At the age of 10, Selfridge began to contribute to the family income by delivering newspapers.
Aged 12, he started working at the Leonard Field's dry-goods store.
This allowed him to fund the creation of a boys' monthly magazine with schoolfriend Peter Loomis, making money from the advertising carried within.

Selfridge left school at 14 and found work at a bank in Jackson.
After failing his entrance examinations to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Selfridge became a bookkeeper at the local furniture factory of Gilbert, Ransom & Knapp.
However, the company closed four months later, and Selfridge moved to Grand Rapids to work in the insurance industry.

In 1876, his ex-employer, Leonard Field, agreed to write Selfridge a letter of introduction to Marshall Field in Chicago, who was a senior partner in Field, Leiter & Company, one of the most successful stores in the city (which soon became Marshall Field and Company).
Initially employed as a stock boy in the wholesale department, over the following 25 years, Selfridge worked his way up.
He was eventually appointed a junior partner, married Rosalie Buckingham (of the prominent Chicago Buckinghams) and amassed a considerable personal fortune.

After their marriage, the couple lived for some time with Rose's mother on Rush Street in Chicago.
They later moved to their own home on Lake Shore Drive.
The Selfridges also built an imposing mansion called Harrose Hall in mock Tudor style on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, complete with large greenhouses and extensive rose gardens.
Over the next decade, the couple had five children : 
Chandler Selfridge (b and d 7 August 1891)
Rosalie Selfridge (10 September 1893-October 1977) - she married  Serge Vincent de Bolotoff, Prince Wiasemsky on 7 August 1918.

Violette Selfridge (5 June 1897-1996) - she married Jacques Jean de Sibour on 4 May 1921 and they were divorced in February 1949.

Gordon Selfridge (2 April 1900-30 November 1976) - he married Charlotte Elsie Dennis on 10 June 1940.

Beatrice Selfridge (30 July 1901-1990) - she married twice; first to Comte Louis de Sibour and then to Frank L. Lewis
Throughout their married life, Harry's mother, Lois, lived with the family.
While at Marshall Field, Selfridge was the first to promote Christmas sales with the phrase "Only _____ Shopping Days Until Christmas", a catchphrase that was quickly picked up by retailers in other markets.
Selfridge or Marshall Field are usually cited as the originators of the phrase "The customer is always right."

In 1904, Harry opened his own department store called Harry G. Selfridge and Co. in Chicago.
However, after only two months he sold the store at a profit to Carson, Pirie and Co.  He then decided to retire, and for the next two years pottered around his properties, mainly Harrose Hall.
He also bought a steam yacht, which he rarely used, and played golf.
At the age of 10, Selfridge began to contribute to the family income by delivering newspapers. Aged 12, he started working at the Leonard Field's dry-goods store. This allowed him to fund the creation of a boys' monthly magazine with schoolfriend Peter Loomis, making money from the advertising carried within.
Selfridge left school at 14 and found work at a bank in Jackson. After failing his entrance examinations to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Selfridge became a bookkeeper at the local furniture factory of Gilbert, Ransom & Knapp. However, the company closed four months later, and Selfridge moved to Grand Rapids to work in the insurance industry.
In 1876, his ex-employer, Leonard Field, agreed to write Selfridge a letter of introduction to Marshall Field in Chicago, who was a senior partner in Field, Leiter & Company, one of the most successful stores in the city (which soon became Marshall Field and Company). Initially employed as a stock boy in the wholesale department, over the following 25 years, Selfridge worked his way up. He was eventually appointed a junior partner, married Rosalie Buckingham (of the prominent Chicago Buckinghams) and amassed a considerable personal fortune.
After their marriage, the couple lived for some time with Rose's mother on Rush Street in Chicago. They later moved to their own home on Lake Shore Drive. The Selfridges also built an imposing mansion called Harrose Hall in mock Tudor style on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, complete with large greenhouses and extensive rose gardens. Over the next decade, the couple had five children : 
Chandler Selfridge (b and d 7 August 1891)
Rosalie Selfridge (10 September 1893-October 1977) - she married  Serge Vincent de Bolotoff, Prince Wiasemsky on 7 August 1918.
Violette Selfridge (5 June 1897-1996) - she married Jacques Jean de Sibour on 4 May 1921 and they were divorced in February 1949.
Gordon Selfridge (2 April 1900-30 November 1976) - he married Charlotte Elsie Dennis on 10 June 1940.
Beatrice Selfridge (30 July 1901-1990) - she married twice; first to Comte Louis de Sibour and then to Frank L. Lewis
Throughout their married life, Harry's mother, Lois, lived with the family. While at Marshall Field, Selfridge was the first to promote Christmas sales with the phrase "Only _____ Shopping Days Until Christmas", a catchphrase that was quickly picked up by retailers in other markets. Selfridge or Marshall Field are usually cited as the originators of the phrase "The customer is always right."
In 1904, Harry opened his own department store called Harry G. Selfridge and Co. in Chicago. However, after only two months he sold the store at a profit to Carson, Pirie and Co.  He then decided to retire, and for the next two years pottered around his properties, mainly Harrose Hall. He also bought a steam yacht, which he rarely used, and played golf.
Harry Gordon Selfridge