A WOMAN IN BUSINESS

The Life of Beatrice Fox Auerbach

"Don’t write about me as a businesswoman; call me a woman in business."

- Beatrice Fox Auerbach

MBC 639 – Fall 2011

Submitted by: Margaret ButlerCrystal Lo Elizabeth Shubsda Liz Wein

GREAT AMERICAN BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE 20 T H

CENTURY

Beatrice F. Auerbach – President of G. Fox and Company

1938-1965

“In 1938, when Auerbach became President of G. Fox and Company, it

is almost certain that she was the only female President of a Major

Department Store in the US. Auerbach was a pioneer in a number of

fair employment practices, including the five day work week. In the 27

years Auerbach headed G. Fox and Co., she increased sales ten fold.

By 1959, Fox’s was the largest privately owned retail store in the

country.”

Copyright © 2011President and Fellows of Harvard Collage

Personal

Born 1887- Died 1968

Birthplace - Connecticut

Father – Head of the Same Company

Race – White

She held daily meetings with all

of her employees to ensure

direct communication. This

personal touch exemplified the

extra care she put into her

employees and her store.

Employees came first; and with

the care of her employees came

the financial results that she was

looking for.

A BUSINESS WOMEN AHEAD OF HER T IME

Beatrice had many amenities

in place for her employees;

such as this in-store medical

center (actually located inside

of G. Fox & Co.) for employee

illness and health needs.

They were also one of the first

companies to provide medical

insurance to their employees.

EMPLOYEES FIRST

“THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS R IGHT” AND “ALWAYS EXCEED THEIR

EXPECTATIONS”

Beatrice followed in her father’s foot steps in this area.

If a product a customer wanted was not available at the store;

she would personally see to it that it was brought in. She would

even have it delivered right to the customer’s front door; if they so

desired.

She watched all of the little details. She had said of her

inventory that “to be out of a basic item was heresy, and treated

accordingly.”

(page 157)

BEATRICE’S LEADERSHIP TRAITS

Inspired and groomed by her father to take over the business

(environmental trait).

Extroverted (inherited and environmentally developed trait) as

she was exposed to several different cultures through her youth

and adult world travels.

Culturally diverse hiring practices (probably influenced by the

above). One of the first leaders to hire and promote women as

well as hire people of color (including management positions;

page 123) *

BEATRICE ’S LEADERSHIP TRAITS (CONT. )

Fairness (personality trait); as exemplified in her hiring and worker

compensation offerings (including benefits).

Influential (developed trait) in business, local community, and

national affairs.*

Motivational and appreciative (personality traits)– developed the

Moses Fox Club to honor long term employees that had been with

the store for 25 years or more; including lavish dinners and

appreciation gifts.

Determination and loyalty (personality and inherited traits)– during

the Great Depression, no one lost their jobs at G. Fox and Co.

Transforming leadership, is

about hearts and minds … The

leader inspires and somehow

elevates his (her) followers.”

(Pages 36-37; Naturally

Selected)

Servant Leadership –

“Leadership characterized by

humility, empathy, a sense of

community, a respect for ethics

and responsible stewardship of

a group’s resources; leaders

take on their roles at some cost

to themselves to serve the

group.” (Page 38; Naturally

Selected )

LEADERSHIP THEORIES THAT MAY DEFINE

BEATRICE

Transformational Leadership Servant Leadership

Ferdinand Stern – Maternal

Grandfather• Peddler, then merchant

Gerson Fox – Paternal Grandfather • Peddler, then merchant

Moses Fox – Father• Owner of G. Fox & Co.

George Auerbach – Husband• Son of retailers, helped run

G. Fox & Co. until his death.

1917 -started spending time in

store learning business

Owned a copy of 20th Century

Bookkeeping and Accounting by

James Baker containing

handwritten notes (pg. 70).

Upon George’s death, she starts

spending everyday in store at a

desk adjacent to her father.

ARE LEADERS BORN OR MADE?

Beatrice Family of Retailers Beatrice Business Training

Husband• Married George Auerbach- April 5, 1911• George died unexpectedly in

1927Children

• Georgette born in 1916• Married Richard Koopman

in 1940

• Dorothy born in 1919• Married Bernard Schiro

1940

12 grandchildren

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Chase Going Woodhouse• Professor of Economics

at Connecticut College for Women

• Frequent companion on travels

Judge Solomon Elsner

Eleanor Roosevelt

Family Friends

At her desk every morning by 9:30 AM

Lunched at home with children until they were grown then became work

lunches.

