"Without the benefit of advertising, Woolworth opened the door for the first day of business and waited for the shoppers who did not show up. He later said it was the worst morning of his life.
"What he didn't know was that the circus was coming to town that morning, and everyone in town was watching the traditional circus parade. However, when the parade was over hundreds of people found their way to the Woolworths 5 cent store and in no time bought up one third of his stock. In a matter of hours, 2,553 nickel purchases had been made . . .
Woolworth died in 1919 at age 65 and had "amassed a personal fortune estimated at $65,000.000. There were over 1,000 stores around the country . . . including the Woolworth building in Manhattan, then the tallest building in the world, for which he paid $13.5 million in cash!"
Frank H. Olsen
Inventors Who Left Their Brands on America
Bantam Books 1991
p. 57-60
I went through a season of reading about inventors. As I reread this note card, I know why. Inventors were kings and queens of perseverence. Little if anything stopped them. This story of Woolworth reminds me that if I/we can hang on just a little bit longer, we might come face to face with Pleasant Surprise.
Did any of you buy anything from Woolworth's? If so, what? I remember buying a set of 3 porcelain pans for my first apartment.
EverGrowing--Not Always Liking the "Process,"
Lonnie
