John Wanamaker operated as a transformative merchant and politician in the United States, shaping modern consumer practices from his base in Philadelphia. Born in 1838, he redefined the retail landscape by introducing fixed pricing and money-back guarantees, ultimately serving as the United States Postmaster General from 1889 to 1893 before his death in 1922.
Foundations of Retail
Wanamaker began his commercial career in 1861 by partnering with Nathan Brown to open the Oak Hall store at 6th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. He later established the Grand Depot in a converted railroad station. By 1875, he had successfully implemented a one-price policy and a return policy for goods, strategies that became foundational to his department store model. In 1896, he expanded his operations to New York City and established import houses in Paris and London.
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Take the IQ test →The Wanamaker Building and Grand Court
Designed by Daniel H. Burnham, the Wanamaker Building replaced the Grand Depot and was completed in 1910. This 12-story granite structure featured a seven-story central atrium known as the Grand Court. The space became a focal point for public life, housing the Wanamaker Eagle, a 2,500-pound bronze sculpture by August Gaul, and the massive Wanamaker Grand Court Organ. The organ, originally built for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, contained 10,059 pipes at its installation and eventually expanded to include 28,750 pipes.
Political and Advertising Influence
As the United States Postmaster General under President Benjamin Harrison, Wanamaker introduced commemorative stamps and proposed free rural delivery. He successfully lobbied for legislation to prohibit the mailing of lottery tickets, an action that restricted state lotteries until the 1960s. In his retail business, he was an early adopter of large-scale advertising, becoming the first merchant to utilize full-page newspaper advertisements. Despite his success, he maintained a rigid stance against labor unionization, famously dismissing employees who joined the Knights of Labor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1838, Philadelphia
- Died: 1922, Philadelphia
- United States Postmaster General: 1889-1893
- First store: Oak Hall, 1861
- The Wanamaker Building architect: Daniel H. Burnham
- Wanamaker Organ installation completed: 1911
- Burial site: St. James-the-Less Episcopal Churchyard
Questions readers ask
Did John Wanamaker invent the price tag?
He did not invent the fixed-price system, but he is credited with creating the price tag and popularizing it as an industry standard.
What was the significance of the Wanamaker Eagle?
The 2,500-pound bronze sculpture by August Gaul became a popular meeting place in the Grand Court, leading to the phrase 'Meet me at the Eagle'.
