Department stores were very popular during the Guilded age. They first started opening in 1840. G Fox, Gimbels, and Joseph Horne in Pittsburgh were some of the very first ones. Real true department stores did not start opening until 1878. Some of them included Wanamakers in Philidelphia, Macy's in New York, and Jordan Marsh in Boston. Another popular departmant store was Marshall Field's, or Marshal Field and Company. Marshall Fields,which became Macy's in 2005, first started out as a dry goods store. It eventually developed into a department store.
Why were department stores so popular? Well department stores changed shopping to be a glamorous and luxurious activity. How they did this is by making the stores attractive by the people. They were so elegantly designed and decorated. There was always beautiful architect such as atriums and domes. In Marshall Field's there is a gorgeous Tiffany Dome ceiling. There is also always many floors.
Department stores also attracted people because they were getting various items and bringing them into one store. The people loved this because this meant that they would only have to go to one place to get just about everything they need.
For women they made it to where it was like a social event. There would be tea rooms, restaurants and lounges all in the department store. Everyone wanted to go to department stores because the atmosphere was just awesome.
Even though department stores were very popular, it also had some negatives. This was especially true during the economic depression of 1890. Some of the criticism came from small businesses they felt threatened by big department store. Department stores made a lot of money because they were able to sell products at lower prices than those in small private shops. They were also criticized for deceptive advertisement and selling shoddy goods. Shoddy goods are fabric that is poorly made. Department stores were also a big temptation for shoplifting. Another negative is that women clerks did not get paid very well, this led them to going into prostitution for more money.
Although there were quite a few negatives about Department Stores, the positives definitely out weighed them. Department stores introduced a whole new definition to shopping.
