Trí Đức English - IELTS Reading Practice: The History of Farmers TRÍ ĐỨC ENGLISH - IELTS READING PRACTICE Chuyên đề: The History of Farmers Department Store (Reading Passage 2 - Questions 15–26) Reading Passage Questions 15–26 [A] The Farmers trading company began in 1909 when Scottish immigrant Robert Laidlaw established a mail-order company called Laidlaw Leeds in Fort Street, Auckland. He then opened branches via the purchase of the Green & Colebrook chain store, and further regional stores in Auckland and Waikato followed. Then their first furniture and boot factory was opened, and by 1920 the company had 29 branches. A store in Whangarei was purchased, and Hobson Street was opened for direct selling to the public. The firm then went international, establishing London and New York purchasing offices. With permission from the local harbor board, a large Farmers electric sign on the Wyndham Street front was installed. [B] It seems that Robert Laidlaw was ahead of his time as an entrepreneur. He might have been scripting a modern-day commercial when he said "Satisfaction, or your money back". Business historian Ian Hunter commented, "It was the first money back guarantee ever offered in New Zealand by any firm, and this statement was only the second one ever found in the world." Laidlaw's mission was simple—to build the greatest business in New Zealand, to simplify every transaction, to eliminate all delays, and to only sell goods that are practical for customers. [C] This company, which had humble beginnings as a mail-order business, now employs 3,500 staff in 58 stores, and has just celebrated its hundredth anniversary. Ian Hunter, who is also the author of a history book, says that coming to Farmers every week is part of the New Zealand way of life, and in the 1960s, one in ten people had an account with Farmers. By that time, Farmers was the place for girls to buy their first bra, newlyweds to purchase their first dinner-sets, new workers to use their first pay-cheques to pay off hire-purchase furniture, and the best place to see Santa every Christmas. At one time it had tearooms, children's playground, and an annual celebration of the birthday of Hector the Parrot who died in the 1970s aged 131. At one time, you could even buy houses from Farmers. There was also a saddle factory which supplied the armed forces, and its upright grand pianos offered good value, according to early catalogues. [D] Farmers has changed considerably from that time. Walking through a Farmers store today, you will be drawn by the bright lights and big brands. Its Albany branch hosts 16 international cosmetics companies. The store purchases from about 500 suppliers-with about 30 of those being locally owned. "10 years ago," says current CEO Rod McDermott, "lots of brands wouldn't partner with us. The stores were quite distressed. We were first price point focused; we weren't fashion focused." Farmers is, quite simply, a company that does busine...