Le Bon Marché
.jpg) Fichier:Le Bon Marché à Paris (1875).jpg by wikimedia commons
At a time when the western landscape was dotted with specialty stores and stand alone shops, Le Bon Marché changed the rules by becoming the world’s very first department store. At its debut in 1938, it had four departments, selling ribbons, laces, buttons, and umbrellas, among other items. It was transformed in 1852 when Aristide Boucicaut drastically increased merchandise and advertising, and allowed customers to exchange items or get refunds. The tactic increased the store’s yearly revenue from 500,000 francs in 1852 to 5 million by 1860.
Improvement and growth continued, and by the time of Boucicaut’s death in 1877, his legacy was cemented. With the help of the Gustave Eiffel firm, the same that had created the Eiffel Tower, the floor space rose from its original 300 square feet in 1838 to a whopping 50,000 by 1877. The shopping center went from 12 employees to 1,788. Le Bon Marché has always been a seller of high-end goods, a tradition that is continued today with name brand products. |
Take Paris Home With These Great Amazon Products.      |
