Our travels took us to the Windy City recently to celebrate a milestone event in our marriage.
To better understand one of America’s great cities and its origin, we took a walking tour of the city. I love the architecture of the bygone days, and as a commercial real estate professional, the stories behind how cities develop are fascinating to me.
As we approached the corner of State and Washington, an immense 14-story structure loomed. We found ourselves learning about a Chicago icon — Marshall Field’s. As we strolled through this bustling city, weaving through shoppers and gazing up at storefronts, I was reminded of just how much one man, more than a century ago, shaped the way we experience retail today.
Things such as individual item pricing, customer service, purchase returns and the experiential approach stores such as BassPro and REI have all adopted Field’s hallmarks.
The department store’s legacy is more than just that. It was a blueprint for modern commerce, and his influence is still alive in almost every retail experience we have today.
Marshall Field was more than a retailer — he was a visionary. His store on State Street wasn’t just a place to buy things; it was a place to be.
He understood, long before anyone else, that shopping should be more than a transaction — it should be an experience. Walking into his store was like stepping into another world, where beautiful displays and carefully curated products drew customers in, not just to buy, but to linger and enjoy.
Field realized that the environment mattered as much as the merchandise. It’s no wonder department stores became destinations unto themselves, and that tradition endures in some of our most iconic retailers today.
But Field’s real genius was his deep respect for the customer. He made it easy for customers to return items if they weren’t satisfied, a policy that, at the time, was revolutionary. Field believed that if you treated people well, they’d keep coming back — and they did.
His dedication to customer service laid the groundwork for the personalized, customer-first approach that we all expect from businesses now.
Field also understood something else that was ahead of its time: the value of offering a unique product mix. He built relationships with suppliers all over the world to bring exclusive, high-quality items to his stores.
Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, he focused on offering carefully selected goods that reflected the taste and aspirations of his clientele. It’s a lesson that many retailers would do well to remember — especially in today’s landscape, where a well-curated selection often speaks louder than endless options.
It was more than the products or the atmosphere, though. Field also believed in running his business with integrity and treating his employees with respect. At a time when labor conditions were often harsh, he made sure his employees were paid fairly and worked in humane environments. It’s a reminder that the culture behind the scenes often shapes the experience in front of the store.
As I reflect on my own experiences — whether it’s walking through grand department stores in major cities or the charm of smaller, curated shops — I realize how much of what we take for granted in retail today can be traced back to Marshall Field’s vision. His legacy is a reminder that great businesses aren’t just built on products, they’re built on people, values and an unwavering commitment to creating something special.
So, next time you’re enjoying a beautifully crafted window display or being greeted with a smile when you walk into a store, take a moment to think about Marshall Field, the man who helped make it all possible.
Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104.
