The Southwestern Company Difference Blog
It’s not if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. This is a phrase we have all heard over and over. Here’s another nugget of knowledge related to that: You don’t always win when you play by the rules…
Proof? Such was the case for independent student dealer Matt Schuster from the University of Missouri who was hoping to run his business selling Southwestern Company’s educational products to families in Gilford, NH this summer.
The town of Gilford allows door-to-door solicitation… only for a permit fee of $2,500. Too rich for a college student trying to earn money to offset his educational expenses. Too rich for most anyone with ambitions to go door-to-door in this community.
An article from The Citizen of Laconia titled, “No permit fee, no peddling, student told,” dated May 27, 2010, chronicles Schuster’s plea before city council to reduce or exempt the enormous fee. He had already complied with state permitting and business licensure, as well as two other nearby towns in which the permits were between $10 and $100. His stated intent was to ensure he went before the council to ensure he was in compliance with the law.
Despite Schuster’s best efforts, the permit was denied by the Selectmen for fear of setting a precedence for future vendors seeking exemptions. My take? Just an excuse to keep sales people out of their town – unfortunately the honest ones get thrown out with the bathwater too. Shame on you Gilford, NH. Some of your residents just may enjoy meeting Matt. And some just may want or need the educational materials he is selling for their home to help their children with their school work.
Opportunity lost on both sides, I say.
