Peddler

history · commerce · travel · small business

Door-to-door sellers. Peddlers traveled from house to house carrying goods they wanted to sell to families and neighbors. They were an important way people could buy things before stores were everywhere.

Traveling merchants. Instead of staying in one shop, peddlers packed up their products and moved from town to town to find customers. This meant they could bring goods to remote areas where regular stores didn't exist.

19th century drummers. In 1800s America, traveling salesmen were often called 'drummers,' and this job was common enough to inspire popular plays and stories about their adventures.