movies_creation
American Movie Archives (美國電影檔案)
- Title
- Sand on the Slippery Sidewalks of Sales
- Abstract
- 0682 PA8498 Sand on the Slippery Sidewalks of Sales 16 silent pix
- Notes
- Audio/Visual: silent, B&W
- Keyword
- need meta
- Theme
- A precious artifact
- Review
-
Five stars for historical significance. While this item is far from entertaining to today's audiences, the film is a business student's treasure.
B-school students are taught that there have been three fundamental orientations in the practice of marketing - in chronological order: selling, production and consumer.
This gem is from the earliest days of the era of selling, made famous by Henry Ford's "You can have any color you like, as long as it's black." Here the pitchman, the power that drove this early engine of commerce, is reassured that the company will stand behind his promises. Spreading "sand (and improving traction) on the slippery sidewalks of sales" is a great example of the efforts in field sales force support at the time.
Immortalized in many subsequent humorous and tragic characters, from Daffy Duck to Willy Loman, the salesperson was made less dominant by the production orientation. The Reynolds Aluminum films, found elsewhere in the archive, are splendid examples of the production era and a must see for any serious marketing history buff.
(Reviewer: 2muchtv) - Location
- A/V room, 2/F