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Chicago Retail : A Quick Summary On The Kings Of The Retail Scene

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Chicago Retail: A Quick Summary on the Kings of the Retail Scene Chicago is known for it 's innovative spirit. The Chicago History Museum has an exhibit titled Second to None that highlights some of Chicago 's inventions and innovations. Modern Retail is an exhibit within Second to None that focuses on Chicago 's retail history. The information provided by the CHM on Modern Retail is a little disappointing. The CHM has the resources to tell a wonderful story on the history of modern day retail, but instead chooses to keep the exhibit simple. Modern Retail has about fifteen plaques to read and a few dull artifacts. The exhibit takes about five minutes to read and enjoy. Sadly, it seems the CHM 's definition of retail is narrow. Retail in …show more content…

Costumers like to know they aren 't throwing away their money on useless items. Looks are first impressions. Having eye catching window displays will attract customers to a place of business. Customers at a place of business equates to more money. Without Palmer there would have been no Marshall Field & Company. When it comes to Chicago 's retail scene, there are not that many businesses that have made a greater impact on the city than Marshall Field 's. Before there was a Marshall Field 's store, there was a dry goods store owned by Palmer. “Palmer imported high-quality merchandise from Europe and the Orient, taught clerks to remember customers ' names and preferences, and instructed them never to pressure visitors into buying” (People and Events 1). Potter Palmer valued customer satisfaction and great prices, that 's the reason his dry goods store was successful. In 1865, Palmer sold his dry goods store to Marshall Field and Levi Leiter (People and Events 1). In 1880, Marshall Field bought out Levi Leiter and called his business Marshall Field & Co. (People and Events 1). In terms of customer satisfaction, Marshall Field 's store operated like Palmer 's store. Marshall Field and Company was overall a great business for customers. On the other hand, Marshall Field was not a friend of his employees. A Marshall Field 's employee will be fired if caught drinking,

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