As an example of this philosophy, Penney initially called his stores the Golden Rule Stores, and made that rule part of company culture. Raised by a Baptist minister, Penney had a greater interest in the spirit than in the letter of religion. . This building was planned by Madam Walker but built by her daughter after her mother's death. The partners were wary, as other ambitious men had failed to make stores work in the town of nine hundred people. Later, the entrepreneurial young man sold watermelons outside the gates of the local fair. U.S.A. 1. "Penney, James Cash Have students work in groups of four or five to brainstorm ideas for a new business that would be successful in today's society. Working together is success." Henry Ford. Perhaps most importantly, there were several Golden Rule Stores around Colorado owned by various partners (including relatives), and they pooled their purchases on the semi-annual buying trips to Kansas City, St. Louis, and New York. When Sams arrived in town for a final interview, some locals told him Penney was an honest man but a hard man to work for. If a business can be built on the principles of the Golden Rule, and I firmly believe it can, we shall go forward and some day we shall add to this one unit another store and another store, and some day we might have as many as ten stores. The TB that had claimed his father's life was now threatening him. Although he made them work on Sundays, Penney treated his employees well and they were a large part of his success. In the partnership agreement, Jim Penney received a salary but also got one-third of the stores profits, if any. For medical reasons he moved to Colorado in 1897 and was soon hired by local dry-goods merchants Guy Johnson and T.M. In fact, his first store was called The Golden Rule. Recovering substantial wealthand buying more Penney stock in his old agehe never stopped writing, never stopped making speeches. Guided by the love of his new wife and the Golden Rule principle, the inspired young businessman began a journey that would take him to undreamed of success. The city also was home to a substantial African-American community, whose main thoroughfares were lined with cafes, offices, and other thriving businesses. Walker and James Cash Penney. Although Penney's father was a figure of some consequence in the community, he was constantly short of cash. It was there that she encountered prosperous, well-educated African Americans, and as a result, she began to consider how to improve her appearance. in 1913? With 12 children -- only half of whom survived to adulthood -- the family was often cash-strapped. Part of the building contained the Indianapolis branch of Lelia College as well as the Madam Walker Beauty Parlor. Water was drawn from a nearby well and hauled up to their rooms by bucket and rope. Surveys have found our nation's business schools at a loss to find an adequate philosophical basis on which to teach business ethics. For the next 17 years, Sarah supported herself and her daughter as a washerwoman. At fifteen, he started working Saturdays in a local store and took a liking to storekeeping. In 1874, Sarah was left an orphan, and she moved in with her sister Louvenia. wife and our children were estranged from me. Christian principles will not necessarily make you rich. In a way, Penney was conducting a grand experiment, testing his hypothesis that the Christian commitment to love others could be played out in one's entire life, including one's daily work. I had taken in $18,000. Minneapolis, MN: TS Dennison, 1963. the ethical means by which my business associates and i have made money is more important than the fact that we have achieved business success. J.C. Penney was born on a farm outside of Hamilton, Caldwell County, Missouri to James Cash Penney, Sr. and Mary Frances (ne Paxton) Penney. Standard B - The student shows through specific examples how science and technology have changed people's perceptions of the social and natural world, such as in their relationships to the land, animal life, family life, and economic needs, wants and security. The Library of Congress's American Memory Web page offers a collection of materials titled, Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy, 1921-1929. The materials listed below either can be used directly on the computer or can be printed out, photocopied, and distributed to students. (February 23, 2023). Penney also directed his stores to be closed on Sunday so employees could attend church. September 16, 1875 - February 12, 1971. He readily accepted. The strength of each member is the team." Phil Jackson. He opened his first store, called the Golden Rule, in Kemmerer, Wyoming, in 1902. In the fall of 1901, the two partners told Jim they wanted to open a new store in huge Ogden, Utah (population 20,000). Perhaps, when all the dust settles, J. C. Penney the company will go on to another 115 years of life. He seemed to have a knack for merchandising. He became a national celebrity as the company became known throughout the United States. . He developed one of the nations top herds of Guernsey dairy cattle in Florida and at Emmandine Farm in Dutchess County, New York. He lost control of Foremost Dairies, but retained some stock (that company went on to become the third largest dairy corporation in the world in the 1950s). In high school, he was a mediocre student but an outstanding orator, delivering uplifting messages about patriotism, Christianity, and the merits of hard work to his fellow students. Both Walker and Penney had strongly embedded principles they thought important in the conduct of their businesses and their daily lives. In 1902, owners Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan, impressed by his work ethic and salesmanship, offered