Huh?,
I really think it depends on the brands you are selling. A certain major manufacturer generates a large amount of leads seriously about 100 times the amount of it's biggest competitor. Hence I believe in that case a direct mail program probably is best. However, the other manufacturer that does not generate many leads a different type of advertising is best like newspaper or radio.
I personally believe direct mail is the cheapest and the most effective way of advertising for a retail establishment. You spend probably $1 dollar per mailer. Assuming you send 500 mailers (very low amount) and a 3% return, 15 people will go to your business to at least look at your product. I have found 50% of those 15 will buy. That is pretty damn cheap advertising.
A salesman should be able to be both a hard seller and a soft seller depending on the situation and circumstances.
What is TOMA?
If you are having a hard time finding a steady medium that is caused by a few major factors:
A) Not keeping and following up onleads
B) Cyclical business - winter is a damn slow time of the year for the eastcoast
C) Your salespeople just can't sell
