The shopping experience: Department stores & Retail

Question 1

By definition, was the department store revolutionary in the late-19th century?

Answer 1

No. Department store was created and evolutionised in late 19th century, but not revolutionary –> Stores before had qualities of department stores

Question 2

What did department stores sell? Give 1 example

Answer 2

Sold dreams

E.g., Selfridge’s plane display in 1909 of first plane to fly across the English Channel

Question 3

What did the department store make shopping?

Answer 3

Made it a public act of consumption

Question 4

Who opened the first refreshment store and when?

Answer 4

Whitley

1872

Question 5

How did men describe the department store?

Answer 5

“Halls of temptation”

Question 6

How did department stores help women?

Answer 6

• Let women transgress and redefine public and private spheres
• Gave women jobs
• Selfridge supported Suffrage Movement

Question 7

How did department stores cause trouble for women?

Answer 7

• Presented them as crazy or kleptomaniacs
• Middle-class women developed “anxious consumerism”