Minding the Store: A Memoir

by Stanley Marcus

Book Overview

Mr. Marcus has spent most of his life not only helping to create a retailing enterprise renowned throughout the world as the epitome of quality, but also in setting high standards for the level of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316546232
• ISBN13: 9780316546232
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 303 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Behind the Shimmering Curtain

I guess it was my Business degree & marketing background I brought to the Architecture Masters program that made the Dean feel this might be my best contribution to the profession. Why else would he have presented me with this book upon defending my thesis project & graduating - was it really almost 30 years ago? Now #2 of 4 kids is graduating college in advertising and I can't resist getting her this insightful, revealing history of a magic retail legacy that began in our home town. In fact, my mother grew up in the Adolphus - the marketing ally of Neimans - why else the memorable Thanksgiving parades? So this book certainly has roots to love for marketing majors, Dallasites, those in the fine arts, fashion. But it is more - much more. The book teaches the rewards of quality, value and commitments to the good of the customer. It's not the mystique of the His & Hers fabulous Christmas catalogue gifts that make cash flow, its the quality of the $10 dresses. It's not the suit, it's the fitting; it's not the price, it's the value; it's not the steak, it's the sizzle. I hope the book passes on the value of ethics, its rewards, mystique and satisfaction, while proving the theory is all true and still alive & well today. Besides all that, it's a fun book to read.

Fascinating!

This book, like "Quest for the Best" is an absolutely fascinating look into the world of high-end retailing. It should be in every business student's library.

Classic on fine art of specialty retailing

I've read two books by S. Marcus - "Quest for the Best" and "Minding the Store". Both are fascinating.Without any doubt, Stanley Marcus is the most talented American retailer of the 20th century. You will find out from this lively narrative what made him the best - impeccable taste, discriminate merchandising, extensive knowledge of manufacturing, business vision, professional honesty and breadth of intellectual interests. If you aspire to be a specialty retailer, drop 99% of the books about selling, they will not show you a worthy real-life example of how to run a store that customers can not resist to visit. Marcus does not hold back any secrets how he did it. Read, laugh and get inspired.

This is a book ALL retail sales employees should read.

A friendly and enjoyable tale of success in the retail business and how success was accomplished. Stanley Marcus recounts the growth of his family business and the stories of customer demands and customer service that created a hugely profitable and customer orientated retail empire.While customer service is the primary focus of the book, creating innovative and exclusive items for the very wealthy provides a glimpse into how the rich find ways to dispose of their money. Marcus was a master of imaginative packages.I bought 4 copies of the original edition and gave them away to people in sales. There is no better book for a young, or old, sales person to read.