Harry Gordon Selfridge
Notes and thoughts after watching a PBS special about Harry Selfridge
Harry Selfridge lived from 1858 to 1947. He started the first real department store in London.
Although he had such a lucrative business he died penniless after the influence of a woman in his life depleted all his resources—to the tune often of £1,200 a night = $6,500 today gambling!
Harrod’s (another store) made uniforms for the Britts in WWI, Selfridge made underwear for the French Soldiers—a lucrative business!
Selfridge’s son was never able to let his father know he had married a commoner from the Toy division of the store. He was fearful of his Dad’s reaction. He went on to father 4 children and had a happy life. He stayed married and stayed away from his Dad.
In the end the Board of Trustees defrocked Selfridge as he was losing thru his gambling and letting the store pay the tab. If his girl won, she kept the money. If she lost, he paid the tab with the store’s profits. On the stock exchange this caused alarm for investors and he was demoted and eventually asked not to enter the store he had built!
He would count pennies in order to board the bus to and from Putnam to just stand outside the huge store that bore his name—only to weep and reminisce. Once he was arrested for vagrancy as a ‘bum” on one such trip—his clothes nearly threadbare.
He died in 1947 and was put in a common poor man’s grave.
His one surviving granddaughter was very magnanimous and gracious to his memory and proud to be of his ancestry though she never met or knew him and was unknown to him!
Selfridge introduced the phrase, “The customer is always right.”
My thoughts: This is a good lesson on greed. Boss fixes the blame, Leader fixes the problem. Boss says I, Leader says We.
“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye and considereth not that poverty shall overtake him.” “Labour not to be rich and cease from thine own wisdom.” “Vanity of vanities, all is Vanity.” “Behold how the mighty hath fallen.” His own lust became his counselor to his destruction! Ecclesiastes chapter 2 et al.
Lord may we not be derailed as this man was by a woman and money. Proverbs 30. Give me neither poverty or riches, feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be hungry and steal and take the name of my God in vain—lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord?” Amen
Stephen (October 2015)
Harry Selfridge lived from 1858 to 1947. He started the first real department store in London.
Although he had such a lucrative business he died penniless after the influence of a woman in his life depleted all his resources—to the tune often of £1,200 a night = $6,500 today gambling!
Harrod’s (another store) made uniforms for the Britts in WWI, Selfridge made underwear for the French Soldiers—a lucrative business!
Selfridge’s son was never able to let his father know he had married a commoner from the Toy division of the store. He was fearful of his Dad’s reaction. He went on to father 4 children and had a happy life. He stayed married and stayed away from his Dad.
In the end the Board of Trustees defrocked Selfridge as he was losing thru his gambling and letting the store pay the tab. If his girl won, she kept the money. If she lost, he paid the tab with the store’s profits. On the stock exchange this caused alarm for investors and he was demoted and eventually asked not to enter the store he had built!
He would count pennies in order to board the bus to and from Putnam to just stand outside the huge store that bore his name—only to weep and reminisce. Once he was arrested for vagrancy as a ‘bum” on one such trip—his clothes nearly threadbare.
He died in 1947 and was put in a common poor man’s grave.
His one surviving granddaughter was very magnanimous and gracious to his memory and proud to be of his ancestry though she never met or knew him and was unknown to him!
Selfridge introduced the phrase, “The customer is always right.”
My thoughts: This is a good lesson on greed. Boss fixes the blame, Leader fixes the problem. Boss says I, Leader says We.
“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye and considereth not that poverty shall overtake him.” “Labour not to be rich and cease from thine own wisdom.” “Vanity of vanities, all is Vanity.” “Behold how the mighty hath fallen.” His own lust became his counselor to his destruction! Ecclesiastes chapter 2 et al.
Lord may we not be derailed as this man was by a woman and money. Proverbs 30. Give me neither poverty or riches, feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be hungry and steal and take the name of my God in vain—lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord?” Amen
Stephen (October 2015)