You don't have to be a salesman to make a success of your
own business but it sure helps! Take the case of Asa Phillips
and his profitable product, Auto Ventshades.
Fifteen years ago Asa Phillips was a tire salesman who had
dreams of owning a business some day. One day while mak-
ing his rounds, he spotted a car with a set of Ventshades
hooked neatly across the top of the door windows.
"Here is a product with a ready market," said salesman
Phillips to himself, and he set out to locate the manufacturer.
His inquiries led him to the rear of an auto-spring com-
pany in Jackson, Florida. The owner was trying to sell
Ventshades in his spare time and making little headway. He
was only too happy to sell out to Phillips.
Today, Phillips' business is doing ten times the volume of
its early years. Employment has grown from 18 to 75 persons
and Phillips has just moved into a spanking new building
on a 12^-acre tract outside Atlanta.
Metal shortages that were caused by the nation's defense
program did not worry Phillips. He made plans to manu-
facture other products that did not require critical metals.
Middle-aged, and a shirt-sleeve boss, Phillips Has some
advice for others who aim to start their own business. "Don't
go over your head when you start out. Watch your expenses
carefully. Live within your business means."
