Mail-Order Magazines Did More Than Just Sell Things(smithsonianmag.com)
smithsonianmag.com
Mail-Order Magazines Did More Than Just Sell Things
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/helping-shut-ins-sisterly-advice-mail-order-magazines-did-more-just-sell-things-180967857/?no-ist
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I have fond memories of the mail order oddities that were in the back of comic books as a kid. Sea Monkeys, mini hot air balloons, electric motors, and so on. Companies like Edmund Scientific. Patiently waited "4 to 6 weeks" many times.
Indeed. My first real swing at self-employment was thanks to an ad in either Boy's Life or some comic book encouraging kids to sell greeting cards door-to-door. I sent off for the kit (which I believe was free), waited impatiently, and happily received my sales kit. I then went all over town doing the door-to-door schtick. I believe I was in third grade at the time and learned a LOT about sales, customer support, product fulfillment, and the importance of customer retention. Over time I had other jobs and interests that brought my door-to-door operations to a halt but even when I was in high school I had certain customers acquired during that 3rd grade summer that would contact me to make sure I stopped by for their yearly orders.
I sent away for a Submarine (plans, and most parts) when I was six, seven, or eight.
I waited by that mailbox for weeks. My mom finally told me I was robbed of $4.75.
It was a learning experience. I still think about the person who set out to dupe kids.
I waited by that mailbox for weeks. My mom finally told me I was robbed of $4.75.
It was a learning experience. I still think about the person who set out to dupe kids.
Village guides published in various rural areas of the UK share some vague similarities. They go out a few times a year (for free) with calendars of events, key phone numbers, lots of ads for local tradesmen, butchers and the like, and the occasional column about various local initiatives. Old people in particular seem to lean on them a lot, not necessarily being online, etc.
^^ This. In the past, I've generated a lot of business from these printed, hyper-local 'guide books'. Anecdotally, the Yellow Pages, telephone directory and hybrid alternatives (Thomson in the UK, for example) are regarded as less credible the local guide as they are a national product customised for local markets.
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Its surprising how effective trash-print still is, even today. In Europe, its a very significant form of propaganda; the free daily trash-mag at the train station, literally provided free for the taking at the exclusivity of all other rags, is nought but fodder for mind control.
Its a principle means of influencing the minds of commuters; and it works so well, because nobody ever thinks "this is free, therefore its good", but rather "this is free, so everyone has it, so I must too.."
Its a principle means of influencing the minds of commuters; and it works so well, because nobody ever thinks "this is free, therefore its good", but rather "this is free, so everyone has it, so I must too.."
>Its surprising how effective trash-print still is, even today. In Europe, its a very significant form of propaganda;
Just like the premium print, like Economist, NYT, and co, but cruder. Though these days one would be hard pressed to find the subtlety in the latter either.
Just like the premium print, like Economist, NYT, and co, but cruder. Though these days one would be hard pressed to find the subtlety in the latter either.
It looks like these publications may have been a precursor of click-bait web sites. Look at the second sample page from Comfort - one column of content and three columns of advertising.
I've got a few National Geographic magazines from the 1950s and they're FULL of adverts.
The December issue in particular has about 25 pages in a row filled with small and big ad spaces, with a few more sprinkled around the publication.
The December issue in particular has about 25 pages in a row filled with small and big ad spaces, with a few more sprinkled around the publication.