Service in Shops

Cummisky's Self-Service Supermarket, 1950s

Interior of Cummiskey's self-service supermarket store on September 28 1956.

© Lensmen Photographic Archive.

Cummisky's Self-Service Supermarket, 1950s
© Lensmen Photographic Archive.

Cummisky's Self-Service Supermarket, 1950s

Interior of Cummiskey's self-service supermarket store on September 28 1956.

© Lensmen Photographic Archive.

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In the early 1900s, customers were served by shop assistants who helped them choose what they wanted to buy. Clothes were expensive and there were fewer clothes shops. Many people bought material and paper patterns and made their own clothes at home.At that time, shops were not self-service. Customers were waited on by serving staff and in many cases, the products on sale were kept behind the counter. Before this type of shop was replaced by modern supermarkets, the first self-service shops looked something like the one in this picture.