So, you might have heard that Hammacher Schlemmer closed its physical stores, but don’t worry, the business is still running! They’ve been around for a whopping 137 years and still send out their famous catalog.
What’s the Deal with Their Catalog?
Imagine getting a big magazine in the mail full of cool stuff to buy. That’s what Hammacher Schlemmer’s catalog is like. They send out a whopping 50 million of these catalogs every year, and it’s the oldest one in American history!
The catalog is kind of old-school. It has pictures of stuff you can buy, a bunch of writing that explains what each thing does, and a catchy title for each item.
For example, in one of their catalogs from 2018, you could find “Clarity Enhancing Sunglasses” and a “Genuine Handmade Irish Shillelagh” (that’s like a fancy stick), all on the same page.
So, Is Hammacher Schlemmer Still Open for Business?
Yes, they are! But there’s a twist. Even though they used to be a big deal in New York City, now their main office is in Chicago. A guy named J. Roderick MacArthur bought the business and moved it to Chicago in 1981.
What Was Hammacher Schlemmer Like Back in the Day?
Back in 1848, a German immigrant named William Tollner started Hammacher Schlemmer as a small hardware store in New York City. At first, they only sold good-quality tools and stuff, nothing too fancy.
People used to visit their store in person, and they even had fancy displays with tools behind glass cases. The staff dressed nicely and treated the tools with care.
Is Hammacher Schlemmer a Good Company to Buy From?
Well, it depends on who you ask. Some people have given them low ratings (only 1.8 stars out of 5) in online reviews. People seem to be upset about customer service, warranties, and returns.
So, it’s a good idea to be careful when shopping there and maybe read some reviews before you buy anything.
Can You Get Deals at Hammacher Schlemmer?
Yes, you can! They offer coupons to help you save money on things like electronics, clothes, and outdoor gear. You might find discounts on toys, travel stuff, and personal care items too.
If you’re lucky, you can save up to 70% on sale items. Plus, sometimes they give you free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money.
Just enter your special code when you’re checking out to get your discount.
And if you don’t have a coupon, you can check out their “Special Value” section on their website to find discounted stuff. You might even discover something cool for as low as $6.95!
So, there you have it! Hammacher Schlemmer is still around, and you can find some good deals if you look in the right places. Happy shopping!
Is Hammacher Schlemmer Going Out of Business Now?
Hey again! So, you might be wondering if Hammacher Schlemmer is closing down. Well, let’s take a look!
Where Can You Find Hammacher Schlemmer’s Offices?
You can find their offices in a place called Niles, on Milwaukee Avenue. When you walk in, the first thing you’ll see is like an indoor park with plants and a little stream. It used to be a car dealership!
What’s the Story Behind Hammacher Schlemmer?
They’ve got some cool history stuff in their lobby. You can check out exhibits about famous people like Steve Jobs, Marilyn Monroe, and Queen Elizabeth II who’ve liked their stuff.
And there’s this thing called the Wall of Firsts. It’s a bunch of posters showing things that first appeared in their catalog. Like, they had the first pop-up toaster in 1931, and later on, they introduced things like the first electric food blender in 1934 and the first microwave oven in 1968.
Even a Fitbit-like gadget called the First Wellness Monitor Wristband showed up in 2015. They used to keep brand names and logos out of their catalog, which was kinda quirky. But now they do it for a more practical reason.
So, Are They Closing Because of the Internet?
Nope, they’re not allergic to the internet, and they saw e-commerce coming. They were actually one of the first big stores to sell stuff online back in 1986. They started on CompuServe and then moved to Prodigy and America Online before having their own website in 1998.
Around a third of their money in 2005 came from selling things online. Nowadays, they use their website for a lot of orders, but they still think their catalog is what gets people interested.
Conclusion
So, Hammacher Schlemmer is not going away because of the internet. They’ve got a long history of cool stuff, and they’re still in business, selling all sorts of interesting things to people who like unique stuff. So, they’re here to stay!