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Article: Radice The Radical.(Vittorio Radice, CEO of Selfridges, discusses department stores as cathedrals of consumption, including historical and demographics data )(Industry Overview)
- Article from:
- WWD
- Article date:
- November 18, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 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)
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Byline: Jean E. Palmieri For Vittorio Radice, the department store is a religious experience, one that is all about a special place filled with special brands. The chief executive of London-based Selfridges mesmerized the crowd at the CEO Summit with his take on the viability of these "cathedrals of consumption."
Ever since retail commerce sprung up in the 11th century, stores have "played a very important role in society and modern culture," he said, whether it be Isfahan in Persia or Red Square in Moscow. The modern department store had its beginnings in the mid-1800s in Paris when Le Bon Marche opened its doors.
"That started the era of mass ...