THE HISTORY OF SMEI
The early roots in the formation of what ultimately became SMEI Sales and Marketing Executives International
1912 Marked the Early Roots
In 1912 a member of the New York Sales Managers Club by the name of J. George Frederick became so impressed with what he saw happening in New York that he sold the association idea to Sales Managers in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Kansas City, Los Angeles and other cities. These associations later became affiliates of The International Association of Sales Managers
International Association of Sales Managers
The main activity of the International Association of Sales Manager was put on a large convention for Sales Managers. The association went under due to a National Convention in Chicago that did not draw the anticipated attendance. Although the International Association of Sales Managers folded the local associations carried on with the exception of Chicago and Kansas City who became part of the National Association of Sales Executives.
1914 -1919 World War I
In August of 1914 World War I began and in 1917 Congress declared war on Germany. By 1918 the United States had four million troops in Europe.
1918 -Two Key Events
Two other key events in the history of SMEI also occurred in 1918: The founding of Sales Management Magazine
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by Raymond Bill and a survey of sales management practices by the Dartnell Company.
The Dartnell survey of sales management practices published in 1918 in loose- leaf form was used for years as a program by the Western Associations in the International Association of Sales Managers. Sales Management Magazine founded in 1918 and soon began to campaign for the formations of Sales Managers Clubs.
After the demise of the International Association of Sales Managers, George Hopkins, then Sales Manager for the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Co conceived the idea of a National Group of Sales Managers with the various Advertising Clubs while at the convention for the Associated Advertising Clubs. He succeeded in selling the idea of the clubs but it never got very far. The idea appeared to fail due to the fact that Sales Managers did not have a great deal in common with Advertising Groups.
In this same time frame Hugh Chalmers sponsored a large Sales Congress in Detroit, which was very successful. As a result of this success a Sales Manager by the names of Charles Abbott and some others decided to make it an annual event with a continuing organization. A large organizational meeting was held in Atlantic City, and while most of those in attendance where enthusiastic about a National Association, nobody was willing to put up the necessary funds to keep it going. Lacking the funding and the support of the local organizations the
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