Franklin Winfield Woolworth (April 13, 1852 – April 8, 1919) was an American merchant. Born in Rodman, New York, he was the founder of F.W. Woolworth Company, an operator of discount stores that priced merchandise at five and ten cents. He pioneered the now-common practices of buying merchandise direct from manufacturers and fixing prices on items, rather than haggling. April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Merchants function as professional traders, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves. ... Rodman is a town located in Jefferson County, New York. ... The F.W. Woolworth Company NYSE: FL (formerly Z) ) was a United States brand name of retail stores. ... A two cent euro coin A US penny In currency, the cent is a monetary unit that equals th of the basic unit of value. ... Most firms use a fixed price policy. ...

The son of a farmer, Woolworth aspired to be a merchant. He worked for six years in a drygoods store, where he observed a passing fad. Leftover items were priced at five cents and placed on a table. Woolworth liked the idea, so he borrowed $300 to open a store where all items were priced at five cents.

Woolworth's first five-cent store, established in Utica, New York on February 22, 1879, failed within weeks. At his second store, established in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in April 1879, he expanded the concept to include merchandise priced at ten cents. The second store was successful, and Woolworth and his brother, Charles Sumner Woolworth, opened a large number of five-and-ten-cent stores. This article is about Utica in New York, USA. For other places with this name, see Utica. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Lancaster is a city located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. ... Five and dime was a common nickname in the United States for five-and-ten-cent stores (also called 5 and 10s), popular in the early to mid-20th century. ...

In 1911, the F.W. Woolworth Company was incorporated, uniting 586 stores founded by the Woolworth brothers and others. 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... The F.W. Woolworth Company NYSE: FL (formerly Z) ) was a United States brand name of retail stores. ...

In 1913, Woolworth built the Woolworth Building in New York City at a cost of $13.5 million in cash. At the time, it was the tallest building in the world, measuring 792 feet, or 241.4 meters. Link title1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Woolworth Building The 60-story Woolworth Building is one of the oldest – and one of the most famous – skyscrapers in New York City. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ...

Married with three daughters and several grandchildren, his granddaughter Barbara Hutton would gain much publicity for her lifestyle, squandering more than $50 million. Barbara Hutton, born November 14, 1912 in New York City, United States – died May 11, 1979 in Los Angeles, California, was a wealthy American socialite dubbed by the media as the Poor Little Rich Girl because of her troubled life. ...

Woolworth died in April 1919 at the age of 66. At the time, his company owned more than 1,000 stores in the United States and other countries and was a $65 million corporation.

By 1997, the original chain he founded had been reduced to 400 stores, and other divisions of the company began to be more profitable than the original chain. The original chain went out of business on July 17, 1997, as the firm began its transition into Foot Locker, Inc.. 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The UK stores continued after the US operation ceased under the Woolworth name and now trade as Woolworths.

External links

• Frank W. Woolworth, pioneer of the five and dime stores
• A virtual tour of downtown Hamilton - F.W. Woolworth Co. Ltd.