Grand Illusions
By the time L. Frank Baum introduced the world to Dorothy and the gang, he’d already made his name as a shop window dresser par excellence.
How the Marshall Plan Sold Europe to Americans
Department-store bazaars let consumers see how glamorous and sophisticated imported goods could be. Ooh, la la!
The Back-to-School Shopping Tradition in History
As more women went to college, department stores catered to them by setting up pop-up "college shops" every September.
Shoplifting, for Fun and Profit
"Hoisting" at the professional level could bring a sense of pride, along with the relief of avoiding grueling domestic work.
The Commercial Real-Estate Market’s Impending Crash
Shopping malls are in trouble, as are the commercial mortgage-backed securities built around them. Can another 2008 be averted?
When Did We Start Shopping at Stores?
Online shopping drastically reduces the significance of physical stores. Where did the physical retail model come from to begin with?
The Rise and Fall of the Shopping Mall
Is the shopping mall a thing of the past? A look at how the suburbs helped to create the mall--and what is now killing those same shopping centers.
‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and the Retail Orgy in Film
On the film portrayals of women that equate consumption and love.