Pharmacy. (side note: it was not uncommon for me to ride across town to the distribution centre to collect 8 vials of pure morphine. Times have changed somewhat since then).During the Summer months at school, I developed a fixation for chocolate-flavoured ‘Dippa’ (I think that was the name) ice-creams, and generally had no means of acquiring said deliciousness-on-a-stick. I learned that my peers didn’t value money all that much, so it wasn’t much effort to ask them ‘do you have any coins you don’t want’? Don't judge me, it was a way of keeping myself occupied. Within 30 minutes I’d more often than not have enough money to purchase. Nice.It was an early lesson in not being afraid to ask for things, be it for money (short term needs) or help, or for the sale.Then I got my drivers licence and all hell broke loose (well, for my family. I had fun!).I discovered the Palmerston North Flea Market. Pretty much anything at home that wasn’t tied down got sold. If it belonged to someone else in the family, they had to have a good reason as to why it shouldn’t be sold. I'd keep a commission of course.I loved loading up the car before sunrise on a Saturday, finding a spot, and then presenting products, negotiating prices and closing the sale.This reminiscing is good. I’m about to embark on a venture which will require me to hone some innate skills. And be open to learn some more. And definitely to un-learn some bad habits I’ve picked up along the way.Bring on 2012.- S