Expand your knowledge of the selling culture and enhance your powers of persuasion. The history of sales is brought back to life in this extensive compilation of over five hours of essential vintage marketing and sales training films. This (3) disc collection features classic training techniques and enduring tips guaranteed to turn prospects into profit regardless of the product. Fortunately, these films will not leave you with your pockets empty.
Included Films:
Face in the Mirror
Face in the Mirror
Produced: 1940
Length: 26 Minutes
Academy award winner, for his role in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, James Dunn carries the weight of this Jam Handy Production about being a good salesperson. A vocational film about what it takes to sell productively, and how to sell to people without them feeling like they are being pressured, Ed (Dunn) goes on a major shopping spree via his wifes instructions. During his venture from store to store he learns more about selling, seeing ways that are better and worse than his own techniques of selling to the public. We learn selling effectively is not just about sweet talking the customer but is about treating them like they are a friend, about looking well dressed and groomed, and above all showing respect. Man in the Mirror, takes Eds character through a sort of reformation of selling ideals as he witnesses what to do and what not to do. This is a well acted and informative film that resounds today in a retail world that is increasingly about self service and less about the salesman.
The Troubles of a Merchant and How to Stop Them
The Troubles of a Merchant and How to Stop Them
Produced: 1917
Length: 33 Minutes
Unlike their Charlie Chaplin shorts, this early Essanay training film bears a somber tone as it assesses the problems afflicting a small business in serious danger of financial collapse. Magically, the installation of a National Cash Register restores the haphazard shops profitability
Sand on the Slippery Sidewalks of Sales
Sand on the Slippery Sidewalks of Sales
Produced: 1920s
Length: 17 Minutes
“Sand on the Slippery Sidewalk of Sales,” is 1920’s look at Frigidaire training methods and ideology. Mrs. Newbyer is having trouble with her brand new refrigerator so she calls her husband, who in turn calls a repair man. The repair man botches the job, but instead of the company ignoring his shoddy work they fire him and get the problem fixed. This was a unique idea in a time of customer service last, selling products first. While originally aimed at Frigidaire salesmen it serves as an interesting look at mannerisms from a different age and a time when broken refrigerators could ruin a social engagement.
Selling America
Selling America
Produced: 1938
Length: 21 Minutes
Benjamin Franklin wasn’t just a statesman, scientist, and rebel that led the United States towards independence from Great Britain; he was the best salesman of all time as well. In “Selling America” a young salesman reads Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography and latches onto his five selling points, wondering how he can make them work for him. Then in true ephemeral style Benjamin Franklin appears in front of the man and proceeds to explain everything a person would need to know about selling a product through understanding basic human nature. Benjamin Franklin’s lasting influence on America, not only through science and politics, is proven with this simple look at good selling techniques and how to implement them.
International Moves the Browns to Sterling Street
International Moves the Browns to Sterling Street
Produced: 1941
Length: 20 Minutes
Silver tableware is not a luxury only available to the wealthy. “International Moves the Brown to Sterling Street” explains, through a new married couple, how with installment buying, or credit, such luxurious items can be available to people of all backgrounds and socio-economic statues. Originally made for salespeople to pitch their products to potential buyers, it focuses on the benefits of having a silver set, such as status and longevity of the product. Excellently acted and filmed as a training tool, it serves as a step back into a time before credit cards when affording things meant saving money.
Another Cup Of Coffee
Another Cup Of Coffee
Produced: 1948
Length: 13 Minutes
Prudential Insurance company salesman training film that focuses on the main points of prospecting new clients
The Things People Want
The Things People Want
Produced: 1948
Length: 20 Minutes
John Forsythe of Charlie’s Angels stars in “The Things People Want” a rare vintage training tool aimed at salesmen. Evans, John Forsythe, is put on the spot by his boss to come up with ways to make the hard sale. He goes home to contemplate what people want out of a purchase and through a voice in his head finds the answer. People want things based on the hierarchy of six human needs: comfort, economy, safety, durability, appearance and performance.
Selling as a Career
Selling as a Career
Produced: 1953
Length: 10 Minutes
A salesman’s job is to bring goods or services to the attention of the consumer and the help the consumer buy. Through following a shoe salesman named Art Williams as he conducts his work we examine the various responsibilities of the salesman as a liaison between the manufacturer and the consumer. Beyond Art we are shown what goes into a career of selling such as the analysis of the knowledge and skills involved. It also serves an informative, albeit campy vocational recruiting tool.
Out of This World
Out of This World
Produced: 1954
Length: 23 Minutes
Frigidaire takes us on a journey into the future of scientific innovations in “Out of this World.” Futurama, or the technology of tomorrow is epically explored and explained, showing how the inventions of the 1950s will effect the inventions of tomorrow.
