A Brief Look at Our Retail History
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Abstract
This paper is a brief insight of our retail industry. It will cover where it started from earlier settlers purchasing their needs from peddlers off the back of wagons to todays retail stores. The retail industry is always evolving to meet the needs of the consumer. Retail is a very intense and exciting industry that requires new innovation daily to stay ahead of the competitors.
Keywords: History, Corporate Stakeholders, Ethics, Ecology and natural resources, Social issues
A Brief Look at our Retail Industry
Retail is in a since a way that society expresses themselves. Shopping is our fulfillment of things we purchase out of pride and sometimes quilt, it can be rewarding but also burdensome when high debt is created. People shop to explore their wants and needs and reward themselves with self-indulgence and the gratification of wanting something that they do not have, but with this comes the prospect of buying things that we really do not need. This paper will explore the history, corporate stakeholders and response to their issues, the role of industry in its social, economic and political setting, domestic and international ethics, Ecology and natural resources and social issues.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Abstract
A Brief Look at our Retail Industry
Table of Contents
History
Corporate Stakeholders.
Social, Economic and Political settings.
Domestic and International
Ecological and natural resources.
Social issues.
References
Retail is in a since a way that society expresses themselves. Shopping is our fulfillment of things we purchase out of pride and sometimes quilt, it can be rewarding but also burdensome when high debt is created. People shop to explore their wants and needs and reward themselves with self-indulgence and the gratification for owning something, but with this comes the prospect of buying things that we really do not need. This paper will explore the history, corporate stakeholders and response to their issues, the role of industry in its social, economic and political setting, domestic and international ethics, ecology and natural resources and social issues.
History1
The first principles of business and exchange started with the mom and pop stores. In 1816, Peltries Market known as today, opened its doors in Dorset, Vermont as the general store to the rural settlement of Dorset. The owners Norman D. Lackmer and Harvey Holley bought dry goods and bulk foods from Bostons wholesale and had these items shipped by wagon to meet the needs of local farmers and village residents in a very rural area of Vermont. (Jones, 1991). The earliest of country stores sold bulk foods and supplies and simple manufactured goods like shoes, textile, stoves and many handmade items such as brooms and wooden tools. The first country stores or retailers where along the harbors like Boston harbor to meet the needs of consumers in a growing new world. With settlers moving west away from the harbors and business of a city life, entrepreneurs began to sell and barder goods from horse back and wagons to west bound pioneers. They brought with them necessities like fur pelts, needles, pins, knives, buttons, spices, tea, whalebone combs, spoons and otter and beaver pelts. Settlers welcomed these earlier retailers to purchase items such as these. They eventually with the travel conditions of back wood trails turning into roads, and the ability to utilize wagons more, they were able to offer kettles, saws, hammers, nails, firearms, black powder and the luxury items the ladies wanted like china, textile goods, pots and pans, utensils and of course tobacco products. These were Americas first true retail stores. Many of these retailers are still in business today in there original buildings and general stores in remote towns across the United States. Here are just a few that are owned and operated as country stores still today:
Alabama, Harrison Brothers Store Established 1879
Arizona, Hubbell Trading Post Established 1876
Arkansas, Gilbert General Store Established 1901
California, Sheridan Country Sore Established 1869
Connecticut, North Woodstock Country Store Established turn of the century
Florida, McIntosh General Hardware established turn of the century
Georgia, Old Sautee Store Established 1870
Idaho, Orville Jacksons Eagle Drug Established 1906
Illinois, Pomona General Store Established 1917
Indiana, Barkla Store Established 100 years ago
Kentucky, Carriss Grocery
Established 1915
Maine, Fribees Store Established 1828
Massachusetts, Petersham Country Store Established 1840
Mississippi, Old Country Store Established 1875
New Hampshire, Mohawk General Store Established 1938
North Carolina, Mast General Store Established 1892
Ohio, Birt Store Established 1920
Pennsylvania, Kauffmans Hardware Established 1779
South Carolina, Cuzzins General Store Established early 20th century
Tennessee, Cumberland General Store Established 1973
Texas Bergheim General Store Established 1903
Vermont, Pelletiers Market Established 1816
Virginia, Havener Store Established 1920
West Virginia, Cass Country Store Established 1902 (Hine, 2002)
These retail stores provided medicine and merchandise