Creating American Institution (Studies in Entrepreneurship) [Paperback]

Mary Elizabeth Curry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0815309910 | ISBN-13: 978-0815309918 | Edition: 1

Many courtesies that today's consumers expect from a retail store - such as standardizd pricing, high-quality merchandise, and friendly customer service - were not widely practiced in 1900. That they are today testifies to the merchandising genius of James Cash Penny.

Founder of the company that bears his name, Penney anchored his retail operations in the ethics of the Golden Rule. The practices that grew from that commitment fueled one of the great success stories in American business and revolutionized retailing.

Mary Elizabeth Curry tells the story behind the man, his beliefs, and his business acumen. Beginning with Penney's childhood in frontier Missouri, she recounts the founding of his company, the evolution of its partnership plan, its explosive growth in the 1920s, and its establishment as an American institution. Woven into the narrative are accounts of Penney's family life, his experiments in social reform, the loss of his fortune in the Great Depression, and his amazing recovery to become a revered figure in Fortune's Business Hall of Fame.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mary Elizabeth Curry has written a comprehensive and scholarly treatment on the life and accomplishments of J.C. Penney." --Mary L. Carsky, Business History Review, published by Harvard Business School, Summer 1994

About the Author

Mary Elizabeth Curry, Ph.D., spent five years researching this book. She traveled across the country to interview retired store managers and others who knew Penny personally. She also had access to his personal papers in the archives of the J.C.Penney Company headquarters. Dr. Curry, who has worked for the Smithsonian Institution and the J.C.Penney Company, currently works as an investigator and business historian in Washington, D.C.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Garland Publishing, Inc. New York and London; 1 edition (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815309910
• ISBN-13: 978-0815309918
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,008,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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