Palmer, Potter (1826-1902), a merchant and real estate promoter, revolutionized the selling methods of his day. Using the “Palmer System,” his store in Chicago let customers take home merchandise and inspect it, and make exchanges or get refunds. About 1865, Marshall Field and Levi Z. Leiter became partners in the business. They bought Palmer out two years later. In 1881, the business became Marshall Field and Company. Palmer built the Palmer House, a famous Chicago hotel, and was a leader in developing Chicago’s State Street as one of the world’s major retail centers. Palmer was born on May 20, 1826, in Albany County, New York. He died on May 4, 1902.
