Harry B. Cunningham (1907 in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

– November 11, 1992 in

North Palm Beach North Palm Beach is an incorporated village in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Miami Metropolitan Area. The population was 13,162 at the 2020 census. The village won an award from the National Association of Home Bui ...

, Florida) was an American businessman and retailer who founded Kmart in 1962, along with

S. S. Kresge Sebastian Spering Kresge (July 31, 1867 – October 18, 1966) was an American businessman. He created and owned two chains of department stores, the S. S. Kresge Company, one of the 20th century's largest discount retail organizations, and the ...

. Cunningham had a vision to convert the

retail chain A chain store or retail chain is a retail outlet in which several locations share a brand, central management and standardized business practices. They have come to dominate the retail and dining markets and many service categories, in many pa ...

into a discounter. At the time, Cunningham was sharply criticized by some, including Kresge shareholders, as possibly destroying the company. The success of Kmart proved his vision. He was president of the company from 1959 to 1972, having joined the retailer as an assistant store manager in 1930. Cunningham was credited by

Sam Walton Samuel Moore Walton (March 29, 1918 – April 5, 1992) was an American business magnate best known for founding the retailers Walmart and Sam's Club, which he started in 1962 and 1983 respectively. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. grew to be the world's l ...

as being the first to design a discount store. Walton added that Cunningham should be remembered as one of the leading retailers of all time.''Sam Walton: Made in America'', John Huey & Sam Walton (1993), Cunningham and Walton both visited, and were impressed by, the early and innovative discounter Ann & Hope in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

References

External links

20th Century Great American Business Leaders

Chicago tribune obituary

New York Times obituary
br /> 1907 births 1992 deaths American businesspeople in retailing 20th-century American businesspeople Businesspeople from Pennsylvania Kmart People from North Palm Beach, Florida {{US-business-bio-1900s-stub