Wanamaker, John

Born in Philadelphia on July 11, 1838, John Wanamaker created the first department store and later became famous as a merchant for his upscale clothing stores and department stores on the East Coast. He first opened his small men's store in his home town of Philadelphia in 1861, but was one of America's largest merchants by the early 1900s. His innovative sales and marketing strategies attracted customers like a magnet and set his business apart as the hub of center city Philadelphia. With a philosophy that extended beyond merely running a business for personal profit, Wanamaker viewed his bus...