experienced sales agent...

[snotrawket]

Hi there, I am a university student that doesn't like being someones ***** for summer work so I try to find commisson based jobs and this summer I might start my very own biz!

I was thinking of going door to door and selling clotheslines+installation. I came here to research how many KwH I could tell people this would save them aprox (I have experience selling electricity door to door so this is not gonna be a totally new game.) I found a great thread here that also mentioned the great potential savings of connecing a garden hose to the washing machine. This is something I am now thinking of integrating in to my whole "green clean" package. There are some technicallities like, making a hole into someones house to run a hose causes liability issues for me. Maybe theres a way around it? you guys are the mechanics, hook me up with some alien tech!

[snotrawket]

oh ya, my major is psychology. Thats why I am far more efficient at selling than building... I might hire someone to do the grunt work while I sit at my desk smoking cigars (lol actually while I make more cold calls and get doors slamed in my face but I will take any glory you assume lol)

[Frank Lee]

I've never seen anyone sell electricity door-to-door. Is that anything like selling ice to an Eskimo?

[SVOboy]

Check out ecorenovator.org if your main interest is home stuff. Thought I don't you'll find many people paying for clotheslines. Has to be hightech enough to intimidate people into not DIYing it (like a car is )

[snotrawket]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I've never seen anyone sell electricity door-to-door. Is that anything like selling ice to an Eskimo?

electricity is the most volitile comodity in the world. There are various ways you can buy it. Some are more risky and some more "bluechip." Also there are diffrent kinds of electricity. You guys might be intereseted to know that in Ontario any home owner can buy thier energy from renewable sources if they are willing to pay a higher price (and its not really that much higher... thats where my mad sales skills come in... convincing you its worth it! lol)

Anyways, if someone asked me that at the door I would honestly not waste time with this skeptic. I would move to the next door and talk to someone who was not suspicious of me for no reason.

[snotrawket]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Check out ecorenovator.org if your main interest is home stuff. Thought I don't you'll find many people paying for clotheslines. Has to be hightech enough to intimidate people into not DIYing it (like a car is )

you are correct. I am not socrates going around giving philosphy for free. If they are like **** you kid I'll jsut do it myself I wasted my time. Cars would be great. I might lurk here because I am sure I could get a job selling cars but thats not the best place to be for a sales agent right now cause noone is buying, although, I think eco cars are a niche that has a specific exception.

So I'll lurk still. Thanks for the link though, gonna have a looksie

[Ryland]

Trying to talk anyone in to a changed life style does not work and if you do get someone who is willing to listen they are not going to hire a stranger, I get all my work word of mouth and tend to turn new customers down unless they come across as being overly nice to work for and I still get calls from people telling me that someone else has recommended me to them.
If I'm in someone's house sealing it up so it's more efficient, or changing out all their light bulbs, installing water saver shower heads or whatever it is, it's often because someone else gave them an idea (like your self) but they wanted to know it was going to be done right and that they weren't going to get ripped off, people who show up at your door or cold call you tend to rip you off, that is why they have sunk to that level.

[dcb]

Originally Posted by snotrawket

I would move to the next door and talk to someone who was not suspicious of me for no reason.

We do pay a bit extra to support wind generation locally. But folks have very good reason to be suspicious of unsolicited salespeople coming to their door, chances are they want something from you (if only your time) and don't have anything you want. I would never color it as "for no reason".

re: clothesline installation, eh, give it a shot, what the hey. It's eco friendly enough for sure.

[LeanBurninating]

Props for becoming your own boss. Its definitely the way to go, but after only one year I have found myself wishing that someone would take care of all the boring stuff and just give me focused tasks to do. lol. I think its invaluable to learn how to be a great employee and your own boss.

In this day and age, in almost any industry, if you are creative enough, you can put a spin on "going green" and capitalize on all the nonsense. Have you tried to get work with a solar panel installer / distributor? Same industry, same idea, and great market!

And a resounding +1 on word of mouth versus door to door. Probably best to focus on getting jobs with people you know. The only door to door stuff I would do is spreading flyers or the like. But I guess it really depends on what kind of neighborhood you are in.

Go get em!!

Edit- my .02 for clotheslines, like mentioned above its something most people might try to do themselves, so your best bet is to make them really cool. haha. And... holes in houses??? .. does not compute. Maybe a pulley over top of a window?

[snotrawket]

Originally Posted by Ryland

Trying to talk anyone in to a changed life style does not work and if you do get someone who is willing to listen they are not going to hire a stranger, I get all my work word of mouth and tend to turn new customers down unless they come across as being overly nice to work for and I still get calls from people telling me that someone else has recommended me to them.
If I'm in someone's house sealing it up so it's more efficient, or changing out all their light bulbs, installing water saver shower heads or whatever it is, it's often because someone else gave them an idea (like your self) but they wanted to know it was going to be done right and that they weren't going to get ripped off, people who show up at your door or cold call you tend to rip you off, that is why they have sunk to that level.

well most contractors in general are con artists so its not like I am "sinking" to any lower level lol. Basically I am thinking all I could do is convince them my idea was logical using reason than they do it with me because it is convient or they respect the fact I gave them some knowledge. But at the same time I know what ya mean, some people do things based on loyalty and not reasons.