The department store was a product of the 19th century and became a very important institution as America went into the 20th century. It provided show places in developing towns like Terre Haute, Sacramento, and Dallas. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
What we learned was that the collective glamour of a specialty store could sell a lot of merchandise. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
I took to heart the instructions my father drilled into my head. Respect the customer. Pay attention to her. Take her package to her car. You broke your neck to get what she wanted because you never knew when the next customer would come along. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
I’m lucky that I was in retailing during the time that I call the golden age of retailing. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
I thought it was unfair to ask school kids to integrate first. The parents should lead the way, not send out the children as advance troops. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
I saw an ad for an expensive car and got so excited about it, I called the dealer. ‘How are those new cars?’ I asked. ‘They’re fine,’ he said. I thought he’d offer to let me drive it for a weekend. He didn’t. I expected a salesman to call. No one did. I didn’t buy the car. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
I suspect that most retailers are so busy buying goods, taking care of markdowns, and so on that they have too little time to give thought to creativity. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
As goods become more standardized – and mass production has that effect, standardizing product – the distinguishing factor between one store and another is going to be how skillful stores are in satisfying customers and making it a pleasant experience instead of a hostile experience. Stanley Marcus Read Quote
