New-York tribune., 1922-12-13
.Inhn Wananaker

John W anamahci was o"~
great merchants Of America, IN aim
ard characteristics, continuing the
line and maintaining the traditions
Of merchant princes" the world
over. He was not born to the count
ING room. But he had the mercan-
tile spirit and struggled up from the
smallest beginnings not only with an
indomitable will 10 success but also
as he has said, with the purpose TO
help save the mercantile profession
from lowering It's flag before other
professions and other occupations"
He had ideas Of his own which he
intended 10 introduce into store man
agement when the opportunity came.
His first innovation was 70 establish
hard and fast prices. zone price
for all" was his motto. He also de-
cided 20 mark goods honestly-to sell
seconds for seconds. Furthermore.
he was willing 20 cancel sales and to
take back goods which did not satisfy
the purchaser. On these enlightened
modern lines he built up business
which commanded the respect Of all
his customers and served as a model
for the big retail stores which were
70 come in everywhere a generation
later.
Mr.. Wanamaker was fertile in ex-
pedients to attract people TO his es-
tablishment. He welcomed them as
guests. gave them concerts and other
free entertainments. opened up a
restaurant and provided other facili-
ties highly appreciated by suburban
and other out-of-town shoppers. He
took the lead in associating en-
ployees in the benefits Of the busi-
ness. He opened a store savings
bank, a building association, an in
suranee company and a library. he
gave employees who wanted it free
after-hours instruction.
On the physical side Of merehan-
dising he also grasped eagerly at i'm
provements. He was the first to put
electric lighting into his store, to
install telephones, TO use a cash reg
lister and 10 distribute change from
a central cash desk. he started ad-
vertising his goods in the news
papers on an unheard-of scale. He
looked ahead and had courage when
it came TO making any business in
novation. Age did not quench his
receptivity. Only a few years ago
he startled everybody by offering his
stock at a 20 per cent reduction, in
order TO break down the high war
prices which caused the so-ealled
buyers strike. No other merchant
in our time, perhaps, did as much as
he to lift merchandising to a higher
level or to evolve the institutional
present-day "big store"
Though his heart was first Of all
in his business, Mr.. Wanamaker
found other outlets for his energy
and sense Of public service. He was
an active church worker and a noted
Sunday school teacher. He also did
his part as a citizen, spending much
time and money to fight evil condi-
tions in Pennsylvania politics. He
was Postmaster General in President
Harrison's Cabinet, but chafed there
at the many restraints put upon his
organizing ability. He aided in
Vulnerable good causes and himself
gave always an example Of optimism,
sympathy and neighborly consider
alton.
Big retail business to-day is vastly
different in its conduct from what It
was sixty years ago. Mr.. Wana-
maker contributed enormously TO the
change and as a business man
changed with it. But his personality
did not change. And 1t was to this
marked and imaginative personality
that he owed his long continued busi-
ness success and his claim TO reeog-
milton as an outstanding American.