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During the twentieth century affluence (both at the level of the individual household and that of society as a whole) became intimately linked with access to a range of prestige consumer durables. The Market Makers charts the inter-war origins of a process that would eventually transform
these features of modern life from being 'luxuries' to necessities for most British families. Peter Scott examines how producers and retailers succeeded in creating mass (though not universal) market for new suites of furniture, radios, modern housing, and some electrical and gas appliances,
while also exploring why some other goods, such as refrigerators, telephones, and automobiles, failed to reach the mass market in Britain before the 1950s. Creating mass markets presented a formidable challenge for manufacturers and retailers. Consumer durables required large markets. Most involved significant research and development costs. Some, such as the telephone, radio, and car, were dependent on complementary investments in infrastructure. All
required intensive marketing--usually including expensive advertising in national newspapers and magazines, while some also needed mass production methods (and output volumes) to make them affordable to a mass market. This study charts the pioneering efforts of entrepreneurs (many of whom, though
once household names, are now largely forgotten) to provide consumer durables at a price affordable to a mass market and to persuade a sometimes reluctant public to embrace the new products and the consumer credit that their purchase required. In doing so, Scott shows that, contrary to much received
wisdom, there was a 'consumer durables revolution' in inter-war Britain--at least for certain highly prioritized goods.
About the author
Peter Scott is Professor of International Business History at the University of Reading's Henley Business School. He has written extensively on the history of consumer durables' industries, household consumption, retailing, consumer marketing, and housing, during the first half of the twentieth century. His previous books include The Making of the Modern British Home: The Suburban Semi and Family Life between the Wars; Triumph of the South: A Regional Economic History of Britain During the Early Twentieth Century (awarded the 2007 Wadsworth Prize for the best book in British business history), and The Property Masters: A History of the British Commercial Property Sector.
Summary
Inter-war Britain saw a boom in 'mass markets' for consumer durables, such as new suites of furniture, radios, and electrical and gas appliances, while items like refrigerators, telephones, and automobiles didn't reach the mass market until the 1950s. Peter Scott explores these 'market makers' and how US innovations influenced British markets.
Additional text
This hugely impressive monograph is essential reading for economic historians of modern Britain. It will also prove to be of great use to social historians and historians of technology.