Polaroid Dealer Announcement
Polaroid Dealer Announcement
Produced: 1964
Length: 17 Minutes
Lowell Thomas leads the movement for Polaroid in this classic film about the company and the joy Polaroid cameras bring to all. Complete with exciting shots of the new Polaroid camera which could develop film on the spot, Polaroid Dealer Announcement, provides the viewer with fun filled facts while trying to convince them there is no better camera. Exciting shots of customers reacting to instant pictures and various Polaroid plugs are included in this snapshot of American history. Polaroid, in the 1960s, was not only the best-selling camera in America, but in the world! Come see what all the fuss is about!
Polaroid Dealer Announcement
Polaroid Dealer Announcement
Produced: 1964
Length: 17 Minutes
Lowell Thomas leads the movement for Polaroid in this classic film about the company and the joy Polaroid cameras bring to all. Complete with exciting shots of the new Polaroid camera which could develop film on the spot, Polaroid Dealer Announcement, provides the viewer with fun filled facts while trying to convince them there is no better camera. Exciting shots of customers reacting to instant pictures and various Polaroid plugs are included in this snapshot of American history. Polaroid, in the 1960s, was not only the best-selling camera in America, but in the world! Come see what all the fuss is about!
Pursuit Of Profit
Pursuit Of Profit
Produced: 1965
Length: 23 Minutes
A riotous vintage film! The Pursuit of Profit is one of the most enjoyable capitalist propaganda movies ever made. From the creepy narrator (Twilight Zone-esque) to the obsession with free enterprise, to the absurd promotion of a unquestioning, unfulfilling love for an employees cold hearted corporation. Produced by corporate giants Proctor and Gamble, the film makes a powerful propaganda pitch in favor of materialistic values and selfishness – as well as fear of ones employer. Bizarrely produced with outrageous assertions assaulting the audience, The Pursuit of Profit is a phenomenal free enterprise film.
%20(c)_1.jpg)
%20(c)_2.jpg)
%20(c)_3.jpg)
%20(c)_7.jpg)
American Women: Partners in Research
American Women: Partners in Research
Produced: 1960
Length: 13 Minutes
Finding a market for a product is hard work. In the 1960s the Corning Glass Works Company was busy trying to find ways to ensure their products would sell successfully. In, American Women: Partners in Research, they explain how theyve found the answer by involving the average housewife in the research and testing process. After all a remarkable amount of the goods for the home are bought by the wife insisting on them to the husband. Narrated by Chet Huntley, this not only serves as an interesting look at one companys market research for a producing a coffee maker, or percolator, but is a step back into the iconic gender roles of the time.
Helping You Sell
Helping You Sell
Produced: 1937
Length: 9 Minutes
Fishing with a single line can catch a single fish, but mass net fishing is the profitable way of fishing. Plowing with a single plow is great for the farmer with a few acres but mass farming is economical farming. Direct mass selling is as practical as mass fishing; as logical as mass plowing. It is doing for retail what mass production has done for manufacturing. And an essential part of mass selling is the salesman who reels in the buyer and cultivates their interest in the product they are wishing to buy. At Chevrolet the salesman know the value of mass selling but they also know the product and have strict rules they must follow when selling a car. A Chevrolet car, after all, is a car built on integrity; their salesmen reflect that principle. An interesting look at selling techniques in the 1930s, Helping You Sell, is a splendid historical film on merchandising techniques.
Hired
Hired
Produced: 1940
Length: 18 Minutes
Selling automobiles in a time where selling was a result of house calls and honest footwork was no easy task. Hired, serves as a training film for both the salesmen and the managers. We are introduced to Jimmy, a bright young salesman who, despite researching the product and actively pursuing potential clients just cant sell a car. His boss blames his and his other employees failures on lack of initiative. He learns throughout the course of talking to his father that a good manager isnt just someone who sits by the wayside and lets his men work, but a person that actively helps out where he can. This is a educational look at selling techniques during the 1940s as well as an interesting step back into time when people saw selling in a different light.
Trader Thorne
Trader Thorne
Produced: 1956
Length: 22 Minutes
The Ford salesmans biggest investment is his time. In America there is an automobile for every 4 1/2 people and every car and truck you see on the road was put there by a salesman. The automobile business offered an exciting opportunity for salesman in the past, and because car buyers have been so satisfied with this method of individual form of transportation the automobile offers a still greater opportunity to salesman today. But the fact that virtually every family already has an automobile puts the new car salesman into the trading business. Therefore, it is essential that a salesman knows how to finesse a potential client and point out the benefits of trading a car in for a new Ford. Without investing his time into the customer, a Ford salesman comes up short. Part Ford promotion, Trader Thorne is an interesting look into automobile selling strategies in the 1950s.
