On December 28th, 2000, after 128 years in business Montgomery Ward announced was closing up shop.
In retail history
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Category Archives: Store I Admire
In retail history
DEBENHAMS AT CHRISTMAS
On December 25th, 1813, William Debenham joined William Clark at Clark’s drapery shop on 44 Wigmore Street in London. This partnership was the creation of Debenham’s Department Store.
Clark had been in operation since 1778 meaning that Debenham’s can trace its roots back over 238 years, The company has grown to over 175 stores operating in the UK, Ireland and Denmark (Mostly though acquisitions).
In retail history
Toad Lane Museum from the outside, first premises of “The Rochdale Pioneers” early successful retail Co-operative, Rochdale England. by Scarletharlot69
On December 21,1844, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers opened their tiny shop at 31 Toad Lane. After working months to recruit 28 members and collect £28 in capital (£1 from each member), the store had finally opened. Unlike other shops, the Pioneers operated as a cooperative.
The shelves were sparsely stocked with butter, sugar, flour, oatmeal and a few candles. Merchandise was soon expanded to include tea and tobacco and the co-op earned a reputation for providing unadulterated, high quality goods at a fair price.
While certainly not the first cooperative, the Rochdale Pioneers was the first successful modern co-op. What set the Pioneers up for success was the adoption of the now famous Rochdale Principles.
- Voluntary and open membership.
- Democratic control.
- Member economic participation.
- Autonomy and independence
- Education training and information
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
The principles continue to guide all modern retail co-ops. From their humble beginning, the co-op movement began and within 10 years there were nearly 1,000 cooperatives operating in Britain.
The Rochdale Pioneers work continues today with 4500 locations, 4.5 million active members, over 70,000 employees and revenue of £9.36 billion. http://www.coop.co.uk
Lolli and Pops
I forgot that I had taken some shots of the Lolli & Pop shop in Washington Square. Thought you might enjoy seeing a few.
Lolli & Pops is a San Francisco-based “candy boutique” with locations in 17 states. The store is part nostalgic, part artisanal, part whimsical and all-around fun. Free samples are gladly purveyed. Check out a store if you have the chance, it is simply magical.
How can you not like a company like this?
At Moosejaw we want to make shopping as much fun as backpacking the Chilkoot trail, climbing in Yosemite, mountaineering in the Himalayas or playing red rover with the neighbors who you don’t like that much but they’re always ready to play any game in the cul-de-sac so you make do.
If you’re offended by ridiculous commentary don’t click on any of the Moosejaw Madness sections.
-from the Moosejaw website.
You have to admire an outdoor store that does not take itself too seriously. After all they sell toys to adults and are not transplant surgeons or diplomats from nuclear-armed countries.
Check it out yourself at http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/madness_home____
The last of the Geneva Chocolatiers
Switzerland is famous for watches, cheese and chocolate. While in Geneva, we saw all three but it was only the chocolate that really interested us. After all, chocolate is a very affordable luxury unlike swiss watches. We made a quick stop at Favorer’s shop which was near our hotel for a little indulgence.
Favarger, founded in 1826, is the last remaining Swiss chocolatier actually producing in Geneva. All we picked up were a couple of kilogram bars of milk chocolate. How could we resist, they were 2 for 1!
Uniqlo in the Marais
If you happen to be in the Marais in Paris, you should check out Uniqlo’s store at 39 Rue des Francs Bourgeois.
The building, the former Usine de la Société des Cendres, (translated Factory of the Society of Ashes) was a foundry that reclaimed the scrap from jewelers and metalsmith and was redeveloped into a three-story, 8800 sq. ft. showroom. The store is a new concept for Uniqlo. Along with a selection of its menswear and womenswear collections, the brand also displays books, furniture and accessories; all in an effort to make the store a fashion-forward destination.
This is the 5th location for the company in Paris along with their Comptoir Des Cotoniers locations.
Fashion Week in Paris
By chance, our recent visit to Paris coincided with Fashion Week, the biggest week of the year for French designers.
We did not attend any events, but one night while walking back from a late dinner we found ourselves on Rue Montaigne where many designers have their shops. It was late at night but every shop was open for private showings.
This is where, when and how some of the 1% shop.
Your welcome, Nordstrom, and thank you!
Saw this window display the other dat outside of my local Nordstrom store. What a great message to send to your customers. Unrelated but still a nice thing, Nordstrom is partnering with Shoes That Fit to donate up to 20,000 pairs of shoes for K-12 students in need. Shoes That Fit
In retail history
On November 3rd, 2015, Amazon opens their first brick & mortar store selling books in the University Village Mall in Seattle.
The Observant Customer 