Minding the Store [Hardcover]

Stanley Marcus (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A treasure chest of sheer pleasure." -- Publishers Weekly

"An opulent story that only an insider could tell!" -- New York Times

"Fascinating....A success story that has become the stuff of legend!" -- Cincinnati Post

"One of the success stories of our time...sparkling and enthralling!" -- Christian Science Monitor

"The delightful story of a man and a store!" -- Atlanta Constitution

From the Publisher

"There is never a good sale for Neiman Marcus unless it's a good buy for the customer... was one of the first declarations of business philosophy I heard my father, Herbert Marcus, make soon after I came to work at Neiman Marcus in 1926. It was reiterated so many times that it became established as an article of faith in my mind....This was his way of practicing the Golden Rule, and now, almost seventy years since the founding of Neiman Marcus, the same policy prevails."

Thus began the 1974 edition of Minding the Store and thus begins this 1997 facsimile edition, published in celebration of the 90th Anniversary of Neiman Marcus.

Mr.Marcus has spent most of his life not only helping to create a retailing enterprise renowned throughout the world as the epitome of quality, but also in setting high standards for the level of taste of all who desire "the better things in life" and in doing so has played a key role in making Dallas itself a success. "Mr.Stanley," as he is affectionately called by all his Neiman Marcus friends and associates, has made Neiman Marcus a legendary success.

Although he retired from active involvement in Neiman Marcus in 1977, the influences of the philosophies of business he developed remain an important part of the training of Neiman Marcus personnel. Those basic principles-best exemplified by his belief in his father's business philosophy-are the reasons Neiman Marcus is today recognized as the taste leader of American retailing.

Minding the Store is a warm portrait of a man and an exuberant celebration of the store that has become the best-known landmark in Texas since the Alamo.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 383 pages
• Publisher: University of North Texas Press (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574410393
• ISBN-13: 978-1574410396
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic on fine art of specialty retailing, May 21, 2000

By 

E. Cancelada "ESC" (Portsmouth, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Minding the Store (Hardcover)

I've read two books by S. Marcus - "Quest for the Best" and "Minding the Store". Both are fascinating.
Without any doubt, Stanley Marcus is the most talented American retailer of the 20th century. You will find out from this lively narrative what made him the best - impeccable taste, discriminate merchandising, extensive knowledge of manufacturing, business vision, professional honesty and breadth of intellectual interests. If you aspire to be a specialty retailer, drop 99% of the books about selling, they will not show you a worthy real-life example of how to run a store that customers can not resist to visit. Marcus does not hold back any secrets how he did it.
Read, laugh and get inspired.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book ALL retail sales employees should read., August 16, 1998

By 

Herb Harmison (Ames, Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Minding the Store (Hardcover)

A friendly and enjoyable tale of success in the retail business and how success was accomplished. Stanley Marcus recounts the growth of his family business and the stories of customer demands and customer service that created a hugely profitable and customer orientated retail empire.

While customer service is the primary focus of the book, creating innovative and exclusive items for the very wealthy provides a glimpse into how the rich find ways to dispose of their money. Marcus was a master of imaginative packages.

I bought 4 copies of the original edition and gave them away to people in sales. There is no better book for a young, or old, sales person to read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating!, February 20, 2005

By 

Rebecca Henderson (Johnson City, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Minding the Store (Hardcover)

This book, like "Quest for the Best" is an absolutely fascinating look into the world of high-end retailing. It should be in every business student's library.