Afternoons she returned to her office

Wore white gloves to check cleanliness as she walked the store

Treated suppliers and manufacturers as partners

Felt success is built on great sales not advertising

Opened all mail addressed to store, even if directed to an employee

Left office each day at 6:00 or 7:00 PM

Wore only black to work; employees required to wear black, dark blue, and

white

WORK ETHIC

11 stories1938 - largest family owned Department Store in nation.

1939 - expanded to 40,000sq ft

Optical Department

Post Office Branch

Book Department• Rental Library• Photographic equipment

with developing

THE STORE

Pharmaceutical Department

Basic items stocked in every• Size, color, price

Catered to women• Personal shoppers• Beauty salon• Restaurants• Free Bridal consultants

Sold first pair of nylons in

US

First to offer free home

delivery to Connecticut,

Massachusetts, & Rhode

Island

Purchases by December 24th

were always delivered in time

for Christmas morning

Major designers visited store• Charles Revson• Estee Lauder• Tobe Coburn

Specialty Services• Interior decorating• Shoeshine• Repair department• Radio repair• Fur storage and repair• Custom gift wrapping• Sewing school• Travel bureau• Hosiery repair

1965 - joined with May

Company

THE STORE (CONT.)

With her parents• England• Germany• Egypt• Switzerland• Norway

With her husband• England• Scotland• France

WORLD TRAVELER

Africa - French Equatorial Africa, Belgian Congo, Kenya, Gold Coast, South Africa, Egypt, Rhodesia, Zanzibar, Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan

Asia - Rangoon, Philippines, Burma, Bangkok, Malaya, Bali, Java, Singapore, Saigon, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tokyo

Middle East – Lebanon, Karachi, New Delhi, Calcutta, Darwin, Liberia, Turkey, Pakistan

Europe - Germany, Russia, PolandGreeceAustraliaNew ZealandFijiSamoaNew GuineaSouth America – Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay

WORLD TRAVELER ON HER OWN

Fifteen Club• Provided for Jewish

community of Hartford

Board of Directors of Hebrew Union College in CincinnatiHartford Symphony OrchestraHartford Redevelopment AgencyBoard of the American School for the Deaf

1959 - coordinated with CARE to provide supplies and two sewing machines to a children's orphanage in BoliviaFounder of University of Hartford

CIVIC DUTIES

Organizations Philanthropy

1948 - recognized by the National Urban League for the company’s leadership in hiring and promoting blacks. Instituted a reintegration plan for returning war veterans, including the handicap into her store (first in nation). Established a major in retailing and allied arts at Connecticut College for Women in 1939Women of the Year by Delta Phi Epsilon International Sorority

Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation1947 Tobe Award – distinguished contributions in American retailing1955 - delegate to White House Conference on Education1956 - U.S. Chamber of Commerce outstanding boss of the yearPublic Service Award by Connecticut Bar AssociationDistinguished Service Award, American Legion Auxiliary

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

established 1945Statewide nonprofit education service to assist other voluntary organizationsResource CenterTwo major lecture series each winter in Hartford

• First was on education

• Second on International Affairs

Group visits to the UN

All-day conference at each of the three centers each June covering these topics:

• Leadership training• Parliamentary law• Public speaking• Program planning• Public relations

“Welcome to Connecticut” program

• For International students attending private and public colleges in Connecticut

T H E B E AT R I C E F OX A U E R B A C H S E RV I C E B U R E A U F O R W O M E N ’ S O R G A N I Z AT I O N S

Legal Rights of Children, 367 page study on laws affecting troubled childrenThe Police and Children in Trouble, for police officers to assist with children in troubleSchool Law, for teachers and educators dealing with children

Funded a pilot project to develop law related curriculum in Norwich, ConnecticutHosted dinner parties at her home to honor guest speakersHeld picnic each summer at family farm, Auerfarm, for organization members to gather and discuss insights and ideas

T H E B E A T R I C E F O X A U E R B A C H S E R V I C E B U R E A U F O R W O M E N ’ S O R G A N I Z A T I O N S ( C O N T . )

“The true beauty of retailing is that it teaches people to like other people for what they really are. Retailing is a poor word, it is a science and spirit and joy, the joy of working hard and the joy of thinking about other people” (pg. 97).

“Travel with my parents had a broadening influence on me as a human being and more than anything else gave me insight into the oneness of the peoples of the world. Regardless of race, color, religion, traditions, or background, they all had one thing in common, the need for one another. The concept of service began to develop in my subconscious” (pg. 146).

QUOTES BY BEATRICE FOX-AUERBACH