The Real Mr Selfridge

Ian Porter came to our June meeting to present a fascinating talk about The real Mr Selfridge. It was amazing to think that his store had such an influence on the concept of the department store, sadly a fading model today. Arriving from Chicago in 1906, the young store manager decided to start his own shop. He bought land on Oxford Street, (wider than Bond Street and cheaper than Regent Street) and spent £40 million of borrowed money to build the state of the art building. Opening in 1909 with only Harrods being a bigger store than Selfridge’s, 90,000 visitors came on the first day. It was such a magnificent experience that people came to see but not shop. Ian told us about the staff at the store, 5000 in all, who earned good money with bonuses and how the female staff wore trousers because it meant they could move quicker! We also heard about crowd pleasing ideas, Bleriot’s plane installed at the store, a food hall where you could see the goods and have them delivered the same day, illuminated ,dressed windows (the biggest in the world), suffragette coloured clothing and contributions to the war effort. Alongside all of this Mr Selfridge lived a high life, spending money on rented houses, racehorses and women. All came crashing around him when the Wall Street Crash meant his original loan was called in and he couldn’t pay it. He was removed from the business which carried on without him as Selfridge and Co.

Caroline and Mio served delicious refreshments and the raffle and flower of the month rounded off an interesting evening.