| (1907
- 1992) |
| Inducted: |
1978 |
| Region: |
MidWest |
| Industry: |
Retail
|
|
Harry Blair Cunningham was a stock boy at S.S. Kresge and worked his way up to general vice president in 1957. Kresge’s sales had been growing slowly but its profits were sliding because its customers were moving to the suburbs. Cunningham concluded that Kresge, with its strong national organization, could corner the market on discount stores. He conducted an elaborate study of discounting. Management became so confident in the idea that it made a commitment for 33 Kmart stores before the first store opened in 1962. |
