The Rise of Consumerism
-The Homestead Act of 1862 was when the mail merchandises was the right time for catalogues to come out. Many were buying land and improving their lives. The Rural Free Delivery in 1896 made it possible for mail to travel directly to farm families. Richard was in set for the catalogue to expand, with catchy slogans and making every person feeling like they care was the rise to Richards catalogue success. His catalogue was exported to the families, showing the many products that they were selling. Content with the catalogues families began to buy objects from the Sears Catalogue do its easy access, cheap price and availability to receive the catalogue for free! The Sears Catalogue consist at this time of watches, jewlery, merchandises of all sorts: sewing machines, sporting goods, musical instruments, saddles, firearms and more. The catalogue became even more successful when in 1895 eyeglasses were added. Sears wrote about his personal experience about each object and using language and expressions that the customers could relate to, bringing in more interest and more success. His catalogue was so influencing that in 1896 Richard Sears invited all customers to visit the company’s Chicago headquarters; he then for the first time charged for the catalogue. With the invitation to the headquarters and the charge of the catalogue the business grew successful, and widely known.
Consumerism has had an influence throughout the world.
• mass-production and chain stores drove down prices and
encouraged consumers to spend
• the concept of credit was being used to help more Americans buy durable
goods such as cars and stoves. The lenders, of course, charged interest so that the total cost of
the item was far more in the end than if it had been purchased for cash.
• runaway consumer credit was part of the overload that resulted in the Great
Depression of the 1930s.
• Americans were also spending more money on entertainment, especially the
movies.
Consumerism has had an influence throughout the world.
• mass-production and chain stores drove down prices and
encouraged consumers to spend
• the concept of credit was being used to help more Americans buy durable
goods such as cars and stoves. The lenders, of course, charged interest so that the total cost of
the item was far more in the end than if it had been purchased for cash.
• runaway consumer credit was part of the overload that resulted in the Great
Depression of the 1930s.
• Americans were also spending more money on entertainment, especially the
movies.