him a one-third partnership in a new store he would open. It seems to me so; business is therefore as much religious as it is secular. We are at home here. . New York: Whittlesey House, 1948. They know they must give us the Right Price or they cannot expect our business. When to Buy. Beasley, Norman. The cities in italics indicate places where J.C. Penney opened his early stores or headquartered his business. began as a store clerk after graduating high school. The couple had been inspired by Toms mother, Celia, who operated a very successful low-price store in Chillicothe, Illinois, after moving from Missouri. Within two years, his pay increased twelve-fold. This arrangement allowed for rapid expansion in the early years of the business. Born in Hamilton, Missouri, his father was an impoverished farmer and part-time Baptist preacher. This lesson is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into the classrooms across the country. After bringing back Myron Ullman, whom the board had fired when they brought in Johnson, the ship began to right itself. He was just 26 when he bought that first store, in a mining town with a population of about 1,000. The city was served by eight major railway systems and was home to a substantial African-American community. Walker's traveling agents taught these women to set up beauty shops in their homes, keep business records, and make their customers feel pampered and valued. . J.C. Penney, in full James Cash Penney, (born Sept. 16, 1875, Hamilton, Mo., U.S.died Feb. 12, 1971, New York, N.Y.), merchant who established one of the largest chains of department stores in the United States. 1) To identify the attributes that helped Walker and Penney to succeed as entrepreneurs. He underwrote Christian causes like theChristian Heraldmagazine. In 1898, James Cash Penney Jr. began working for a small chain of stores in the western United States called the Golden Rule stores. The building, covering a whole city block, was also intended to serve as a social and cultural center for the African-American community in Indianapolis. Why do you think "The Penney Idea" continues to be part of the company's mission statement today? We are here to stay; we like the countryits people; we believe in selling you good dependable goods on a Small Margin of Profit Only. It already had a company store, but Penney came in with a cash-only policy, despite a warning from a local bank employee that three previous businesses had failed to compete against the credit offered by the mining company. How did he assure the customer that there were no "cheap goods" at Penney stores? This large national retail business continues to reflect the hard work and vision of James Cash Penney. They can use city or county business directories to see how long the business has operated and at what addresses. Offers information on this organization, which was founded by Booker T. Washington in 1900 "to promote the commercial and financial development of the Negro" and to bring African Americans into the middle-class mainstream. Soon he began establishing stores in other towns in Wyoming and then throughout the United States. Why or why not? He cut back on financing theChristian Herald. . J.C. Penney Foundation Archives. In 1926, he tried marriage for the third time, this time to Caroline Autenrieth, twenty years his junior. He used his $500 savings and borrowed the rest of the $2000 necessary to become a one-third partner in the venture. James Cash Penney Began as a store clerk after graduating high school. The young couple lived above the store, using shoe boxes for chairs and packing cases for tables. Encyclopedia.com. She had survived a failed marriage, but Jim married the divorcee he loved even knowing others might not approve. A few years later, after a failure of the cotton crop, the sisters moved across the river to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where they worked as washerwomen and domestic servants. This one lastedfor forty-five years, until Penneys death. Penney followed a training strategy that allowed managers to become part owners and then purchase their own stores. It is open seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. When one of his store managers had saved enough money, Penney would help him open a new store as part owner. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Detroit: The Gale Group, 1998, s.v. "In the midst of failure to believe, I was being helped back to believing.". His first taste as part owner of a store came in 1902 in Kemmerer, Wyoming, a mining town of 1,000 people. Water was drawn from a nearby well and hauled up to their rooms by bucket and rope. If there was no date attached to the photo, what clues might help you figure out when it was taken? (801) 539-0112 23 Feb. 2023 . American Entrepreneurs: Madam C.J. How did their efforts affect life today? C. Penney under The Golden Rule. By 1919 it was determined that all stores should go by the new common name of J. C. Penney. If so, how? They added two daughters to the family. But he wrote a hometown Missouri bank and got the same loan at 6%. C.J. The local bank cashier strongly advised Penney against opening a "cash only" store because three other merchants had failed to compete successfully with the stores of the mining companies, which offered credit. What products are advertised? Penney had turned his inventory over almost four times, an impressive number. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. She experimented with hair products already on the market, but nothing helped. In that light, some might question our decision to spotlight J. C. Penney. Madam C.J. While he recognized that the Golden Rule was a "slogan of good publicity value," his also found it "a poignant link with my father's and my mother's ideals and injunctions." Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Questions for Reading 1 A contemporary of Madame Walker. Whenever in a store, he waited on customers. Penney's first stores did not bear his name but were called The Golden Rule stores. The following links are of particular interest: Chain Stores The company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday American department store JC Penney has filed for bankruptcy becoming the latest company to be hit by Covid-19. Between 1920 and 1930, more than 1,250 new stores opened, most of them on Main Streets in small towns across America. Madam Walker decided to move her entire operation there. [CDATA[ He arrived in Denver, then booming from mining on one side and farming on the other. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive our newsletter and updates on new publications. (503) 232-8844 Both Madam Walker and J.C. Penney established a base of operation in New York City and ultimately made it their permanent home. Have them consider the special needs of different groups of people, the types of products or services that would improve their lives, and the ways in which a new business might be developed in their own community. From then on, Sarah began calling herself Madam (sometimes spelled Madame) C. J. Walker, a name she thought gave her products more appeal. Why do you think she might have eventually moved to New York, although her products continued to be manufactured in Indianapolis? As he once wrote, isn't serving people "part and parcel of business? Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. The following selections show both their determination and their dedication to meet those goals. He died on February 12, 1971, at the age of 95, as the founder of the nation's second-largest department store behind Sears. A WORD ABOUT PRICES: Our reputation for good value giving is known throughout the West where are located 12 of our stores, each being a phenomenal business. Others can do research on the business in the local history section of their public library. Both had to become self-reliant at very early ages and learned that hard work alone would not fulfill their aspirations. But they also had the drawing power of hard goods used by farmers and suburbanites. But he was also pragmatic enough to open his store for half days on Sundays. Unfortunately, Johnson alienated the company's target audience by focusing . New York: Harper Bros, 1950. Complexion and Toilet Soap--A preservative of beauty--mild and safe for the most tender skin. At a busy intersection in the bustling city of Indianapolis, Indiana, stands the imposing four-story brick structure known as the Walker Building. Have students discuss the careers of Madam C. J. Walker and J. C. Penney, using the following questions as a guide: A man of strong Christian beliefs and upright morals, Reverend Penney later repeatedly ran for office on Populist tickets: he never won. Opening his first department store on April 14, 1902, J.C. Penney went public in 1927, giving all his store . Document 2 was provided courtesy of the J.C. Penney Archives, Dallas, TX. Penney opened the Kemmerer store on April 14, 1902. 6. 3. --J. C. Penney. How did the company change to meet competitive challenges that arose in the 1950s and 1960s? In June 1897, Penney went west in search of health and fortune. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. 1600 Cantrell Road So J. M. Hale, who owned a dry goods store in Hamilton, agreed to hire Jim at a salary of $2.27 a month. Then came stunning news from his doctor. At the time, Penney's . As a teenager, J. C. Penney worked on surrounding farms growing watermelons and feeding pigs. He returned to Kemmerer each year to honor his and the companys humble beginnings. Locate Monument Circle, the historic center of the city of Indianapolis. Madam C.J. He finished high school and worked mostly in store clerk positions. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/penney-james-cash. I am a woman who started in business seven years ago with only $1.50. In your answer, compare and contrast their achievements. (Hearty applause.) When James Cash Penney moved his dry goods business here in 1904, the building also housed a saloon, offices, and apartments. When he was twenty-one, the family doctor noted that Jim was wearing down and risked getting the dreaded consumption (tuberculosis). They put as much power into the hands of store managers, close to the customers, as possible. Despite Callahans hesitation at hiring a butcher, Jim Penney got hired at the Longmont Golden Rule as a part-time sales clerk when a senior clerk was ill. Jim's "big chance" was a store 25-feet wide and 45-feet deep. Perfumed delightfully. The Salt Lake City store was for many years the most profitable. I am a woman that came from the cotton fields of the South; I was promoted from there to the wash-tub (laughter); then I was promoted to the cook kitchen, and from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. Former slaves, the Breedloves worked as sharecroppers on a cotton plantation and lived in a one-room cabin. In a land far from home, he was on the street, alone. Standard 2C- The student understands how new cultural movements at different social levels affected American life.Era 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930). Most of the quotes in the article come from a compilation of his writings entitledLines of A Layman: The Golden Rule in Everyday Living. He folded the inventory. According to James Cash Penney himself, the company slogan of "Honor, Confidence, Service, and Cooperation," was officially applied to the company philosophy, doctrine, and mission as a daily. J.C. Penney, in full James Cash Penney, (born Sept. 16, 1875, Hamilton, Mo., U.S.died Feb. 12, 1971, New York, N.Y.), merchant who established one of the largest chains of department stores in the United States. