Department Store and Harrods
HARRODS
Harrods is the biggest department stores in London which attracts people not only from London but also people from all over the world. The store occupies a five acre site and has over a million square feet of selling space in over 330 departments. The history of this luxurious department store started when Charles Henry Harrod (b1799) opened a whole sale grocery and tea seller shop in Cable Street, Stephaney, East London in 1834. This essay tells us about the development of Harrods over nearly 180 years and its continuing success in the retail trade.
Harrods founder Charles Henry Harrod (b.1799) first set up his shop in 1824, as a wholesale grocer and tea seller in cable street, Stephaney, East London. He then later on took over a small shop in the district of Knightsbridge, on the site of the current store; he employed two assistants and a messenger boy. In 1861 Charles Digby Harrod, son of Charles Henry Harrod bought the store from his father and expands the business into a thriving retail department store. The store starts to sell everything from medicines, perfumes, stationery, fruit and vegetables. By 1868 the turnover increased to £1000 weekly from £20 in 1853. in 1879 the delivery service to customers is also introduced as well as new products such as china and ironmongery. The expansion of the business acquired the adjoining buildings, which than also employed one hundred people by 1880.the working days are 6 days with the time set from 7am to 8pm. however, the stores booming fortunes are reversed as the store burns down to the ground catching fire . But this disaster did not keep Charles Henry Harrod down from rebuilding the store.
With the help of Charles Henry Harrod , the store was reopened. It fascinated many people with its great architecture. The swirling art nouvea windows with a baroque style dome gave the store an attraction which was unique. The store maintained its popularity and became more of a luxury department store. In 1885
Harrods is the biggest department stores in London which attracts people not only from London but also people from all over the world. The store occupies a five acre site and has over a million square feet of selling space in over 330 departments. The history of this luxurious department store started when Charles Henry Harrod (b1799) opened a whole sale grocery and tea seller shop in Cable Street, Stephaney, East London in 1834. This essay tells us about the development of Harrods over nearly 180 years and its continuing success in the retail trade.
Harrods founder Charles Henry Harrod (b.1799) first set up his shop in 1824, as a wholesale grocer and tea seller in cable street, Stephaney, East London. He then later on took over a small shop in the district of Knightsbridge, on the site of the current store; he employed two assistants and a messenger boy. In 1861 Charles Digby Harrod, son of Charles Henry Harrod bought the store from his father and expands the business into a thriving retail department store. The store starts to sell everything from medicines, perfumes, stationery, fruit and vegetables. By 1868 the turnover increased to £1000 weekly from £20 in 1853. in 1879 the delivery service to customers is also introduced as well as new products such as china and ironmongery. The expansion of the business acquired the adjoining buildings, which than also employed one hundred people by 1880.the working days are 6 days with the time set from 7am to 8pm. however, the stores booming fortunes are reversed as the store burns down to the ground catching fire . But this disaster did not keep Charles Henry Harrod down from rebuilding the store.
With the help of Charles Henry Harrod , the store was reopened. It fascinated many people with its great architecture. The swirling art nouvea windows with a baroque style dome gave the store an attraction which was unique. The store maintained its popularity and became more of a luxury department store. In 1885
Bibliography: www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/101005-harrods-report-profit-rise.aspx www.guardian.co.uk www.wikepedia.com