Imagine being miles away from home, in an unfamiliar place, with your livelihood depending on selling a product. In the 1920s, this was the life of traveling salesmen, who sold everything from encyclopedias to seasoning by carrying miniature versions or samples to share with potential clients. At A.C. Legg, Inc., we provided our salesmen with a current Sales Manual each year, which included information regarding products, markets, advice on when to sell, and A.C. Legg’s advertising plans for the year ahead. These manuals were essential to the salesmen’s success, as well as to the increasing popularity of Blend 10, at a time when ordering online was not even conceivable.
In 1935 the compensation for selling our Blend 10 Sausage Seasoning was 25 cents per case. To receive their payments, our salesmen would fill out the Jobber Salesman Report on Sales and mail it to our Birmingham location. As the business world changed over time, A.C. Legg’s salesmen eventually began using triplicate books that allowed them to detail everything, from who they visited to the weather conditions each day. They were required to mail a copy of these reports to A.C. Legg’s facility the following day via stamped, next-day envelopes.
Our company currently employs seven salesmen who cover territories across the United States. They have more than 110 years of combined experience with A.C. Legg, Inc., and provide a tremendous amount of knowledge and ongoing support to our customers. Over the years, the job of the traveling salesmen has evolved, but their attention to detail, friendly demeanor, and drive have continued to be key factors in our shared success throughout our #Journeyto100.
