George Gilman had a flair for marketing and pioneered many sales techniques that are now commonplace retailing.
17 Facts About George Gilman
1.
2.
In 1878, George Gilman retired to his mansion in Bridgeport, Connecticut where he became known as an eccentric.
3.
Hartford asserted in court that he was entitled to half of the company and George Gilman's estate agreed to a settlement that allowed Hartford to ultimately buy out the George Gilman interests.
4.
George's father, Nathaniel Gilman was a successful privateer and embargo runner during the War of 1812.
5.
In 1858, George Gilman built his own warehouse at 98 Gold Street in Manhattan.
6.
George Gilman's father died in 1859 without a will, resulting in litigation that was not settled for 50 years.
7.
That year, George Gilman's firm entered the tea and coffee business using the storefront at his Gold Street warehouse.
8.
One source speculates that George Gilman decided to enter a more respectable business in light of his wealth.
9.
In May 1861, Gilman turned over his tanning business to his brother Winthrop and George moved his tea business to 129 Front Street.
10.
Quickly, George Gilman opened five stores and moved his office and warehouse to 51 Vesey Street.
11.
In 1865, George Gilman located his coffee roasting plant at Broadway and Bleecker Street in the prime Manhattan shopping and entertainment district so that the smell of roasting coffee encouraged sales.
12.
George Gilman was later promoted to bookkeeper, then cashier in 1866.
13.
In 1878, George Gilman retired and left the active management of the firm to Hartford.
14.
George Gilman lived at his mansion in Bridgeport, Connecticut where he entertained extensively.
15.
George Gilman "adopted" at least two younger women to keep him company.
16.
George Gilman never had children and died from nephritis in March 1901 without a will, starting a legal battle among his numerous heirs.
17.
Hartford asserted that in 1878, George Gilman give him half of the company in an unwritten partnership agreement.