Creating an American Institution: The Merchandising Genius of J C Penney
Factory sealed paperback edition.countless courtesies that today's consumers expect from a retail store - such as standardizd pricing, high-quality merchandise, and friendly customer service - were not widely practiced in 1900. That they are today testifies to the merchandising genius of James Cash Penny.Founder of the company that bears his name, Penney anchored his retail operations in the ethics of the Golden Rule. The practices that grew from that commitment fueled one of the terrific success stories in American business and revolutionized retailing.Mary Elizabeth Curry tells the story behind the man, his beliefs, and his business acumen. Beginning with Penney's childhood in frontier Missouri, she recounts the founding of his company, the evolution of its partnership plan, its explosive growth in the 1920s, and its establishment as an American institution. Woven into the narrative are accounts of Penney's family life, his experiments in social reform, the loss of his fortune in the Gr