Retail History

Who invented flea markets? Some say the first time the term “”Flea Market”” was used was about a site in Paris around 1860. The term “”Flea Market”” is translated from the French marche aux puces, which literally means “”outdoor bazaar””. Apparently, sales of goods out of doors was very commonplace in France during the nineteenth … Read more

How many record stores are in the US? There are about 1,400 independently owned record stores in the United States, a number that has held fairly steady in recent years, according to the organizers behind Record Store Day, the annual event that draws customers in droves to buy special-edition discs. Read more on pitchfork.com For … Read more

Who is the owner of specs? While Spec and Carolynn Jackson started the company and John and Lindy Rydman have overseen its massive expansion, Lisa is just beginning to put her stamp on the family firm. And the generational progression looks unlikely to end with her. Lisa has three sons, all of whom have grown … Read more