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Selling Our Large Books in the City

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 51.

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Selling Our Large Books in the City

By W. H. George

WHILE helping a brother colporteur in the city of Covington, the writer felt impressed to take a few orders for that good book, “The Great Controversy,” and with his prospectus started in among the business men. At the first canvass two orders were taken; and in a furniture store a stirring canvass was given, and two orders for the half morocco binding were received; and after a strong canvass in a drug store, the druggist said, “That sermon was worth $3,” and gave his order. The man was interested, and a desire was created for the good book, which will in all probability be read with an earnestness and enthusiasm that will cause the reader to glean from its pages the beautiful truths of which it is so full.
Our words are a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Why give a lifeless canvass? The writer recalls a canvass which was given at an institute in North Carolina. After the colporteur had finished the canvass, which was for “The Great Controversy,” I said to him, “Brother, did you feel the canvass?” He replied, “No.” I said, “How then can you expect any one else to feel it?”
The trouble is so many are not in real earnest. Don’t begin to canvass until you have a real burden for souls. Then put your whole soul into the canvass, awaken an interest, and hold it until you get the order. When working in the cities, begin with the merchants. If approached right, even the head of the firm or the manager will give you five minutes of his time. When as a traveling salesman the writer’s work put him in touch with business men, he found that an audience could always be had if the salesman had confidence in his proposition or business. That confidence is what gave the salesman the necessary assurance. Now, my friends, the proposition we have, is the best that can be had, and why act as weaklings when handling such a work? Go to the people and show them that you have something of great value, and it is for them if they will have it.
W. H. GEORGE.