|
|
Article: The great fashion merchants. (merchants that dominated US footwear history)(FN: The First 50 Years)
- Article from:
- Footwear News
- Article date:
- April 17, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Conde Nast Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
There was a time when most better-grade shoes were sold in leased shoe departments or through independent merchants - not department stores. When there was only one Neiman Marcus and only one Lord & Taylor. Distribution was very exclusive. Few stores looked alike. And many were truly shoe salons, fireplace and all.
This was shoe retailing in the 1940s, 1960s and 1960s - unarguably the heyday of the U.S. footwear business. Everyone - retailers and wholesalers alike - helped each other. Buyers, not merchandise managers, wielded all the clout. And they never bought a line exactly as they saw it. In fact, influential buyers held court in the market and exceptional buyers ...