With the emergence of national retailers, further opportunities were provided for lower middle-class girls desiring employment. Both Eaton's (established 1869), and Simpson's (established 1872), benefitted from the skill and effort of growing numbers of women in the paid labour force, as they commanded a much lower wage than men.
In this picture, women are seen working in the Simpson's mail order office in the main Simpson's retail store on the corner of Queen and Yonge Streets in Toronto. Girls began working in the office at age 13 or 14 and earned approximately $3.00 a week. A more experienced clerk might make as much as $5.00 a week and supervisors received $6.00. Working hours were 8:30 a.m. to 6:00p.m. Monday to Friday, and employees were also required to work on Saturdays. Attendance was strict and coffee-breaks non-existent.
Courtesy: James Collection, City of Toronto Archives
