Eaton's

Eaton's was once Canada's largest department store retailer. Founded in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, an Irish immigrant, in 1869, Eaton's first advertisement read "We propose to sell our goods for CASH ONLY – In selling goods, to have only one price." In an era where haggling for goods was commonplace, this was a revolutionary business practice.

Canada?s Dominant Retailer

The store founded by Timothy Eaton was not the first department store in the world, nor was the Eaton?s store the first to offer fixed prices and a money-back guarantee. Nonetheless, the success of Eaton?s revolutionized department store retailing in North America. American retailers flocked to view the ?retail palaces? on Yonge Street and Portage Avenue, anxious to replicate Timothy Eaton?s methods south of the border.

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In 1905, the Globe wrote: ?There is hardly a name in Canada, with the possible exception of the Prime Minister, so well known to the people at large as that of Mr. Timothy Eaton.? Timothy Eaton passed away in 1907, and was succeeded by John Craig Eaton as President of the T. Eaton Co. Limited.

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The company?s success continued under Timothy?s heir. In 1911, Saturday Night magazine declared: ?Never before in the history of the world has it been possible for a store to be run on this humanitarian basis of beauty, use and efficiency. All of Canada is proud of Eaton?s; and Canada should be, for here we find a store that has set the world a pace in modern merchandising.? In the same year, the Illustrated London News stated: ?The T. Eaton Co. of Toronto can claim their stores are the greatest in the British Empire.?

Related Topics:
Saturday Night - Illustrated London News

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In 1925, Eaton?s purchased the Goodwin?s store in Montreal. By 1927, Montreal boasted a new six-storey Eaton?s store on Saint Catherine Street, which was expanded to nine storeys in 1930. Over time, Eaton?s stores opened in other cities across the country.

Related Topics:
1925 - Saint Catherine Street - 1930

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In 1977, the crown jewel of the Eaton's empire, the Toronto Eaton Centre, opened in downtown Toronto, replacing two previous downtown Eaton's stores. The massive complex — stretching 400 m on several levels from Dundas to Queen Street and boasting 200 stores — was anchored at the north end by an immense nine-storey Eaton's.

Related Topics:
1977 - Toronto Eaton Centre

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