What do You think about Shopping, Seduction & Mr. Selfridge (2013)?
I am absolutely enjoying this book! Having seen the PBS mini-series a few months ago I am fascinated about how all the "shopping stuff" we see today was pioneered in Paris, Chicago and London and how Marshall Field, Harry Selfridge and the like changed the face of retail. Well written and interesting. Having seen the series, I can also imagine Harry, his style, his passion, his women and gambling, and yet, his devotion to his mother, wife and children. Wonderful!Had to finish this book so that Bob could read it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about "GH" and how dramatically he changed the shopping landscape during the early years of the 20th century. If anyone can be "blamed" for our shopping addiction, some blame could be put on Harry. Back in the day, women didn't shop in the sense that we do now, they couldn't touch the products and, if wealthy, didn't even carry their purchases home (they were shipped). GH brought the goods to the counters of the store, displayed merchandise so customers could touch it and try it on. He brought perfume and cosmetics to the front of the store (after Bon Marche) did in Paris. Obsessive compulsive, yes; perfectionist, yes; unfaithful, yes; impulsive, yes. BUT, absolutely brilliant and a marketing genius. One of the first to use statistics to plan campaigns, brought the concept of the bargain basement to Marshall Field's where he worked for 25 years.Great book!
—Dav'ne (Davney)
Selfridge & Co. opened in Oxford Street in 1909. This is the story of the shop and its founder, H. Gordon Selfridge. The 'blurb' describes Selfridge as a showman and he did stage a lot of elaborate publicity stunts, but they were about getting the public into his store much more than making a show. He spent on advertising, pioneered window dressing and displayed his merchandise where his customers could see and touch it. These days 'window dressing' suggests a superficial display with nothing to back it up; Selfridges was not always financially stable and H. Gordon took risks, but he also did market research and checked his sales figures each morning to see what was selling well. He cleverly pitched his advertising slightly down market to attract lower middle class shoppers, while also featuring the celebrities of the day in staged promotional activities. He stressed the 'value' of his wares, knowing that since people rarely knew the true value of the goods they bought, they were more likely to buy them if they thought they were getting value for money.He was very good at marketing, but not so good as a businessman. He spent far too much of the company's profits on an extravagant lifestyle. He got away with this in the early boom years, but kept it up when the business was less successful. The company was being bled to pay for his houses, gambling, mistresses, etc. (view spoiler)[and he was eventually ousted from the company he had created and thought of as 'his company' by the shareholders and board of directors. (hide spoiler)]
—Val
A great fan of the TV miniseries Mr Selfridge, I was keen to find out more about the history of the store, Mr Selfridge, his wife, children, mistresses and employees of his store. In this book written by Lindy Woodhead, I found a very comprehensive facts and figures guide to the history of retail. I did enjoy the sections about Mr Selfridge’s early life and career in Chicago, through to the opening of his store in London. There was a lot of name dropping of famous figures that were involved in the store but these acquaintances were rarely extended upon in any further detail. The most surprising part of this book was the sad end to Selfridge’s life, which I was unaware of. There is no question that this book is well researched but it comes across as quite dry at times and I was after a read that delved deeper into the man behind the store and those around him.
—Amanda Barrett
