S u l W a d in
J
-Amusement PuhHicitu
A splendid suggestion for association managers
is contained in the following letter received from
Sid Mackin, managing director, Amusement Mer
chants’ Association, Inc., San Francisco:
“ The enclosed clipping appearing in the San
Francisco Chronicle Sporting Green, July 19th,
is typical of the work being carried on through
the association’s public relations program, and is
indicative of the successful results in developing
a friendly attitude toward the industry not only
with the press but with the municipal depart
ments and organizations.
“ I offer as a suggestion for other association
executives throughout the country the possibili
ties of securing this type of favorable publicity
through suggestions to their local newspaper car
toonists and city editors. In most cases I believe
it will be found true that press cartoonists wel
come suggestions for cartoon material having
human appeal and reader interest.”
The clipping mentioned above occupied three
full columns, showing five pinball players in a
characteristic pose. The comment alongside each
player is in the humorous vein. To quote two:
“ Harry B. Smith is the ‘snapper type’ (flips his
thumb) and exudes his boxing background by
muttering ‘You bum’— (heard him yesterday).”
“—But perhaps you are the night-lifer type. No
tice how Herb Caen utterly relaxes— saving effort
and energy.”
This is priceless publicity. I agree with Sid
Mackin that operators’ associations throughout
the country have opportunities to get similarly
constructive publicity— if they would only use
their imagination and initiative.
Several months back, the Minneapolis associa
tion obtained effective publicity, using a series
of pictures of the popular Andrews Sisters, de
picting their thrills and suspense while playing
a pinball game. There’s an angle for good pub
licity which has unlimited possibilities.
P u t 'Ljour ^Jdeart in y o u r W o r t
A1 B. Carder, one of the founders of the Na
tional Restaurant Association, its secretary-man-
ager for many years, and later a successful
restaurant owner, has written a book to point
out the amazing power that radiates from the
heart. The book is called, “ The Third Commod
ity,” and it is simply this— putting your heart in
your work.
“ An ordinary fellow with his heart harnessed
to his task,” is Carder’s definition of a genius.
Ford loved engineering and mechanics so much
that he worked night and day. Edison loved in
8
venting so much that he slept in his laboratory
to be near his work. Call the roll of the great,
and sure enough, you’ll find that those who become
leaders are men and women who fall in love with
their jobs.
So many people take their work as a “ necessary
evil,” that it leaves the field wide open for those
who put their hearts in their work. Carder has
something there!
•
^llicitericif
Donald M. Nelson, head of the OPM’s purchas
ing division, declared in an address before the
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, August
1 , that a new bureau soon would be set up to
carry out a three-point drive to try to conserve
supplies for industries making civilian products.
Nelson told the business men not to go to Wash
ington about materials, but that the manufac
turer should use individual ingenuity and initia
tive.
prom pt Service id in d u s try A ~J\eystone
All kinds of subjects are written in letters
which reach me day after day. Nothing pleases
me more than to get these letters from operators.
Some letters are easily answered, others take
time, requiring calls to ascertain the facts—but
I’m glad to personally attend to each and every
one of them.
One such letter, I believe, merits special com
ment at this time. An operator of a big route of
merchandise machines writes:
“ I would be much interested to have you ascer
tain and explain to me why a concern such as
..................run ads in your publication and then
utterly fail to acknowledge or reply to inquiries
from intending buyers like me. Over two weeks
ago I forwarded an Air Mail inquiry for their
goods which I wanted immediately. Such an ex
perience of discourtesy is new to me. Today I
have received goods from a competitor who was
delighted to fill my order upon one hour’s notice.
It may be the responsible heads of t h e ...............
Company would appreciate your inquiry to the
end others are not so treated.”
It so happened that the delay was caused by
the inquiry letter going from one department to
another for certain authorization. When all in
formation to answer an inquiry is not immediately
available, a short letter informing the operator
his request is being attended to will avoid loss of
good will and business.
No doubt this is an isolated case, because by
and large, the factories of our industry have al
ways bent over backwards to deliver “ service”
as well as their products. But it’s the exceptional
case which frequently renders judgment.
AUTOMATIC AGE
© International Arcade Museum
C ivilian Products
August, 1941
http://www.arcade-museum.com/