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Selfridges & Co. is a chain of high end department stores formed in 1906 and officially founded in 15 March 1909 by Harry Gordon Selfridge, in London. Taking place on the "dead end" of Oxford Street, the neoclassical building has showcased thrilling and brand new trends since its opening. During all these years, the store has been managed by a number of different groups, striving to keep the spirit of innovation firstly deployed by its founder. Harry Gordon, as a good entrepreneur, invested about £400,000 in a business opportunity never noticed before. In 1906, while spending his holidays in London, he noticed the absence of department stores adapted to the latest selling ideas used in America. Promoting shopping for pleasure rather than necessity …show more content…
During the period of 1919 and 1924, the company started its first expansion in Oxford Street and was selling everything from make-up to toys. So far, over 15 million had shopped in the store. Selfridges & Co. had one of its most important moments on the celebration of its 16th birthday, when a television set was presented for the first time. In addition, the company ended up later leading the way of selling it. In 1929, Selfridges was the largest retail group in Europe, being considered the most imperial building in London. In the 1930s, with the Great Depression approaching Europe, Selfridges felt the consumer confidence decreasing and eventually the recession came over. However, Harry Gordon was still being praised by his work: “He has not merely transformed Oxford Street into one of the world’s finest shopping centres, he gave a lead to the entire store trade”, wrote Drapers Record magazine (Woodhead, 2013). After thirty years of revolutionising London’s retailing, in 1939 Mr Selfridge was in deep debt to the store, which forced him to retire with the title of
Macy’s intended to deliver enhanced shopping experiences to its consumers through dynamic department stores and online sites. In this regard, the company developed a North Star strategy that allows it to improve its sales growth and to develop its existing core activities. The company’s consumer research monitors, analyze and anticipate their needs and wants based on the changing market trends. This allows it to strengthen its customer base and also helps it in identifying new markets and customers. Macy’s also identifies different styles and designs based on various occasions and events that allow it to capture the changing preferences of its customers. The company also celebrates various iconic events to interact with its customers which
The grocery market is highly competitive. Brookshire’s has found that superior customer service is the key to success. Consumers who are familiar with the Brookshire’s personnel know that they will be greeted with a friendly smile and helpful attitude. Employee meetings and up-beat newsletters from the corporate office are excellent ways of reminding the employees of the significance of making customer satisfaction the most important part of their jobs.
Over the years, the American department store has developed and evolved as not only a commercial business but also a cultural institution. While it has weathered many storms and changes since its inception and throughout history, its most predominant enemy has been a change in the lifestyle of the American people (Whitaker, 2013). As the customer’s needs and wants have shifted, department stores have struggled to keep up with demands. It has been argued that the decline of the department store has been ongoing for the last 50 years (Whitaker, 2013). This dissertation aims to understand how the department store has historically played a role in consumer culture and spending, and additionally, how this has evolved and changed in today’s retail market. Although department stores may not be able to take all the credit for inventing modern shopping, they certainly made its conventions and conveniences commonplace. They set a new standard for the way the consumer should expect to be treated, the type of services that should be provided, and the convenience that should attend the process of acquiring the necessities and niceties of life all in one place. They made shopping into a leisure pastime. This environment meant shopping was a means of freedom to look around, pick up objects with no obligations to buy. As one historian remarked, department stores: “encouraged a perception of the building as a public place, where consumption itself was almost incidental to the delights of a sheltered promenade in a densely crowded, middle-class urban space” (Whitaker, 2006). Although this perception and view of the department store has changed over the years, this paper aims to follow the trail of how and why that happened.
What exactly does it take to create a successful leading retail store? So many companies are in competition of gaining the shopper’s loyalty they end up neglecting other important aspects. A perfect retailer has to balance out high-quality, attractive prices, customer loyalty, and an enjoyable environment. “Target has experienced considerable growth in the last decade because its stores offer fashionable merchandise at low prices in a pleasant shopping environment.” (pg42) “It has developed an image of ‘cheap chic’.” (pg42)
The present lifestyle of the average Canadian revolves around consumerism and the achievement of self-actualization needs. These desires and materialistic ideals however, are relatively new concepts as a result of capitalism, which was spurred by the introduction of the department store during the late 19th century. Stores such as Timothy Eaton, Hudson Bay Company, Simspon’s and other major retailers stimulated the economy by encouraging cash sales, ultimately modernizing Canada and making it what it is today. Donica Belisle’s “Retail Nation: Department Stores and the Making of Modern Canada” encompasses the negative and positive impacts of the department store on Canada during the 20th century. Furthermore she explains how these corporations dominated and adapted to the lifestyles of the average Canadian. Belisle effectively supports her arguments by including in depth research and presenting both sides of the story.
