CA-K439Economy & trade

Timothy Eaton, department store and mail order

Portrait of Timothy Eaton, 1903. Timothy Eaton Portrait · Unknown author · Photo source · Photo licence: Public domain. Resized for display; item previews may be cropped. The image remains under the licence shown.

Factual accuracy review: No recorded challenge

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Timothy Eaton, born in Ireland, opened his own store in Toronto in 1869. Innovations such as cash sales at fixed prices made it one of Canada’s first department stores, and in 1884 he introduced a mail-order department that brought low prices and a wide choice of goods to rural Canadians. At his death it was Canada’s largest retail business.

Scope & context

Eaton and his business as described in his designation.

Sources behind this record

Timothy Eaton National Historic Person ↗

Parks Canada (Directory of Federal Heritage Designations)

Importance; plaque text