(Minghui.org) Greetings, esteemed Master and fellow practitioners!
I moved to the Lake Tahoe area in early 2020. Lake Tahoe sits on the border between Northern California and Nevada. I had the privilege of participating in the first Shen Yun promotion in my city as soon as I got settled.
As I was planning to ride Shen Yun’s huge success to clarify the facts to people at my practice site in a park and continue doing my sales job at a Dafa media, unexpectedly the CCP virus invaded our area, and everything came to a halt.
I heard practitioners in Northern California were organizing an effort to distribute the English Epoch Times Special Edition, discussing the CCP virus. I contacted them, because I wanted to be involved in this effort. I knew little about my area, including where to distribute the newspaper, but I knew I could copy the door-hanging experience I learned from promoting Shen Yun.
This included mapping out an area, bagging the materials, assigning a driver, grouping three to five people, and distributing the materials door-to-door, community by community. The only difference was, this time I had to do everything myself, because I was the only Dafa practitioner in the area.
Targeting Mainstream Communities
Given the limited manpower, I targeted key communities that were mainstream and influential, and mapped the areas out using my cell phone. I fetched the newspapers from Northern California on weekends. I put on my mask and gloves, dressed neatly, and delivered the paper door-to-door.
It was gratifying to see that out of more than 1,500 households where I distributed the paper, the vast majority of people gladly accepted it. Some said they had heard of the Epoch Times, and were pleasantly surprised that the paper was delivered to their doorstep. They were grateful to learn the truth about the CCP virus from it.
This made me realize that even in a crisis when the virus was rampant, everyone’s life was at risk, and all businesses were facing problems, people would not reject real news, but were eager for it. We know that we are their hope to learn the truth.
However, distributing the Special Edition is short-term, localized and free after all, which won’t last forever.
Master said,
“In order for anything to have a foothold in this world, to be able to hold up and establish itself, there has to be a key factor: It has to form a field in this dimension, a field that materially exists. Let’s take religion for example. The reason a religion can establish itself is that in the course of many people’s believing, their discussions in firm faith, their worship, and so on, form an environment. And at the same time that environment, in turn, safeguards the religion.” (Teachings at the Conference in Europe)
I think the Fa principles are interconnected. If the newspaper sales locations can be widely established so more American people can see the Epoch Times, subscribe to it, talk about it, appreciate it, and promote it, then it will make this righteous field strong. It will also increase the strength of truth spreading and saving sentient beings. Moreover, it will generate business revenue for the media.
Keeping Traditional Media Format
I have always believed that in today’s society, despite the popularity of electronic media, it still makes a lot of sense to keep the traditional media format – a real newspaper. It is perhaps similar to the difference between reading a Dafa book and a Dafa e-book.
Many people still prefer to read a newspaper, even though they own electronic devices. Besides, not many older people use electronic devices.
I felt that there was no time to lose in setting up sales locations, so I spoke with the manager of the Epoch Times in Northern California, and explained my idea. The manager was very supportive of my idea. Soon, the initiative of selling English Epoch Times at mainstream retailers, supermarkets, pharmaceuticals, and gas stations was rolled out.
I researched the major retail franchises in the area and negotiated with each store about selling the Epoch Times in their store. The negotiation is a critical step that ultimately determines whether or not the newspaper would be sold on the newsstands.
I realized I’d better use succinct words, and professional demeanor to introduce our paper. Thus, I learned how newspaper retail systems worked, and visited various retail stores to observe the sales of other newspapers. I then met with the store managers and brought with me sample papers and business cards.
Successfully Selling Traditional Newspapers
I remember waiting for a long time to meet the store manager of a world-renowned supermarket franchise, and the manager came out to me and said, “Your newspaper is in our retail system, but that doesn’t mean I have to put your paper on the newsstands.”
I quickly answered, “You’re right, that’s why I’d like to talk to you. Our paper is brand new in this area, but it has been sold in California and other areas for a long time, and it’s very popular among our readers.”
The manager added, “We are reorganizing the store and are going to remove all the newsstands. Customers tend to misplace those papers, and it’s better for us to get rid of them, instead of reorganizing them.”
