Hortense McQuarrie Odlum (July 17, 1892 – January 12, 1970) was the first woman president of Bonwit Teller Department Store in New York City and the first wife of financierFloyd Odlum.
Biographyedit
Hortense McQuarrie was born on July 17, 1892 in St. George, Utah to Hector Allen McQuarrie (1862-1926) and Ella Carr Gardner McQuarrie (1866-1943). She married Floyd Bostwick Odlum on September 15, 1917 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania while he was a law clerk. They moved to New York City when he accepted a position with a New York law firm in 1916. Mr. Odlum became president of Atlas Corporation, which took over Bonwit Teller in 1934. Mr. Odlum appointed his wife as president. She always maintained:
"I was forced to take the job."
The store was confronted with enormous financial problems bordering on bankruptcy. However, within her first two years, the volume of business doubled, and during the third it tripled. She made major rearrangements of boutiques and salons, introduced a bright, cheerful decor and focused on customer relations. She once said:
"I worked like a Trojan. But I never intended to stay. I'm out now and the whole thing leaves me cold."
Divorced from Odlum in 1935, she next married Dr. Porfirio Dominici (1899-1987) in 1935, but that marriage was annulled in 1938.
After six years as Bonwit's president she retired in 1940, but served as chairman from 1940–1944. She said "dollars and cents will never mean much to me except as evidence of customer approval." She also stressed in her words: "high class, but not high hat." When asked about her business experience: "I got mine in the hardest of schools. For nearly 12 years, I ...was just a customer." After retirement she proclaimed, "I want to go back and be what I really am – just the typical customer who has found a store she loves to shop in."
Her book about her life experiences and in particular becoming president of Bonwit Teller, A Woman's Place, was published in 1939.
Referencesedit
"Mrs. Odlum: Bonwit Teller's Chief Began Work 2 Years Ago", Newsweek Magazine, October 20, 1934.
Odlum, Hortense McQuarrie. "Let's Talk Shop", The Reader's Digest, condensed from The American Magazine, January 1939.
"Hortense Odlum of Bonwit Teller: Head of Store Here From 1934– 1944 is Dead", Obituary: New York Times, January 13, 1970.
April 11, 2024
hortense, odlum, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, november, 2006, learn, when. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2006 Learn how and when to remove this template message Hortense McQuarrie Odlum July 17 1892 January 12 1970 was the first woman president of Bonwit Teller Department Store in New York City and the first wife of financier Floyd Odlum Biography editHortense McQuarrie was born on July 17 1892 in St George Utah to Hector Allen McQuarrie 1862 1926 and Ella Carr Gardner McQuarrie 1866 1943 She married Floyd Bostwick Odlum on September 15 1917 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania while he was a law clerk They moved to New York City when he accepted a position with a New York law firm in 1916 Mr Odlum became president of Atlas Corporation which took over Bonwit Teller in 1934 Mr Odlum appointed his wife as president She always maintained I was forced to take the job The store was confronted with enormous financial problems bordering on bankruptcy However within her first two years the volume of business doubled and during the third it tripled She made major rearrangements of boutiques and salons introduced a bright cheerful decor and focused on customer relations She once said I worked like a Trojan But I never intended to stay I m out now and the whole thing leaves me cold Divorced from Odlum in 1935 she next married Dr Porfirio Dominici 1899 1987 in 1935 but that marriage was annulled in 1938 After six years as Bonwit s president she retired in 1940 but served as chairman from 1940 1944 She said dollars and cents will never mean much to me except as evidence of customer approval She also stressed in her words high class but not high hat When asked about her business experience I got mine in the hardest of schools For nearly 12 years I was just a customer After retirement she proclaimed I want to go back and be what I really am just the typical customer who has found a store she loves to shop in Her sister s son was the actor Robert Hudson Walker She offered to finance his studies at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City He stayed in her home during his first year there Publications editHer book about her life experiences and in particular becoming president of Bonwit Teller A Woman s Place was published in 1939 References edit Mrs Odlum Bonwit Teller s Chief Began Work 2 Years Ago Newsweek Magazine October 20 1934 Odlum Hortense McQuarrie Let s Talk Shop The Reader s Digest condensed from The American Magazine January 1939 Hortense Odlum of Bonwit Teller Head of Store Here From 1934 1944 is Dead Obituary New York Times January 13 1970 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hortense Odlum amp oldid 1196530638, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
