America's Burgeoning Mail Order Business
John T. Shayne & Company was one of the earliest Chicago retailers to join in America’s burgeoning mail order business during the turn of the 20th century. Shayne’s first mail order publication dates back to 1906 and is featured in the Chicago Public Library Trade Catalog Collection at the Harold Washington Library.
Mail order merchandising played an important role in retail distribution during the 20th century. These catalogues provided rural communities access to an array of merchandise; items ranging from tooth paste to prefabricated houses were marketed to small towns and remote rural communities, transforming the way American’s purchased goods.
Chicago area retailers were among the nation’s first companies to publish mail orders. The city was ideally suited for America’s growing mail order business due to its central location, access to a national rail system and advances made in mail delivery. Chicago became a nationally recognized city through the many images that found their way into these mail order catalogs. These publications shaped the nation’s perspective of Chicago and encouraged tourism to the city.
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