Ben stores

In the 1800’s food was grown close to home by your neighbors, bought from local stores, or you made it.  The farthest was 100 miles between the buyer or consumer and the seller.  Near the end of the 1800’s the markets became national, meaning you could buy products made on the other side of the country.  This created a need for advertising to promote products and hope that people thought your product was better and buy from you. Advertising could include billboards,  building windows, city benches, in the newspaper, catalogs, magazines, on trolleys, etc. If you lived during this time where would you put your advertising for your product?  Why?

In the 1800’s it was really risky to drink milk because there were no fridges to keep it cold.  Therefore, Gail Borden invented condensed milk, which did not have to be kept cold because it was in a can so it lasted longer.Condensed milk tastes sweeter than regular milk and today most people use it for cooking. To get people to buy his milk, Borden had to advertise.  He said his milk was healthier and lasted longer.  If you were a consumer for milk would you buy condensed milk or regular milk?  Explain.

Gustavus Swift, a cattle herder, started butchering meat.  He built a large slaughterhouse in Chicago, Illinois.  He tried to convince people to buy his meat instead of from local butchers.  He shipped his meat in refrigerated rail cars cart to keep the meat cold. His price was a lot lower than local butchers so that made people buy his. Swift made hams and bacon and lots of other meats too!!! To convince people to buy his meat, Swift also had to use advertising.  If you lived during this time would you buy meat from a local butcher or from Gustavus?  Why?

Before malls there were department stores. Department stores also had mail order catalogs.  Catalogs were sent to houses to order items. Then they were shipped directly to your house.The first three stores were opened in Boston. In 1893 Boston opened up the first subway train. Trolleys were also opened up in other cities.This is why in the 1900s markets became national. If you lived during this time would you shop at department stores or order products from catalogs?  Explain.