Did you hear the one about a door-to-door salesman who sold a meat tenderizer to a vegetarian?

This is no joke. Bill Porter did just that. He was a Watkins door-to-door salesman with cerebral palsy, who was so persistent – and motivated – that he overcame his adversity to become one of the company’s most effective associates. His story even inspired an award-winning TNT movie starring William Macy, Helen Mirren and Kara Sedgwick.  It’s called Door to Door and available through Block Buster. A book followed written by Porter’s one-time assistant Shelly Brady titled “Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter” that became a New York Times bestseller.

The film and book tell of Porter’s reluctance to give up his direct sales approach and begin using a new contraption called a computer. It was his age, his expanding customer route and growth of the Internet rather than his disability that led Bill to develop his own Watkins web site. Yes, he’s still at it today.

There are now thousands of associates across North America spreading the word about an exceptional product line that has propelled Watkins to become one of the leading names in quality today.  From a handful of products Porter was able to offer his customers in the mid-50s, there are now more than 350 various spices, all-natural body and cleaning products, as well as pain liniments and lotions being sold coast-to-coast and throughout Canada.

Many folks in and around Winona, Minnesota – home of the company’s headquarters and production plant – still enjoy regular visits from their door-to-door Watkins salesperson. Winona is that kind of quiet, neighborly small town where citizens still feel safe opening their front door when the door bell rings.

So it is in Big Bear, California, where a young couple are following in Bill Porter’s footsteps, going door-to-door in this mountain community to peddle the Watkins product line. Brian Campbell and DJ Wilson don’t have to overcome a disability. But they have other obstacles that challenge anyone beginning a home-based business today. Topping the list is the economy in resort communities like Big Bear that rely heavily on folks with enough disposable income to buy a vacation cabin, or rent one for a summer vacation by the lake, or just a winter weekend on the ski slopes.  

But that hasn’t stopped Brian and DJ, who are willing to knock on doors, make cold calls and hit up family and friends to place an order with them.

“Sure, it’s tough,” says Brian, who has difficultly getting his sales pitch out before he hears “No, thank you” and the door closes in his face. “But that didn’t stop Bill and it won’t stop us either.”

He just turned in their first list of orders totaling more than $150. The next goal is becoming “Gold Associates” before the year is out. Yes, Brian and DJ believe in the quality of the Watkins product line, and know that once a person tries Watkins vanilla, cinnamon or pain liniment, they will buy it again and try other products. Bill Porter would be proud; his door-to-door spirit is alive and well in Big Bear.