It Pays to Advertise? Two cents worth of advice from Ralph Finch
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o, does it pay? It better, since a few billion dollars are spent each year on various products, most of which we don’t really need. How about bottle sellers and collectors? They hope so, too. Recently, in a few issues of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine, my better half has placed a nice “Wanted” ad, in color, asking for additions to her new collecting addiction to old snuff bottles. And the response? We have had several nice conversations with smart people willing to share their knowledge, including (in alphabetic order) Pitkin Glass Works man Tom Duff, Norman Heckler, Jeff Noordsy and John Pastor. And the results? Well, there is good news and some more good news. Janet has added a half-dozen old snuffs, our checkbook has been tested, and several sellers seemed content. Back in my target ball days, ads in the States, England and Australia got me much richer in glass orbs, but much poorer in checking balances.
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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
So, how about you? I remember, maybe thirty years ago, various fruit jar collectors were sent a photo of a nice, but not super-rare quart jar. All of us passed on it, except one guy, who bought it. When it arrived, he was thrilled. The photo didn’t show that the jar was in a pint size and, up until then, unlisted in that size. Have you answered an ad, or posted one, and the deal turned up better, or worse, than you expected? Let me know about it and we will share it with readers. Please email me at rfinch@twmi.rr.com.
FYI: Wikipedia explains: “In the ancient and medieval world such advertising as existed was conducted by word of mouth. The first step toward modern advertising came with the development of printing in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the 17th century weekly newspapers in London began to carry advertisements, and by the 18th century such advertising was flourishing.”
