CP Products | Depot Managers — Page 1 | 2 | Next>
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Representative Awards:
From the humble beginnings of the California Perfume Company, David H. McConnell understood the importance of valuing his ever-growing Depot Manager (Representative) work force. Above and beyond the extraordinary 40% sales commission and the superior sales advice from such an accomplished entrepreneur, McConnell offered a wide variety of award incentives, from the luxurious to the practical, from ornamental to the functional. Awards included: gold-filled Elgin or Waltham Gentlemen's and Ladies' Watches (see above), Limoges China sets, Japanese Minks, Oak Furniture, Rogers' Silverware sets and AUTOMOBILES! As well, there were vacuum cleaners, umbrellas, ice cream makers, lamps, cameras, cases, travel bags and so, so much more. And let's not forget cash—McConnell would often award $5.00 to $50.00 in gold coins TOO! (See 1909 CP Bulletin cover to the right.) McConnell and the California Perfume Company truly brought the finer and better things of the retail world into the able-bodied, and motivated, hands of the most eager and enterprising sales people.
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There are two important points to be discussed about the Awards: 1) how were the representatives informed of these awards? And 2) when did McConnell begin offering awards that were specifically manufactured for or by the California Perfume Company?
The "how were representatives informed?" questions is a lot easier (simpler) to answer than the second question! Before the advent of the Outlook magazine in April, 1905 and the CP Bulletin in October ,1908, McConnell would send a "general letter" to all the Depot Managers and General Agents on a monthly basis. This letter varied in length and sometimes included a flyer depicting new products and awards announcements. The letters themselves also made textual reference to the products and awards. The Outlooks, and the later Bulletins, became the primary instrument for McConnell to communicate with his workforce. And it was in the pages of the Outlooks and Bulletins, rather than letters and flyers, that McConnell was able to announce and depict incentives in a more meaningful and motivational way—as exampled by the cupped hands (above) filled with coin money with the announcement of awards ranging from $5.00 to $50.00 in real gold.
So, "when did McConnell begin offering awards that were specifically manufactured for or by the California Perfume Company?" The short answer is: in the early-1910's! Throughout the CPC and early-Avon years, McConnell primarily brought to his workforce awards that were available for purchase on the retail market...good, solid, reputable, and well-known names (as mentioned above): Brush Runabout, Ford, Elgin, Waltham, Holmes and Edwards, Imperial, Rogers, Kodak, Torrington, etc. Beginning in the early-1910's, McConnell "inserted" award items that were specifically designed for, manufactured by, or somehow marked as, the California Perfume Company, and later, Avon Products, Inc. The representatives' awards shown in this section are not simply retail products, but were somehow identified with the California Perfume Company and/or Avon Products, Inc.
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American Beauty Fragrance Jar Award |
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Additional Note: Beginning in the late-1910's to early-1920's, the California Perfume Company would, on rare occasions, also award the representatives some of the more upscale CPC and Avon Gifts and Perfumes (e.g., the 1920 Gift Box F, the 1921 American ideal Gift Set, and the 1923 Daphne Threesome.)
CP Products | Depot Managers — Page 1 | 2 | Next>