John Wanamaker: Marketer, Post Master, Mason

John Wanamaker

Citizen

1838 — 1922

Your Business Blogger is in the City of Brotherly Love for a trade show and clients. And for a business Hajj; traveling to the statue of John Wanamaker, patron saint of modern marketing.

And who was most concerned about the return on the investment of his marketing budget:

Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don’t know which half.

Wanamaker opened his first store in Philadelphia in 1861 with the revolutionary guarantee, “One price and goods returnable.”

Saint John is credited with opening the first department store — John Wanamaker & Co. also known as “The Grand Depot.”

US President Benjamin Harrison must have seen the cross over applications of Wanamaker’s marketing genius to the, the …Post Office.

(This is America!)

Wanamaker is acknowledged with producing the first commemorative stamp. Where Marketing meets government.

He also was a Presbyterian who founded the Bethany Sunday School, and was Worshipful Master of his Masonic Lodge.

###

Was this helpful? Do comment.

Consider a free eMail subscription for this site.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Also see Benjamin Franklin’s business model combining the Post Office and blogging newspapers.