Selling All Occasion Cards, Wrapping Paper and Ribbon, My First Job
Posted: Monday, November 21, 2011
by Marijo Phelps
Selling All Occasion Cards, Wrapping Paper and Ribbon, My First Job
It was brisk in the autumn winds. My sister and I pulled our wagon loaded with cards, wrapping paper and ribbons down the street amidst the swirl of colorful leaves, red maple, rusty oak, pretty elm yellows surrounding us and sometimes smacking us in our faces.
This was the wagon that I pulled Colette to school in. She had polio the year before the big epidemic in 1952. She was left with a limp and legs which didn’t always do what she wanted them to. She might have to sit down on top of the boxes of cards but we had a business to be proud of.
We ended up selling over $400 worth of cards and other items available from this company which netted us $100 in profits. Yes, we did this for several years and had repeat customers.
And poor Dad, he didn’t get paid for his time or gas money but I think he was using this to teach his two young girls some valuable lessons. Yes, there were a few rude people but most were gracious and listened to our brave little voices telling them, our potential customers what we were doing. Many invited us in to look at an example of our items for sale. That gave us a break from the Minnesota weather and a chance to warm our cheeks and hands for a time.
Did either of us excel at sales in later years? Nope. But this was a great first job. The things which made it the best were the people we talked to and who bought from us and the company which had such great cards and other items to sell.
The very best was having a Dad who cared. He was taking time to help us even though he already worked six days a week at his paying job and was spending evenings and Sunday building the home we had moved into. We had “carpenter’s floors” (plywood only) for years before we could afford to get some tile and an area rug. We had orange crate cupboards in the kitchen for four years before he made real cupboards. Yes, the orange crates were painted and had cute curtains to close them from view. Did we feel strange or funny compared to our neighbors who bought their homes finished and ready to move in? No, we knew we had hardworking parents who cared about what really mattered. We were always their special daughters who were taught, encouraged and challenged to do our best by parents who really did care.
Were they perfect as in “Ward and June Cleaver” – nope but they tried and we all learned while growing through the mistakes.
I loved that first job and the family which made it possible.
Come by my blog spot for more photos and interesting reading: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com/
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.
Marijo Phelps,saved by Jesus grace in 1974, from 9 years atheism into His loving arms. She is wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media. Her name is pronounced Mary Jo. She was an RN for 23+ years, missionary with YWAM,statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ 9 years. Her first poem published when she was four years old. (her mom had much to do with that!) She has been writing ever since.
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)I'm impressed with your early sales skills, Marijo! But mostly I'm touched by your story, it's beautiful.I am not sure, in retrospect, if it was sales skills or people surprised at two little girls at the front door...we learned a lot and enjoyed it - I kept the records and did the orders too (one of the folks took the time to check them and wrote the check)
Hey, you nearly described my home sweet home, and you did a great job of expressing it. I too started out young in sales---I sold baby bullheads that hatched in our horse tank and went up the cows noses when they drank. We were ordered to seine them out of there and get rid of them because the cows would not milk right without water. I seined them out, put a couple in several old pnut butter jars and sold them 2 for 5 cents to kids at school (until Dad found out what I was doing!) As I got older, I sold quite a few different things, and ended up selling Tupperware for 10 years. Mostly, however, I farmed with my hubby..
Very interesting presentation. Loved it, VernaThanks Verna - I am not a sales person I have discovered...GRIN
Wonderful tale. Made me wistful and misty eyed. Loved it.Was definitely a kinder and gentler time, wasn't it?
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