From 'peculiar stores' to 'a new way of thinking': Discussions on self-service in Swedish trade journals, 1935-1955

Fredrik Sandgren

Business History, 2009, vol. 51, issue 5, 734-753

Abstract: Swedish self-service grew swiftly from the late 1940s. One important conduit of knowledge was journals. This article studies how self-service was perceived, promoted or opposed in Swedish trade journals in 1935-1955. The main sources are journals published by wholesaling/retailing businesses (the Co-op, ICA and ASK), business associations, trade unions and academics. The principles of self-service were discussed in the journals in the 1930s. Direct support for or no general criticism of self-service was found from the late 1940s. Co-operatives and academics were pioneers in promoting self-service. Trade unions hardly discussed the issue. Other actors had some early doubts. From the mid 1940s doubts disappeared. The business associations were ahead of businesses such as ICA and ASK in promoting self-service.

Keywords: diffusion of innovation; knowledge transfer; rationalisation of distribution; Americanisation; self-service; retailing; wholesaling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1080/00076790903125636

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