The O. M. Scott & Sons Company
THE O. M. SCOTT & SONS COMPANY
Between 1955 and 1961, management of The O. M. Scott & Sons Company launched a number of new programs aimed at maintaining and increasing the company 's past success and growth. Largely in response to these activities, Scott 's field sales force grew from 6 to 150 men, several entirely new and expanded production facilities went on stream, and the number of products in the company 's product line tripled. Sales increased from about $10 million to $43 million. In late 1961, company officials were preparing to review the results of all these changes to ascertain how, if at al1, Scott 's plans and financial policies should be changed. The O. M. Scott & Sons Company commenced operations in 1868, when it began processing the country 's first clean, weed-free grass seed. Scott 's early business came from a small but rapidly growing local market in central Ohio. Later, however, the company went through several stages in its growth. At about the turn of the century the company turned from supplying its local market to selling grass and other farm seeds over a wider geographic area by mail. As its success with its mail-order business increased, the company began to advertise extensively and in 1927 added a free magazine called Lawn Care, which has been widely distributed ever since. In all of these early promotional activities, the company sought to sell the Scott name and products as well as the idea of improved care of lawns. In the 1920 's a special lawn fertilizer developed for home use was added to the company 's product line. During the 1930 's the company began to distribute its products on a small scale through selected retail stores and garden centers. Sales and profits grew steadily throughout these years. Scott continued to grow along these same general lines until 1945, by which time sales reached $2.7 million and net profits after taxes were about $30,000. Over the decade immediately following the war, pioneering research by
Between 1955 and 1961, management of The O. M. Scott & Sons Company launched a number of new programs aimed at maintaining and increasing the company 's past success and growth. Largely in response to these activities, Scott 's field sales force grew from 6 to 150 men, several entirely new and expanded production facilities went on stream, and the number of products in the company 's product line tripled. Sales increased from about $10 million to $43 million. In late 1961, company officials were preparing to review the results of all these changes to ascertain how, if at al1, Scott 's plans and financial policies should be changed. The O. M. Scott & Sons Company commenced operations in 1868, when it began processing the country 's first clean, weed-free grass seed. Scott 's early business came from a small but rapidly growing local market in central Ohio. Later, however, the company went through several stages in its growth. At about the turn of the century the company turned from supplying its local market to selling grass and other farm seeds over a wider geographic area by mail. As its success with its mail-order business increased, the company began to advertise extensively and in 1927 added a free magazine called Lawn Care, which has been widely distributed ever since. In all of these early promotional activities, the company sought to sell the Scott name and products as well as the idea of improved care of lawns. In the 1920 's a special lawn fertilizer developed for home use was added to the company 's product line. During the 1930 's the company began to distribute its products on a small scale through selected retail stores and garden centers. Sales and profits grew steadily throughout these years. Scott continued to grow along these same general lines until 1945, by which time sales reached $2.7 million and net profits after taxes were about $30,000. Over the decade immediately following the war, pioneering research by