lawandorder
Member
Folks in the country a long time ago were very self sufficient. Staples & needs that they could not make, bake, grow, raise or build were found at country stores or in small towns or had to be ordered by those retail outlets.
Then came Mail order by consumers. Sears, Montgomery Wards and many other companies printed tons of catalogs. Creating accesss to among other things, whole houses, firearms,clothing hardware, household goods , appliances and on and on. With the added the bonus of having free out house material when the next year's addition of the catalog arrived.
Then as towns grew more stores sprang up including stores that specialized. Downtowns became bustling retail districts. Cars came along and runs to towns got easier and faster. As America grew financial times saw both good and bad. Also as the need for things grew families financial income grew also. Suddenly both adults in a family were working often 8 to 5 all week and often on Saturdays. Store hours were the same making it hard for working folks to shop.
A fellow who was born in Oklahoma and lived in Arkansas saw this shopping problem and created an answer. Sam saw the need to have stores, that carried most everything you need, and was open when working folks could get to the stores.
Downtowns began to decline. A new thing called shopping malls started to catch on and did well until many became shooting galleries and youth hangouts.
Then the internet was invented by AlGore and Mail order shopping came back.
Whats next on the American shopping history time line?
Then came Mail order by consumers. Sears, Montgomery Wards and many other companies printed tons of catalogs. Creating accesss to among other things, whole houses, firearms,clothing hardware, household goods , appliances and on and on. With the added the bonus of having free out house material when the next year's addition of the catalog arrived.
Then as towns grew more stores sprang up including stores that specialized. Downtowns became bustling retail districts. Cars came along and runs to towns got easier and faster. As America grew financial times saw both good and bad. Also as the need for things grew families financial income grew also. Suddenly both adults in a family were working often 8 to 5 all week and often on Saturdays. Store hours were the same making it hard for working folks to shop.
A fellow who was born in Oklahoma and lived in Arkansas saw this shopping problem and created an answer. Sam saw the need to have stores, that carried most everything you need, and was open when working folks could get to the stores.
Downtowns began to decline. A new thing called shopping malls started to catch on and did well until many became shooting galleries and youth hangouts.
Then the internet was invented by AlGore and Mail order shopping came back.
Whats next on the American shopping history time line?
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