I immediately took out the sample newspaper and explained to him while flipping the pages, “Perhaps you don’t know us well, but we are one of the few honest media that adheres to true reporting and returning to tradition. The design and content of our paper have won many industry association awards. Many readers read the paper from cover to cover, and want to share it with friends and family.”
The manager then asked, “How much money can we make by selling your paper? How many copies can we sell in a week? Why should we do something that is laborious and not profitable?”
I half-jokingly replied, “For a store this big, you don’t rely on selling newspapers to make money, do you? Has any newspaper sold here actually made money for you? The main purpose is to provide information to people, especially when truth is rarely found. Your providing people with truthful information is most valuable. That is something money can’t buy.”
The manager thought for a while and said, “I’ll give you a week for trial.” The trial has lasted until today, and this store has become the largest local retailer in terms of Epoch Times sales.
Another time, I went to a well-known pharmacy franchise. The store manager told me that the store had not sold newspapers for many years, and had no newsstands, because no one bought newspapers any longer.
I said, “Perhaps people don’t want to read newspapers because fake media is everywhere. But our paper is different. Many readers found our paper has the journalistic integrity and values that traditional newspapers should have, and are looking for our paper. Would you please give us a trial period?”
As a result, to date the store still sells the highest number of Epoch Times in the franchise. When the headquarters later ordered to stop selling Epoch Times, the store continued selling it.
Successfully selling the newspaper was just the beginning. The real challenges came later.
A supermarket franchise had sold Epoch Times for a month before the manager suddenly informed me that their headquarters had requested that all the stores stop selling newspapers. My heart moved a little at first, because those stores all had good sales of the Epoch Times, and it would be a big loss to the readers.
However, knowing the operations of these franchises, I knew stores all have some flexibility with the headquarters’ requirements. So I calmed down and set my mind on one thought – even if the headquarters did request to stop selling newspapers, they cannot remove the Epoch Times. At the same time, I sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate all the factors behind the interference. I continued delivering the newspaper, and nothing happened.
The same thing happened in another pharmacy franchise store. Shortly after the store began selling Epoch Times, the clerk asked me to remove the Epoch Times newspaper and take down the sign, saying it was a decision from headquarters. I figured that what the clerk said was true, and I knew there was nothing I could do, but what about the other stores?
I was overwhelmed with emotions at that moment. I remembered that Master said many times that, when saving sentient beings, we should not "...target any groups, it aims only at people’s hearts!” (Fa Teaching at the 2016 New York Fa Conference, Team Blue Translation)
In my mind, some decision-makers of this franchise have made a bad decision and have damaged the franchise as a whole, but it does not represent all individuals in the franchise, and I should not have any prejudice or negative thoughts against the franchise. All I need to do is maintain righteous thoughts to save those who can be saved. As a result, only two local stores complied with the headquarters’ decision.
Developing Strategies for Newspaper Display
After delivering newspapers for awhile, I found the newspapers sold in mainstream society nowadays, from the major newspapers nationally circulated to the local tabloids, were almost exclusively left media and fake media, so one can imagine why it is so difficult for people to learn the truth, because people are exposed to nothing but these media on a daily basis.
I feel that the Epoch Times is the only clear stream, and our front page headline and picture selection stand out from others. I believe an eye-catching sign is essential to effectively promote Epoch Times in retail stores, so people take notice of it. Secondly, the “extraordinary” content should be displayed, so people can easily pick it up as they walk by.
I therefore paid a lot of attention to the newspaper sign and display in each retail store. I am grateful to the Northern California Epoch Times office for designing and printing beautiful and professional signs, providing newspaper stands of different sizes, and giving timely guidance, and sharing lessons learned. These all contributed to the effective setup of our local retail locations.
I also wore clothes with the Epoch Times logo on it, whenever I deliver the newspaper – it makes me a walking advertisement.
Recognition of the Epoch Times
In the early months of newspaper delivery, strangers of all ages initiated conversations with me almost every time.
Some told me while pointing at the logo on my clothes, “I love your newspaper!” Some said with their thumbs up, “I’ve already subscribed!” Some walked up to me and said, “You guys are the best. Keep up the good work!” Someone told me that he thought the Epoch Times was an amazing newspaper, and some shared their views on current events with me.