The eighties prompted change as well as the opening of Best Buy’s first superstore. During 1983, a new corporate name was approved and the Sound of Music Company became known as Best Buy Co., Inc. With mounting consumer support Best Buy continued its road to expansion by opening an additional five stores. In 1985, the newly named company was being publicly traded under the symbol BBY. The late eighties brought forth additional change for the continuously growing company. Best Buy adopted a new concept in retail merchandising with the opening of massive superstores. The new concept shifted the placing of all inventory on the sales floor and hiring a specialized staff of non-commissioned service representatives (FAQ). Such adaptations have fueled the company into progression and continued to promote the company’s corporate vision of “Making life fun and easy”(Fact Sheet).
The Auto Trader firstly opened its doors 1930’s, it is a family run local business and the present owner Colin Butwell who has been working there since 1965. Before this his father ran the newsagents since 1946. In the material we can see that Lloyd Robson asks Colin Butwell on ‘How has kind of the business been like affected by all the big boys moving in, the likes of Tesco’s (The Street, 2009, Scene 2). Within this DVD footage you could see that his stock is very limited and is a very traditional shop where it sells puncture kits, elastic bands and caps for guns. As Lloyd Robson states ‘Ah I used to get so much in trouble for having those when I was a kid’, but Colin Butwell can clearly show that there is a not a high percentage of children in the area anymore and would rather play on their Playstation than play with traditional toys (The Street, 2009, Scene 3). Within the DVD we can see a male interviewer asking a female on ‘what sort of things do you buy here?’ The female had been shopping for ingredients to make a chocolate cake but she was unable to find anything in City Road and ended up shopping in Tesco, where she clearly states ‘I prefer to shop local, at local businesses but I wasn’t actually happy about Tesco’s opening on this street’ (The Street, 2009, Scene 3). Unfortunately Mr Butwell Tesco is a far easier way to shop for the likes of stud...
This assignment will attempt to determine why Marks & Spencer nearly collapsed and what they have achieved in terms of success and failure as part of their recovery programme.
Sam Walton had no idea his business would take off like it has. Today, years after his death, the company is still growing steadily. He never thought that his little $25,000 investment in a retail store would be a huge success, but Walton had an idea that no one had ever thought of. This would be the thought that would not only change his life, but the lives of millions of customers as well. The creator of K-mart Said he fabricated up the idea that if he offered well-know brands and sold them around 15% cheaper than other retailers, then this would make them a powerful source in the retail business, and little did the creator of K-mart knew Walton was right. Regarded by many as the entrepreneur of the century, Walton had a reputation for caring about his customers, his employees and the community.
Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based Sears Holdings Corporation was formed as a result of Kmart Holdings Corporation’s acquisition of Sears & Roebuck Company. It was incorporated on November 23, 2004. It is an integrated retailer and holdings company to a variety of well-known, highly-quality consumer brands.
Montgomery Ward is the name of two generally unique American retail ventures. It can allude either to the outdated mail request and retail chain retailer which worked between 1872 and 2000 or to the first name of the online retailer presently known as Wards. Industry specialists said Montgomery Ward, the 128-year-old retailer that as of late published its end, was the cause all its own problems and was unable to rival other immediate advertising monsters. After the organization affirmed the end of 250 stores and 10 conveyance focuses on Dec. 28, immediate advertising specialists and experts said they were not astounded when the end came. Montgomery Ward, which started list shopping, was described as having neglected to stay aware of the evolving times. It couldn't create a procedure to contend with new confronted organizations, for example, Target Corp, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. what's more other mid-range claim to fame stores that cut into its business.
S.H. Kress achieved a unique architectural distinction in both defining a brand identity while simultaneously fitting in with the five-and-dime market and the local main street character of each town. He was a pioneer in creating company brand identity through a “signature storefront”. He viewed his buildings as an advertisement and each store had some components that were standardized, reflecting the popular assembly line approach at that time, while other components varied based on the location to fit within each town culture.
Only the U.S. government maintains a bigger database.” Sam Walton was eventually considered “the most influential retailer of the century, and with good reason, for nearly every great retailer of the coming years would follow his business examples.” Industrial Revolution: When the Industrial Revolution took place in the United States, factories were now able to out produce consumer demand. For the first time, these new goods needed new ways to be sold, new ways to get to the public. “In New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, the first department stores opened their doors. Railroads and telegraph wires snaked across the country, giving storekeepers a new way to order goods and get them on the shelves faster than ever before. A whole new industry sprang up to persuade people through advertisements with enticing pictures and clever slogans, to buy things they’d never known they needed, to turn America, in the phrase department store pioneer John Wanamaker, into the Land of Desire.
The company's clothing division has a comprehensive range of clothing for ladies, men and children. The homewares department has a full range of items for every room in the home, while the food department sells a full range of branded and own-brand products. The St Bernard brand the own brand label was founded in 1956. The combination of food, textiles and homewares all under one roof makes Dunnes Stores unique amongst Irish companies.
When Richard Sears first began a small retail business selling watches in 1886, he could have dreamed of his store becoming a success but the success it has become, had to be beyond his expectations.