Selfridge’s Chicago | Selfridge’s London—Chicago Newspapers | Selfridge’s London—London Newspapers
CHICAGO NEWSPAPERS
Chicago Examiner March 16, 1909
Special Cable to the Examiner
LONDON. March 15.— The battle of the stores began to-day. H. G. Selfridge. a former Chicagoan, opened his perfect eight story department store this morning nnd the establishment was thronged all day. It is estimated that 200.000 people, mostly women, inspected its various departments throughout the day and this despite the fact that without conditions were execrable—a flurrying snow and bitter east wind prevailing.
Nevertheless the opening was a success, even though Selfridge’s commercial rivals did everything they possibly could to minimize the success of the Chicagoan’s inaugural day by providing many counter attractions.
Londoners, reading their newspapers this morning, were amazed to discover them filled with advertisements. Dry goods stores that never before advertised, firms doing business amounting to many millions of dollars annually their entire business aud which in history had not spent a hundred thousand dollars in advertising, used many columns for their display advertisements.
These old-time and so-called conservative merchants are exceedingly jealous of Selfridge. They do not like the American’s wide-awake methods and his invasion of their trade with up-to-date ideas is causing them no little uneasiness.
Disliked Because He Advertises.
Specifically they dislike the fact that Selfridge advertises. His announcement that he would no more think of doing business without advertising his goods than he would without merchandise has shaken up your time-tried John Bullite. However much these merchants detest the innovation. Selfridge’s competition compelled them 1o follow suit immediately.
When the Examiner‘s correspondent visited Selfridge’s store this afternoon he found Oxford street and the sidewalks packed with women of all classes. There were dozens of automobiles with coronets and crests pn their panels. They were lined up the side streets while their aristocratic owners were inspecting the marvels of the first modern department store opened in London. Tens of thousands of their humbler sisters came thronging from __ the penny motor omnibuses and tupenny tubes, also attracted by the same desire.
Store That Dazzles London; Chicago Owner and His Son
Sends Thanks To Chicago.
It amused an American to overhear their undisguised expressions of wonder and amazement over Ihe splendors of the perfections of Selfridge’s new store,
Mr. Selfridge said to the Examiner correspondent this evening:
- I think we have bad a successful opening. Please tell my former fellow merchants in the United States of America and especially, those in Chicago, how pleased I have been to get their congratulatory telegrams. I hope to show London what the genuinely modern store ought to be. I am here in ihe center cf a population of twelve millions of people and am sure there is room and business enough for us all. I intend to do business strictly on English lines. I am not trying to Americanlze the trade here.
There is only one picture in Selfridge’s office; that is a big portrait of Marshall Field.
The advertisements in the London dailies this morning carried full pages and were illustrated by the best artists in England, who signed their drawings eluding Bernard, Partridge. Linley and Sambourne, chief of the artists on the Punch staff.
The opening of Selfridges department store in London on 15 March 1909.
Dignity Marks His Publicity.
The chief point in Selfridge’s advertising is the dignity and moderation of his statement. Selfridge’s basiness maxims, reiterated in every advertisement are dignity, courtesy, energy, integrity, originality, quality, liberality and value. Here is a characteristic paragraph from his advertisement:
- Here the charm of newness is to be experienced to the fullest, for at Selfridge’s everything is new except the splendid old time-tried principles that must govern it—integrity, sincerity, liberality in dealing and courteous service.
Harrod’s store, Selfridge’s chiefest rival, discovered that it was entitled to a diamond jubilee aud advertised it heavily to-day in order to offset Selfridge’s opening. Loudon, however, packed Selfridge’s to the doors.
Mr. Selfridge, with his little son Harry, climbed to the top of the magnificent new building this morning and together they hoisted a flag into the whistling north wind. Simultaneously the curtains rose from the vast ground-floor windows the doors swung open and the people began streaming into the store nnd exploring the attractions of the up-to-date example of multiple merchandising as practiced in Chicago. The finest part of the show in Mr. Selfridge’s opinion, was the floral piece from ten or a dozen of the first merchants of State street.
Mr. Selfridge has made a great hit with his employes. Ihey say that he is the kindest man they ever have seen, and that unlike London merchants, be pays for all overtime. The paintings in the windows which are attracting great crowds. were done by Mrs. Lois Dunning of Chicago.
Chicago Examiner, January 29, 1911
Selfridge Educates Girl in U. S.
Wants Daughter an American
Former Chicago Merchant on Flying Visit Here From London; Returns To-Day.
“I want my girl to be brought,up as a daughter of the United States.” This was the, statement of Harry G. Selfridge, for the last few years a prominent London merchant, but who won his spurs and reputation as a Chicago dry goods merchant and one of the managers of Marshall Field & Co.
