[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

From what I have read as above mentioned Harold Schwartz sold land by mail until that became unlawful, sold zipper wallets by mail order, and I have heard kitchen gadgets at state fairs and the like. His out of US FCC control very powerful radio stations across the Mexican (border blasters) got Wolfman Jack started. He was all huckster/salesman. He and Al Tarrson bought a mobile home park in a watermelon patch and sold only a few lots so Harold bought out Al and invited his son, Gary Morse, down and that is when The Villages took off. Harold was personable and no doubt genuinely liked people but he was essentially conducting marketing studies when he chatted up folks in the community to find out what they liked, what they did not like, what they would like to see and so on. The bottom line is things have worked out fabulously for both his family and Villagers through good business planning, years of very hard work and the "free golf for life" and "live like a millionaire" advertising slogans which are what really got customers down to buy. The Villages is incredibly beautiful, well planned and maintained and IMHO, the best active adult 55 and over community in the world!

AMEN to that for sure! What has not changed since The Villages began? The world has changed, our Country has changed, we have changed! Has no one revised their spending/savings habits because of personal and other reasons and desires? Well - so too does business! Do ya remember when a one pound can of coffee used to be 16 oz - how many ounces is it today? Do ya remember going to the movie and watching the Newsreel and a cartoon before the only movie playing? Whaddaya see today - ads and notices to turn off your cell phone! Who here can honestly believe that Harold Schwarts and/or Gary Morse would not have changed the original Villages model in order to stay with the times and continue to make money? After all - why are Developers in business but to develop; and what good business owner is not in business to make money? So many folks whine about the family's greed - but surely give it absolutely no thought about how much is costs to carry the expenses for what they enjoy! Didja never hear the old saying that ya gotts spend money to make money. That's something that has NOT changed!

[Coffee and rant are done - must mean it time to do laundry and clean the house] Have a great day folks - I have other pans! lol