Who founded the London department store Selfridges, which opened on Oxford Street in 1909?

Harry Gordon Selfridge founded the London department store Selfridges, which opened on Oxford Street in 1909.

Selfridge was an American retail entrepreneur who had previously worked at Marshall Field’s in Chicago. He brought theatrical displays, prominent window merchandising and customer-focused service ideas to London. The store’s grand opening made Oxford Street an even more important shopping destination.

Selfridges promoted shopping as an experience rather than simply a practical errand. Its early innovations included eye-catching displays and spaces designed to encourage browsing. The retailer also became known for marketing and publicity that extended beyond traditional department-store advertising.

The business was later sold to the Galen Weston family in 2003 and subsequently changed ownership again. The Oxford Street flagship remains one of Britain’s best-known department stores.