“I came to America on this visit to meet my daughter. Rosalie.” he said, “and I felt that I could only spare twelve days to do so. Nevertheless, I would not think of coming to America without dropping in on Chicago and greeting my many friends here. We intend to leave for New York again on Sunday. I will board the steamer Mauretania on Monday and Rosalie will return to school in New York.
Wants Girl Educated in U.S.
“I want my daughter to be educated in America and learn the American customs, because I want her to feel that she is an American girl. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs. Selfridge came over here in the Summer to open up our residence at Lake Geneva. I want to do so and if our plans work out we will do so.
“Business men m London don’t seem to realize the value of newspaper advertising and they confine themselves mostly to catalogues. Billboards are very scarce, but those that do exist are very artistic.
“London women have just as acute a sense for bargains as the Chicago women have and there is no reason for onr Chicago women trying to claim any advantage in this regard.
“I didn’t know I was smashing any records by my flying trip here. I was doing it merely because the time I could spare made me hurry. But what is hurry to a Chicago man; he is used to it, and it seems a part of his nature.”
Says She Loves America.
“I love the United States.” said Miss Selfridge, “and I agreed with father and mother that I should go to school In America. I do not want to get away from my old friends.”
Mr. Selfridge passed the entire afternoon m visiting with friends and business acquaintances, and was dined at the Blackstone during the afternoon by State street merchants.
He and his daughter are the guests of Mrs. Frank R. Chandler, 744 Rush street. Buckingham Chandler, a nephew, met the visitors at the train and took them to the Chandler home in an automobile.
Chicago Tribune, June 27, 1920
Chicago still plays an important part in the development of London’s first Yankee department store opened by Harry G. Selfridge of Chicago in 1909. Ernest R. Graham of the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White of this city, who designed the original five story Selfridge store in Oxford street, has left for London to supervise the big addition now being built adjoining, the present store on the west.
Although Selfridge’s store at present makes no pretense of competing with Harrods’ or Whiteley’s in point of number of departments or size, when completed, the new addition will place it pretty well near the front in the list of big stores of the world.
Longer Than Field’s.
For instance, it will cover the entire block bounded by Oxford, Duke, Orchard, and Somerset streets. Its Oxford street frontage will be 504 feet. Field’s store has a frontage of only 384 feet on State street. The English block, of course, isn’t as deep as the Chicago one, and Selfridge’s store will be only six stories high; one story more is to be added to the original structure.
But will have a feature which will make it stand out In smoky old London, a city of medium height buildings. The London authorities, after long, weary months of negotiation, have granted a permit for a 350 foot tower. This will rise from the center of the Oxford street frontage, and will be visible from all parts of London.
Beauty First.
Mr. Selfridge told us he wanted the most beautiful tower money could buy.” said Architect Peirce Anderson. “At the base of the tower will be magnifcent arches, with a sort of hall of fame in the top part, where statues of the great merchants of the world will be grouped. Mr. Selfridge believes the calling of a ‘tradesman,’ looked down upon in England, is a noble one, and his philosophy regard. ing his vocation and the relation of commerce to beauty is being exemplified in his store. He is trying to make it as beautiful and fine as we possibly can.
“We warned him that his tower base was extravagant and would use up valuable selling space, but he said he wanted it just as he had dreamed of it—as beautiful as money could make it.”
WIll Spend Millions.
Several millions of dollars will be spent before the store is complete and about two years’ time taken. The foundations alone are costing around $650,000.
Another London prejudice at last has been overcome—the belief that large spaces in department stores are dangerous. The new part of Selfridge’s will have bigger salesrooms instead of the chopped up, medium sized spaces for selling now common in England.
Mr. Selfridge’s idea has been to put the London department store on higher level of merchandising than it was when he first entered the British field. London already had department stores more complete so far as variety of departments was concerned than anything in Chicago or New York. But London didn’t have a department store that lined up with Mr. Selfridge’s ideals.
Trained in Chicago.
In Marshall Field’s Mr. Selfridge got his training as a great merchant. He worked his way up to a partnership. Then when Schlesinger & Mayer went out of business he bought their complete stock. His venture wasn’t a roaring success, however, and he sold out to Carson,. Pirie, Scott & Co., who moved over from State and Washington, and a little later Mr. Selfridge invaded London, where after a stiff fight he won success and overcame most of the prejudice which faced him when he opened his Oxford street store.
- Proposed Selfridge Tower. Never built.
LEFT: Design by Sir John Burnet & Partners
RIGHT: Design by Philip Tilden
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