I thanked them and took the opportunity to introduce our retail locations as well as other media such as the Epoch Times YouTube channel and the English New Tang Dynasty TV, etc. It was a good feeling to see more and more people supporting justice and knowing the truth!
Facing Interference
However, where there is support, there is interference.
There was once a large supermarket where the newspaper sold very well, and the manager liked the Epoch Times very much. He told me that the customers couldn’t wait to get our newspaper every week. He said the Epoch Times was the best newspaper he had ever read.
However, for several weeks in a row, our signs were destroyed, the front pages were taken, and newspapers disappeared. Despite my repeated complaints and the manager’s intervention, the incidents kept happening.
Finally, the manager watched the security footage and found out it was a delivery person for another newspaper who did this. Perhaps out of jealousy or different opinions, the person wanted to vandalize to vent his anger. The manager considered this behavior equivalent to shoplifting and ordered the delivery company to replace that person, and the problem was solved.
When similar situations later occurred in other stores, I made sure the store manager was aware of the incidents and urged them to pay attention and stop the theft, regardless if it was other newspaper delivery persons or customers. If I could not help stop it, I told the manager I had every right to call the police. Seeing I am a reasonable person, the manager typically helped solve the problem.
Promoting Epoch Times Sales
I have put the Epoch Times on newsstands for sale in more than 70 retail stores in seven adjacent cities. After about four months, more than 100 copies were sold in a week, and the number of subscriptions was the highest among cities similar in size.
What was even more gratifying was that two months after the newspaper was put on newsstands for sale, a new local practitioner joined me at the practice site. The Westerner decided to learn Dafa after seeing Falun Dafa Free Class advertisements in the Epoch Times she bought from one of the sales locations!
The process of promoting Epoch Times retail has taught me a lot, and the most unforgettable thing was the first day of my newspaper delivery.
That day, I left early in the morning and worked until noon. Seeing how many retail sites I had set up, I felt very proud. Thinking that I had my driver’s license for only a year and I could now handle mountain roads, I felt complacent and played cool with the steering wheel.
Learning the Lesson
At an intersection, two police cars with sirens blaring pulled me over. It was the first time something like this happened to me, and I panicked.
The police officer knocked on my window. I calmed down. I admitted my mistake and gave him my license. I explained I had just moved here and I usually drive very carefully, and I panicked just now and made that mistake. I asked for a second chance. In fact I was holding a thought that I might be lucky, because I was doing good work after all.
The police officer said to me seriously, “I appreciate your honesty, but I must give you a ticket today. Do you know how many vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection could have been affected by that panic of yours? I want you to remember this lesson.”
He handed me a ticket, $250 fine. “two five,” - “Er Wu (You enlighten),” I really needed to be enlightened. Seeing me deep in thought, the officer suddenly smiled at me and said, “I hope your good day is not ruined. Please continue to do what you should be doing!”
I felt a sense of relief and smiled back, because I was thinking I should stop working and go home to adjust. The officer’s words were clearly Master’s hint! So I immediately adjusted my mentality, and finished the afternoon’s work.
The seemingly “bad start” really taught me a lesson. I learned to remind myself constantly – no matter how capable you think you are, or how capable you really are, it is insignificant, because it is given to you by Dafa for you to save sentient beings.
No matter how insignificant a matter is, as long as it is related to saving sentient beings, it is a big deal. One must treat it with the purest and most humble heart, otherwise it will cause losses to the sentient beings.
Master said,
“I’ll put it even more clearly: the cultivation that you are doing in this lifetime is to strengthen the righteous thoughts that your being at the surface has, and that is so that you can save all living beings.” (Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference)
I have recently gained a deeper understanding of this Fa, that the purpose of my existence is to save sentient beings. We are very fortunate to be able to participate in various Dafa projects. As we are doing our part to contribute to the projects, the projects also provide us with a broader platform, and more opportunities to save more people. I want to cherish these opportunities more, and do better.
Thank you, Master, and everyone supporting me!
(2021 International Online Fa Conference)
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