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
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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
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Show MoreRon Johnson spent a great deal of time and money to promote his ideas of “stores-within-stores” by turning floor space into an area to house several branded boutiques. He did this in order to attract a target market of a wider demographic which includes age, gender, and generation. One of the m...
After co-branding the Macy’s name with local Federated stores in 2003, the Macy’s division became the central focus for revamping. Federated descri...
With over a century of experience in the retail industry, is it essential to understand the history behind Nordstrom and how they have built their strong presence and bond with their consumers. Originally established as an independent shoe retailer, Nordstrom Inc. was founded in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom in Seattle, Washington. The company’s primary objective was “to provide exceptional service, selection, quality and value” (Nordstrom). This core belief established one of the strongest building blocks for the company. Their keen focus on delivering quality products and exceptional customer service has made Nordstrom stand out amongst its competitors. After gaining popularity, they decided to offer women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing. By
The first two chapters of Retail Nation explore the rise of the retail industry and how department stores came to be known as a national identity for Canadians. Departments stores in Canada emerged late compared to Britain, France and the United States however, they grew quickly, and even surpassed large global retail stores in terms of sales and size. The top three department stores: Eaton's, Simpson's and HBC monopolized Canada's retail market, differentiating themselves from international competitors. They were able to capture the market through innovative ideas such as mail-order catalogues and various branch stores. Retailers promoted consumerism as normal and portrayed Canada as a ‘consumer nation’ (58). Department stores attempted to construct themselves as Canadian institutions. Canada's department stores had a considerable influence on Canadian economic, social, and cultural life. They helped define modern Canadian society as consumerist, middle-class and white (7).
The industrial revolution changed all that. During the mid-nineteenth century produced conditions which allowed the retail industry to flourish. It was this expansion, however, which prompted divergence in the development the retailing environments in Canada. The industrialization process required concentrations of large numbers of individuals in single geographic areas (cities) and the development of intra-city transportation systems (such as trolleys and bicycles) to transport individuals to the newly formed factories (and subsequently, to large retailers). Furthermore, a direct outgrowth of the industrialization process was the growth in discretionary income which became available to a large percentage of the population. As the result of the industrial revolution, the social and economic environments of affected areas became ripe for the development of large new retailing enterprises, such as the department store. Timothy Eaton recognized this void, and was the first to introduce the department store concept to Canada. Basically, a department store was an entire building that was structured for the purpose of shopping by selling items such as food products,
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.
During the Great Depression, while the competitors were cutting costs and reusing outdated designs, Kress was expanding and building more elaborate stores than their previous ones. The architecture was referred to as an “emporium” evoking an elegant atmosphere more suited to a fine cloth or furniture store in New York rather than the five & dime stores dotting small town America. Many wonder what the driving force was behind these design decisions, especially during a national time of economic recession. Perhaps simply to outpace the competition, but perhaps more importantly Samuel Kress was an avid art collector and a proponent of public art enhancing a community. In this way the Kress legacy of the brand became more than a retail business, it became a symbol of small town civic pride.
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.
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.
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 first impressions of the store was how clean the outside looked. With a brushed aluminum sign above the store, and the clean white walls clearly visible outside, this store was amazing to look at. The windows were seemingly spotless, and the black and white iPads on the stand in the windows added a nice touch. There were small lights dancing around the window spelling words of advertisements and changing color. It was simply one of the coo...
Officially founded in 1834, Harrods is today recognised as one of London’s landmark. It’s one of the most successful and luxurious department stores in London. With the motto “Omnia Omnibus Ubique” (All things for all people, everywhere), Harrods makes sure to carry the title of exclusiveness.
The company started off when Ben Dunne Sr. began working at a drapery shop in Cork, Ireland in the early 1940s. From his experiences here he then proceeded to leave the job to set up his own store, this idea quickly developed and in 1944 Bernard Dunne Sr. set up a new store with the intention of changing the Irish market under the promise of “Better Value” by offering products at a lower more affordable price, This slogan and idea carried on today.
During the late eighteenth century, the Sears Roebuck Company is one of the first department stores that has supplied people in America with a lot of things from furniture to auto repair parts and tools. I mean, who would have imagine that one of America’s best-selling mail catalog distribution, retail establishment had begun in 1886. It started out as a Chicago jewelry company that shipped some gold-filled watches to an unsuspecting jeweler in a Minnesota hamlet. The company was founded by two very hard working gentlemen’s name Richard W. Sears and Alvah C. Roebuck.
As I make my way to the terminal I can’t help but notice how many shops and food places are around me – they’re everywhere! Everywhere I looked made me want to raid the shops. They were perfectly done up to appeal to the many tourists. I, being one of those common tourists, walked into several. I managed to pull myself together and not buy anything. The way the designers of the shops know how to appeal to everyone’s inner desire to hastily spend without the acknowledgement is overwhelming.