How to Pronounce Charles Sumner Woolworth
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Aug 01, 1856 Rodman, New York, United States Died on 07 Jan 1947 (aged 90)
businessperson
LeoCharles Sumner Woolworth - Place of Birth, Date of Birth, Age, Wiki, Facts, Net Worth, Birthday, Biography and Family
Charles Sumner Woolworth, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Family, Facts, Age, Net Worth, Biography and More in FamedBorn.com
About Charles Sumner Woolworth
- Charles Sumner Woolworth (August 1, 1856 – January 7, 1947), was an American entrepreneur who went by the nickname of "Sum", opened and managed the world's first five-and-dime store in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was founder of the "C.
- S.
- Woolworth & Co" chain of 5¢ & 10¢ stores.
- Sum's brother, Frank Winfield Woolworth was first to venture into the retail business with his own store, and soon after, he asked Sum to join him.
- Frank founded "F.
- W.
- Woolworth & Co", which later merged with other Woolworth affiliate stores to be the F.
- W.
- Woolworth Company.
- After the death of his brother, Sum became the longest serving Chairman of the F.
- W.
- Woolworth Company.
- During the early years, Sum also partnered with a long-time friend, Fred Kirby, to open a "Woolworth and Kirby" store in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
- When Fred bought out Sum's share, that store grew to become a "friendly rival" affiliate store, in close alliance with the two Woolworth brothers. In 1904, Sum and Frank Woolworth were affiliated with six (6) chains.
- Frank developed the back office side of the business.
- Sum developed the front of the business, pioneering self-service methods, customer service, training new managers, brightly lit stores, and frequently-changed window displays to lure customers inside.
- In 1912 C.
- S.
- Woolworth & Co, with the other affiliated chains, merged 596 stores under the corporate name "F.
- W.
- Woolworth Company".
- After the death of his brother, Frank Winfield Woolworth, Charles Sumner Woolworth became the reluctant Chairman of the Board of F.
- W.
- Woolworth Company (now Foot Locker), for 25 years.
- As a philanthropist and business man, he was involved with several institutions and businesses in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and other areas.
