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Retailing History as Economic and Cultural History: Strategies of Survival by Specialist Tobacconists in the Mass Market

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  • Matthew Hilton

Abstract

This article stresses how the history of retailing can be seen as both economic and cultural history. It does so by using a case study of the history of the specialist tobacconist from the late-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. These independent retailers moved from a position of skilled artisan traders in which they not only sold commodities but played a major role in the direction of consumption to one in which they merely formed the intermediary between the two greater cultural forces of the producer and mass of consumers. Despite various efforts to re-install agency into their trading role, their history mirrors that of many other institutions in a society which became increasingly polarised between the perceived masses and the emerging economic and cultural elities.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Hilton, 1998. "Retailing History as Economic and Cultural History: Strategies of Survival by Specialist Tobacconists in the Mass Market," Business History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(4), pages 115-137.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:bushst:v:40:y:1998:i:4:p:115-137
    DOI: 10.1080/00076799800000341
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    Cited by:

    1. Ben Fine, 1999. "Consumption for Historians: An Economist's Gaze," Working Papers 91, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK.
    2. Pantano, Eleonora & Dennis, Charles, 2017. "Exploring the origin of retail stores in Europe: Evidence from Southern Italy from the 6th century BCE to the 3rd century BCE," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 243-249.

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