The runner-up is:

Ilja Van Damme, University of Antwerp,

for his chapter on:

 ‘Changing consumer preferences and evolutions in retailing. Buying and selling consumer durables in Antwerp (c.1648-c.1748)', in B. Blonde, P. Stabel, J. Stobart and I. Van Damme (eds.), Buyers and Sellers: Retail Circuits and Practices in Medieval and Early Modern Europe (Brepols, Turnhout, 2006).

Some of the judges' comments:

praise for the ‘ambition of the piece, and the depth of the research’

‘important as contributing to the diverse layers of shopping in Antwerp, including first- and second-hand, while simultaneously displaying a clear understanding of the historiographical context’.

‘an impressive piece … scholarly and well-researched’

‘firmly and impressively rooted in archival research, addresses the key question of how the transition to a consumer society happened’

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In third place is:

Robert Proctor, Glasgow School of Art,

for his article on:

 ‘Constructing the retail monument: the Parisian department store and its property, 1855-1914’, Urban History, 33, 2 (2006)

Some of the judges' comments:

‘an extremely well written paper that focuses on a relatively neglected topic’.

‘the piece was ambitious in scope, thoroughly and sensitively researched’

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The judges also commended:

Evan Roberts, ‘ “Don’t sell things, sell effects”: overseas influence in New Zealand department stores, 1909-1956’, Business History Review, 77 (2003).

‘Very well informed and well presented …Good example … of history examining - and informed by - cross-cultural exchange’

‘important and timely research presented, moreover, with elegance and style’

 ***

Clare Rose, ‘Reading through eighteenth-century merchants’ cards’, in M. Hayward (ed.), Textiles and Text: Re-establishing the Links Between Archival and Object-based Research (Archetype Publications, forthcoming 2007)

‘methodologically as well as thematically important - taking the subject into new terrain’

‘A good attempt to build bridges between the various pillars of the consumption/retailing literature’

 ***

Stephanie Decker, ‘Corporate legitimacy and advertising: British companies and the rhetoric of development, 1950s to 1970s’, forthcoming Business History Review (Spring 2007)

 ‘a good representative of the growing interest in consumption and advertising. It takes a rather different perspective on post-colonial relationships..’

‘Enjoyable and informative’

Commendation for ‘the mix of oral history and documentary analysis … analytically strong, with an innovative methodology’

‘useful and perceptive analysis of changing corporate images’

 

Clare Rose, ‘ “The novelty consists in the ornamental design”: design innovation in mass-produced boys’ clothing, 1840-1900’, Textile History 38, 2007

‘careful yet imaginative use of relatively inert primary sources (the Board of Trade archives of registered designs and the Stationers’ Hall collection of registered commercial images) to create an enhanced understanding of the role of design in this important area of nineteenth century retailing’

 

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