Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge
What can you tell us about the book Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge?
My book is about the life and times of Harry Gordon Selfridge, the mercurial American retail genius who came over from Chicago to London in 1906 to plan, build and open his own store. He had worked for 25 years at Marshall Field in Chicago and brought with him a fair bit of money and a lot of expertise in the most sparkling, modern retail, design and shop-fitting techniques – most of them unheard of in London at that time.
The book is set in 1909, so tell us about your reaserch process into this period in history.
I’ve always loved the late 19th and early 20th century and have in my own library literally dozens of books relating to that period. I’m fascinated by the developments in fashion and early technology in that era and the etiquette and rituals associated with high ‘Edwardiana’. I had already done a lot of research into the years 1905-1912 for my first book War Paint which covered the lives of Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden (who created the luxury beauty business) and in particular Helena Rubinstein who opened her beauty salon in Grafton Street, Mayfair in 1908.
When did your interest in Harry Gordon Selfridge begin?
I grew up in London and have always adored the scale and architecture of Selfridges. I knew very little about the man himself – no one really did in my age group as his story had faded into obscurity. When I was writing War Paint I was gifted hundreds of personal letters from Miss Arden to her London Managing Director and in many of them she referred to her good friend ‘Harry Selfridge’ – she was talking about ‘helping him out’ (he had grave financial issues in the 1930’s) and, having worked in retailing and high fashion public relations all my life, the idea of exploring the life of the man who had left us this exceptional building and yet who had seemingly ended up poor absolutely fascinated me.
You previous book War Paint was also published last year, so what can you tell us about this?
War Paint was my first book and was published in 2003. I am very proud of it – no one had written about these two women in the same in-depth way before and I am constantly interested in ‘achieving’ people whose history has been ignored or forgotten. I love bringing personalities back to life – especially when they are creators of things that affect our daily life such as shopping and cosmetics!
One review said that your book will change your view of shopping forever, so why do you think this is?
Harry Selfridge did absolutely change the way we shop. He introduced customer service, the ‘theatre of retail’, browsing, window shopping, in-store entertainment and a host of other things to London. If retailers do these things today – everything from VIP shopping services to in-store events – then it’s a safe bet that Harry Selfridge did them first. That this was one hundred years ago makes it even more incredible.
What is your writing background?
I worked in up-scale public relations for many years. I owned my own Agency and that was very demanding – I had little time to write other than press releases! But at the age of 50 (in 2000) I gave it all up to write books. As an ex-journalist and life-long reader, it was a natural step for me. I consider myself to be a social historian with a specialist interest in early 20th century women’s consumer affairs.
What is the appeal of the character of Mr Selfridge for the reader?
What’s not to like about the man who gave women what they want? It’s endlessly fascinating to read about sublime skills – especially when contrasted with his frailty and weaknesses. Fast women, slow horses, grand houses – gambling. He had all those vices. Yet he was adored by his staff and revered by his retail rivals. An extraordinary man.
What is your reaction to the TV series?
Thrilled! How could I not be?
What is next for you?
I’m working on a new biography which will be published next year. Set in London’s 1920’s it tells the story of the notorious illegal night club owner Mrs Kate ‘Ma’ Meyrick. I’m also busy in my role as retail history consultant to ITV for Series Two of Mr Selfridge. There are new ideas being discussed for television development and, in between all that, I am looking forward to spending some time at our house in France and hopefully picking the cherries there before the birds get at them and making jam!
How can readers who are not avid shoppers appreciate your book?
You don’t have to be a dedicated shopper to admire the story of a man who created excellence. Just learning about his early days in Chicago is interesting in its own right. I do hope however that people who have watched the series on television will feel encouraged to buy my book as the TV is an ‘adaptation’ and so ‘dramatised’ and the book is the real story. Whole and unabridged. I hope people will enjoy it. Harry’s end was really very sad – but he left us a stunning legacy. That glorious building in Oxford Street.
Mr Selfridge is out on DVD and Blu-ray now, from Universal Pictures UK