Woolworth Building
by Hugh Ferriss
Source WikiCommons
On April 24th, 1913, the Woolworth Building opens in New York City.
Designed in 1910 by renowned architect, Cass Gilbert, the building headquartered the F.W. Woolworth, a pioneer five and dime store, for 85 years. This neo-Gothic building was originally planned to be only 20 stories tall. But by its opening, the building had been expanded to 60 stories and was the tallest building in the world from 1913 until 1930.
Having enjoyed success selling hoops skirts for 11 years, brothers Joseph and Lyman Bloomingdale decided to open their own shop. On April 17th, 1872, Bloomingdale’s opens their Great East Side Bazaar on East 56th Street in NYC.
J.C. Penney Mother Store
Kemmerer, WY
Wiki Commons Bend00
James Cash Penney opens his store on April 14th, 1902 in Kemmerer WY.
James starts his retail career in 1898 when he went to work for Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan in their Golden Rule stores. When an opportunity to open a new store in Kemmerer came up, the partners offer him a share in the business and the chance to run his own store. In 1907, Penney buys out the other partners.
Penney enjoys steady growth and success. In 1912, he has 34 stores. In 1917, he operates 175 stores in 22 states. Big Mac work clothes, Penney’s oldest private brand, was launched in 1922. The 500th store was opens in 1924 and the 1000th in 1928. By 1941, Penney operated 1600 stores in all 48 states.
Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, works for the company in 1940. They issue their first charge card in 1959. James Cash is involved with the company until 1971 when he passed away at the age of 95. At its height in 1973, J.C.Penney has over 2000 stores.
I stopped by an area department store the other day to make a purchase. What I bought does not matter since this post is not about me but rather about the two customers in front of me at the checkout counter. I found an interesting contrast between their two service experiences.
After making my selections, I wandered to the cash wrap and got in line with my fellow customers. (This particular department store is one that uses a centralized cash wrap in each area off the store.) Two cashiers were ringing up people’s purchases and, between the two of them, they were making short work of the people waiting in line.
The two customers in front of me in line wore professional clothing and each were purchasing a blouse and a pair of pants (on hangers). They were called up to the registers at the same time, so I took the opportunity to observe the two cashiers work head to head. The cashier on the right was professionally dressed and had a warm, friendly and professional demeanor; let’s call her Right. The cashier on the left was casually attired and was terse with customers; let’s call her Left. (It was just a coincidence that correct cashier happened to be on the right.)
While on a bicycle ride last weekend, my wife and I stopped at a gas station for a quick snack. The station is one of those “food and fuel” places where you can get your car gassed up and grab a soda or a loaf of bread. This one in particular happens to be our favorite rest stop; strategically located on the route with a great selection of food and drinks. Also important to us, there is a shaded table in front of the store where we can sit, enjoy our treats and keep an eye on our bikes.
“To make and deal only in merchandise of the finest body, to sell it at a fair profit, and to deal with people who seek and appreciate such merchandise.” With that as his guiding principle, Henry Sands Brooks opened his men’s clothier in Manhattan on April 7th, 1844. It is called H & D.H. Brooks and Company.
The store is successful from the start with an American take on the high street tailors of London and is renowned for its high level of customer service With his passing in 1833, Henry’s four sons inherit the store and in 1850 the brother’s store take on a more fitting name, “Brooks Brothers.” The company is credited with introducing ready-to-wear suits to the American audience and is the clothier of US Presidents having outfitted 39 of the 44 chief executives including producing the suit that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in.
Now in its 198th year, Brooks Brothers is the oldest men’s clothier in the United States.
$ is born April 1st,1778. The dollar symbol is attributed to Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans merchant and financier of the American Revolutionary War.
In 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne started Apple Computers in a garage in Los Altos, CA to sell the Apple I personal computer kit.
Hearing “Here, let me do that” on the sales floor always sets off alarms for me. I quickly want to know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
If it is to relieve a customer of some irksome or tedious task such as filling out a long form or lifting a heavy object, then that is good customer service. But if it is to do for the customer something they can and would like to do for themselves, it is simply well-intentioned yet poor customer service. Here is a recent example.
Poler gained a following for its unpretentious and inclusive approach to high-quality gear and outerwear
There was a time in our lives when “the great outdoors” meant our backyard, the neighborhood park or the woodlands and wetlands that we could walk/bike/skateboard to without getting into too much trouble from our parents. Then, slowly, things began to change.
Now, if an adventure is not epic or extreme, it’s not viewed as worthy. It seems that adventures need to involve exotic locations like Papua or Lapland or an esoteric endeavor such as wing suiting or canyoneering for any credibility. Gone are the days of the simple pleasures of being outside and enjoying life with friends.
Or are they?
The Observant Customer 