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Story
November 30, 1936
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Overview of chain store history, debunking the idea they are modern by citing ancient examples: Chinese merchant in 200 B.C., Mitsui drug chain in Japan from 1653, English Merchant Adventurers in Elizabeth's era, and Hudson's Bay Company pre-American Revolution.
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Full Text
The History Of Chain Stores
It is commonly believed that chain stores [are] something relatively new in the world. But be that as it may, their wide-spread
development in America is of recent date. But chains show that the
chain idea is older than that.
The earliest chain store in record was established by a
Chinese merchant in 200 B.C. It included a large number
of retail outlets through what was then the greatest empire in the
world.
In Japan, a drug chain started by the Mitsui group in 1653 is
still in business.
The English company of Augsburg, German, the Merchant W.
Adventurers chartered by England in Elizabeth's time, and their
group operated what were chains in principle if not in name.
They owned a number of retail outlets, and bought and sold
under central control and management in the interest of efficiency
and economy.
In America, a chain system was in operation before the
United States existed-that is, before the Revolution. Everyone
has heard of that system, and it is still in business. It is the Hud-
son's Bay Company, a chain pure and simple.
The list could be greatly extended, but these examples will
serve to show that the chain idea, far from being new, is almost
as old as recorded history. It was conceived by men who saw
what it could do in bringing goods to new territories, and in serving
the consumer to the fullest possible extent. The chain idea as it
exists now is precisely the same as it was centuries ago, and his-
tory proves its soundness.
It is commonly believed that chain stores [are] something relatively new in the world. But be that as it may, their wide-spread
development in America is of recent date. But chains show that the
chain idea is older than that.
The earliest chain store in record was established by a
Chinese merchant in 200 B.C. It included a large number
of retail outlets through what was then the greatest empire in the
world.
In Japan, a drug chain started by the Mitsui group in 1653 is
still in business.
The English company of Augsburg, German, the Merchant W.
Adventurers chartered by England in Elizabeth's time, and their
group operated what were chains in principle if not in name.
They owned a number of retail outlets, and bought and sold
under central control and management in the interest of efficiency
and economy.
In America, a chain system was in operation before the
United States existed-that is, before the Revolution. Everyone
has heard of that system, and it is still in business. It is the Hud-
son's Bay Company, a chain pure and simple.
The list could be greatly extended, but these examples will
serve to show that the chain idea, far from being new, is almost
as old as recorded history. It was conceived by men who saw
what it could do in bringing goods to new territories, and in serving
the consumer to the fullest possible extent. The chain idea as it
exists now is precisely the same as it was centuries ago, and his-
tory proves its soundness.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Exploration
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Chain Stores
History
Ancient China
Mitsui Japan
Merchant Adventurers
Hudsons Bay Company
Business Efficiency
Story Details
Story Details
Chain stores originated long ago with a Chinese merchant's network in 200 B.C., Mitsui's Japanese drug chain from 1653, English Merchant Adventurers under Elizabeth, and Hudson's Bay Company before the American Revolution, demonstrating enduring efficiency in distribution and consumer service.