With the growth of industry, the Gilded Age brought a new consumer culture to America. Mail order catalogs were created by companies including Wards and Sears. These catalogs were often over 100 pages; catalogues offered a wide range of products delivered right to a persons door. Even those who lived in rural areas were able to purchase items through catalogues; “by 1900 there were 1,200 mail order companies enticing 6 million rural customers” (Shrock 49) Department stores were introduced to urban areas by the late 1800s and 1890s. These stores provided large selections of merchandise at low prices. Advertising was used to increase profits of different products. Ads could be found in magazines, newspapers, and outside on billboards. Consumerism
