John Wanamaker
John Wanamaker ( born July 11, 1838 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, † December 12, 1922 ) was an American businessman. He is considered the father of modern advertising. From 1889 to 1893 he was the 35th Postmaster General of the United States.
Early years
John Wanamaker attended until 1852, the Landreth Public School in Philadelphia. Soon after, he moved with his family to Indiana, but in 1856 they returned to Philadelphia, and he was hired at a clothing store. The young Wanamaker was very ambitious and soon he moved in the same industry in higher-paying positions. His goal was to become a wealthy merchant. Wanamaker also joined the Young People 's Christian Association ( YMCA ) (English Young Men's Christian Association, YMCA ) and was active as its secretary. For the rest of his life he should remain connected this organization. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he wanted to join the army, but was rejected for health reasons. Instead, he founded The Christian Commission, which took care of wounded soldiers from both sides.
Business promotion
Besides these activities, Wanamaker opened on 8 April 1861 still own small clothing shop in Philadelphia. The business initially tended to develop more slowly but within a few years it was the largest business of its kind in the United States. Wanamaker introduced new advertising methods and offered for the first time at the facility for the return of goods at the same time price refund. In 1875, he expanded his business to another retail outlet. He offered to more and more articles of clothing and then other household items. He divided his shops in different departments ( departments). This then was the term " Department Store ". Soon Wanamaker was one of the leading merchants in the U.S. if not the world. Through the years, he expanded his business on more and more cities. In 1896 he opened his first shop in New York City.
When the Search Mont Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer from Philadelphia, 1903 ran into financial Schwierigkeitern, John Wanamaker introduced the whole new car stock of around 100 copies. With a list price between U.S. $ 2000 and in 2250 he paid only per U.S. $ 750 and sold them in his offices in Philadelphia and New York City easily for U.S. $ 1200 -. One of these cars bought Charles Yale Knight and later supplied him with the first of his slider engines of their own design. These two department stores led to the beginning of the 20th century automotive representatives for Studebaker, Cadillac and the French De Dion -Bouton.
Soon he also dared to move to Europe, where he also opened shops in London and Paris. Wanamaker owed his rise on the one hand his ambition and energy, as well as its advertising concept. His employees at that time already enjoyed benefits such as health care, pension and profit sharing long before the general practice should be.
In 1909, John Wanamaker purchased an organ, which had been built for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. He left this organ in the Grand Court of his new business set up in Philadelphia, where it was expanded several times and is now regarded as the biggest organ in the whole world. The organ is called the Wanamaker organ, see organ of Wanamaker Department Store ( Philadelphia ). In his own house he had installed a Welte -Philharmonie organ.
Postmaster General of the United States
In 1889, Wanamaker was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison as the new Postmaster General of the United States. In this capacity, he set in 1890 by a law that prohibited the postal service of lottery tickets. This marked the practical end for the time often corrupt state lotteries. Some of his decisions were, however, controversial. So about 30,000 postal workers were laid off in his four-year term of office and replaced by partisan ( spoils system ). The close cooperation between the Ministry of Post and the Wanamaker business empire was not without controversy.
Further CV
After his time as Postmaster General, he continued his business career. At his death his fortune was estimated at $ 100 million, for the time, this was an enormous sum. This property was divided among the three surviving children. In 1912 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. At that time he was a candidate for the vice-presidency under discussion. Wanamaker also supported churches, social service agencies and schools.