Successful Farming... multi-level marketing :)

[Leon]

Most of us know the Successful Farming magazine brand from our beloved M101-5 Sporting News type baseball cards, circa 1916. They also put out some nice looking postcards of their buildings. I thought it kind of interesting how hard of a sell they put on for their magazine subscriptions with the allure of said postcards. It also seems like it's a very early muti-level marketing venture too!! I am not sure the postcard below was one given away but it is one from the company and time frame nonetheless....

http://luckeycards.com/polettersuccessfulfarming1900s.jpg


http://luckeycards.com/poenvelopesuccessfulfarming1900s.jpg

http://luckeycards.com/ppcunc1916successfulfarming.jpg

[nolemmings]

Leon, I believe the postcards Meredith was so proud of were not the ones with his building and mug on them, but some "Art, Birthday and Season postcards" which he referenced as premiums in this early 1916 subscription letter.
http://photos.imageevent.com/imoverhere/miscellaneous/huge/succfarm8.jpg

I have never found any, although I do not look hard or often; however, there are often these kinds of poor-man's Norman Rockwell postcards on ebay that were put out by Successful Farming during that time --some may have even been used for the magazine covers. (these are on ebay now):
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/kQYAAOxykYtSKAAJ/$(KGrHqZHJCYFIb3y,20FBSK!!I3DVg~~60_57.JPG

BTW, Meredith was quite a guy, and his family's corporation still exists and still publishes Successful Farming, along with dozens of other mags and with ownership of several TV stations. He helped create the 4-H Club and was US Secretary of Agriculture during Woodrow Wilson's last year in office.

[steve B]

Many magazines of the time had similar sales ploys. Reduced subscriptions for people referring friends, sometimes even prizes for signing up a certain number of subscribers.

I think the last one like that was "grit" which was some sort of newspaper for kids that advertised in comic books.

The early 1900's was a very competitive time for magazines. Distribution was mostly subscription, and there were hundreds of titles. Getting a subscriber to sign up others was inexpensive selling, especially in rural areas.

I 've even seen that sort of ad aimed and addressed specifically to postmasters. I'll have to scan one the next time I run across it. At the time many very small town post offices were in general stores or even homes, and the postmasters were paid a percentage of the postage sold. And on top of that the smallest had to buy their own equipment -even the cancelling device.

Steve B

[abothebear]

I have that very post card on my refrigerator right now!

[TheBig6]

.

I think the last one like that was "grit" which was some sort of newspaper for kids that advertised in comic books.


Steve B

I remember those Grit Ads, thanks for reminding me.
Blast from the past.