Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to rethink the historical emergence of relationship marketing using the work of an early economics writer. Design/methodology/approach – The approach of the paper is a historical review. Findings – It is demonstrated that Eddy's major publication, The...

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a history of relational perspectives in marketing practice from the nineteenth through to the twentieth century. Design/methodology/approach – This paper engages in a systematic reading of published histories of retailing practice using the key attributes...