In 1838 Au Bon Marché was founded in Paris as a novelty shop created by brothers Paul and Justin Videau to sell lace, ribbons, sheets, mattresses, buttons, umbrellas and other assorted goods.

The use of fixed prices replaced the haggling system which was then commonly used in dry goods stores.

[citation needed] Boucicaut had become famous for his marketing innovations, including a reading room where husbands could wait whilst their wives shopped; extensive newspaper advertising; entertainment for children and six million catalogs sent to customers.

Today's home-furnishings inventory primarily consists of brand names but not white goods.

[11] Zola's novel Au Bonheur des Dames was inspired by the story of Le Bon Marché.

Le Bon Marché consists of three buildings separated by rue du Bac and rue de Babylone: *SHON = surface area minus that of the stairs, lifts, unusable ceiling spaces, roof terraces, open-air terraces, balconies, corridors and garages; less a further 5% for insulation.