Building a Market: The Rise of the Home Improvement Industry, 1914-1960 (Historical Studies of Urban America)

A unique study of how the American Dream came to be—and came to be constantly updated and renovated: "A pleasure to read."— American Historical Review Each year, North Americans spend as much money fixing up their homes as they do buying new ones. This obsession with improving our dwellings has given rise to a multibillion-dollar industry that includes countless books, magazines, cable shows, and home improvement stores. Building a Market charts the rise of the home improvement industry in the United States and Canada from the end of World War I into the late 1950s. Drawing on the insights of business, social, and urban historians, and making use of a wide range of documentary sources, Richard Harris shows how the middle-class preference for home ownership first emerged in the 1920s—and how manufacturers, retailers, and the federal government combined to establish the massive home improvement market and a pervasive culture of Do-It-Yourself. Deeply insightful, Building a Market is the carefully crafted history of the emergence and evolution of a home improvement revolution that changed not just American culture but the American landscape as well. "An important topic that deserves to be widely read by scholars of business history, urban history, and social history."— Journal of American History Each Year, North Americans Spend As Much Money Fixing Up Their Homes As They Do Buying New Ones. This Obsession With Improving Our Dwellings Has Given Rise To A Multibillion-dollar Industry That Includes Countless Books, Consumer Magazines, A Cable Television Network, And Thousands Of Home Improvement Stores. Building A Market Charts The Rise Of The Home Improvement Industry In The United States And Canada From The End Of World War I Into The Late 1950s. Drawing On The Insights Of Business, Social, And Urban Historians, And Making Use Of A Wide Range Of Documentary Sources, Richard Harris Shows How The Middle-class Preference For Home Ownership First Emerged In The 1920s--and How Manufacturers, Retailers, And The Federal Government Combined To Establish The Massive Home Improvement Market And A Pervasive Culture Of Do-it-yourself. Deeply Insightful, Building A Market Is The Carefully Crafted History Of The Emergence And Evolution Of A Home Improvement Revolution That Changed Not Just American Culture But The American Landscape As Well. Origins -- The Foundation Of Home Ownership -- An Industry Unready To Improve -- The Realm Of The Retailer -- The Birth Of The Home Improvement Store -- Crisis, 1927 -- 1945 -- A Perfect Storm For The Building Industry -- Manufacturers Save The Retailer -- The State Makes Credit -- Resolution, 1945 -- 1960 -- Mr. And Mrs. Builder -- Help For The Amateur -- The Improvement Business Coalesces -- A Zelig Of The American Cultural Economy. Richard Harris. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Each year, North Americans spend as much money fixing up their homes as they do buying new ones. This obsession with improving our dwellings has given rise to a multibillion-dollar industry that includes countless books, consumer magazines, a cable television network, and thousands of home improvement stores. Building a Market charts the rise of the home improvement industry in the United States and Canada from the end of World War I into the late 1950s. Drawing on the insights of business, social, and urban historians, and making use of a wide range of documentary sources, Richard Harris shows how the middle-class preference for home ownership first emerged in the 1920s--and how manufacturers, retailers, and the federal government combined to establish the massive home improvement market and a pervasive culture of Do-It-Yourself. Deeply insightful, Building a Market is the carefully crafted history of the emergence and evolution of a home improvement revolution that changed not just American culture but the American landscape as well."--Site de l'éditeur Each year, North Americans spend as much money fixing up their homes as they do buying new ones. This obsession with improving our dwellings has given rise to a multibillion-dollar industry that includes countless books, consumer magazines, a cable television network, and thousands of home improvement stores.__Building a Market__ charts the rise of the home improvement industry in the United States and Canada from the end of World War I into the late 1950s. Drawing on the insights of business, social, and urban historians, and making use of a wide range of documentary sources, Richard Harris shows how the middle-class preference for home ownership first emerged in the 1920s—and how manufacturers, retailers, and the federal government combined to establish the massive home improvement market and a pervasive culture of Do-It-Yourself.Deeply insightful, __Building a Market__ is the carefully crafted history of the emergence and evolution of a home improvement revolution that changed not just American culture but the American landscape as well. Each year, North Americans spend as much money fixing up their homes as they do buying new ones. This obsession with improving their dwellings has given rise to a multibillion-dollar industry that includes countless books, consumer magazines, a cable television network, and thousands of home improvement stores. This book charts the rise of the home improvement industry in the United States and Canada from the end of World War I into the late 1950s. Drawing on the insights of business, social, and urban historians, and making use of a wide range of documentary sources, it shows how the middle-class preference for home ownership first emerged in the 1920s—and how manufacturers, retailers, and the federal government combined to establish the massive home improvement market and a pervasive culture of do-it-yourself. The book provides the history of the emergence and evolution of a home improvement revolution that changed not just American culture but the American landscape as well