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Why would Walker have decided to establish her business and subsequently plan a commercial and social building in this area? Legends about him abound: that he would not hire someone who salted his food before trying it, because that meant he was pessimistic; that his executives had to leave tips when they lunched together, as he did not believe in tipping. I like the way he has started out. This inspired Jim for the rest of his life. When James Cash Penney moved his dry goods business here in 1904, the building also housed a saloon, offices, and apartments. Create new beauty for yourself by using Madam C. J. Walker's famous beauty preparations. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. How did James Cash Penney achieve his goals? Penney launched the first chain of department stores in the United State, commonly known as "Penney's" Today Americans visit over 1,000 J.C Penney or persue the mail order and online categalogs to purchase various household goods and clothing. But again, fate befell him: she died suddenly in 1923. The words "only believe" came to him. Even the Great Depression did little to halt the Penney expansion program. . U.S.A. The seventh principle was "To test our every policy, method, and act in this wise: 'Does it square with what is right and just?'" By the end of the year, he had sold $28,898.11 worth of goods and showed a substantial profit. I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! Frequent national and regional conventions of managers were held, with Penney and other leaders speaking at every opportunity. Document 1 was provided courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society, Walker Collection. relates to the following National Standards for History: Era 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900). This article was based in large part onCreating An American Institution: The Merchandising Genius of J.C. Penney, by Mary Elizabeth Curry. He bought his first in the small mining community of Kemmerer, Wyoming, in 1902. 3. By 1904 the Golden Rule Store (no longer standing) had outgrown its one-room frame building off the main business district of the town. Salt Lake City, Utah 84102-1205 The seven principles continue to guide the company today. This was unusual at a time when consumers often were faced with poor quality merchandise, fraudulent claims about quality, and deceptive pricing practices. Our customers know the advantages we enjoy, for every article in our store shows the result of careful and painstaking buying. The company was the ultimate decentralized enterprise. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I will walk in faithfulness to you" (Psalms 26:1-2). Lathers well in hardest water, removes grease and dirt, yet will not harm a lady's skin. (Applause.) Only in her thirties, she found her hair was falling out. But his ambition was not satisfied. .) Why did Walker develop her special hair formula? ", The Daily Digest for Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders. He accepted "cash only" for his goods, rather than credit. He finally felt secure enough to ask his longtime girlfriend, Berta Hess, to marry him. In a 25-by-140 foot section of the first floor, Penney developed and refined the merchandising ideas that led to the growth of his successful chain of stores. She chose Denver because her brother's widow and four children lived there. "The greatest teacher I know is the job itself.". This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-C-Penney, City of Hamilton, Missouri - Biography of J.C. Penney, Missouri Legends - Biography of J. C. Penny, WyoHistory.org - James Cash Penney: From Clerk to Chain-store Tycoon, The State Historical Society of Missouri - Historic Missourians - Biography of J. C. Penney, Penney, James Cash - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). James Cash Penney (1875-1971) believed that working people in isolated regions in the West deserved to have dry goods stores nearby that would offer quality products at reasonable prices. Have them categorize advertisements for beauty products and services and for Penney's or similar stores such as Montgomery Ward. 3. How did Walker show her energy and belief in herself in her speech in 1912? Someone read a Scripture passage: "Come unto me all you that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." On the same property, he opened retirement apartments made available to retired preachers and missionaries free of charge. Despite miners often being paid in scrip that could be spent at mining company stores, The Golden Rule only sold for cash, rare for the time. Is not service part and parcel of business? Callahan and Johnson had previously promoted store managers to partners, and implied to Jim that the same might happen to him if he performed. By the 1960s, the company abandoned its cash-only policy by adopting its own credit cards and updating its merchandise (much of it manufactured under the Penney label). The house is open for tours by appointment at other times. Jim wasnt happy, but went along with his fathers wishes. 4. In both World Wars, employees who had gone to war continued to receive partial salaries from the company. Soon enough, Callahan asked Jim to move to Evanston, Wyoming, where Callahan and partner William Johnson operated another Golden Rule Store. A 1950 article inFortunemagazine entitled Penneys: King of Soft Goods stated that no one in the company, by then the nations third largest non-food retailer after Sears and Wards, received a salary of more than $10,000.