Tradition and Innovation in English Retailing 1700 To 1850
Subtitle: Narratives of Consumption
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 240
ISBN-13: 9781409443209
Subjects: Retail trade, great britain; Merchants; Stores, retail
Description: Three decades of research into retailing in England from the 17th to 19th centuries has established a seemingly clear narrative: fixed shops were widespread from an early date; 'modern' methods of retailing were common from at least the early eighteenth century; shopping was a skilled activity throughout the period; and consumers were increasingly part of a polite and fashionable culture. All of this is true, but is it the only narrative? This book presents a reassessment of the standard view by challenging the usefulness of concepts like 'traditional' and 'modern', examining consumption and retailing as inextricably linked aspects of a single process, and by using the idea of narrative to discuss the roles and perceptions of the various actors in this process.