Buffums Department Store Luggage Tag
2.4'' × 4''
$16.99
Product Details & Size Guide
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Take Buffums history along on your next trip with this luggage tag. The company started in Long Beach in 1904 and expanded into a chain of 16 specialty stores across Southern California, building a recognizable local identity along the way. From its downtown flagship to its later move to Long Beach Plaza, Buffums remained part of the region's retail story for generations. This tag makes a distinctive travel accessory for collectors, former shoppers, and anyone with ties to Long Beach.
Buffums began in Long Beach, California, in 1904, when Charles and Edwin Buffum and other partners bought the Schilling Bros. dry goods business and began operating it as The Mercantile Co. The business grew from a downtown store into a regional chain of 16 specialty department stores across Southern California. Its downtown flagship expanded over several decades: a new building opened in stages in 1924, a parking garage followed in 1941, and additions in 1960 and 1964 enlarged the complex. From the 1950s, the chain gradually added stores and promoted its specialty-store identity. Known locally as the “Grand Dame” of department stores, Buffums used the advertising line “I've been to Buffums” in the 1970s and 1980s. Australian retailer David Jones bought the chain in the 1970s; by the time of its attempted sale in the 1980s, it had become part of Adelaide Steamship Company. In 1982, the Long Beach store and headquarters moved to Long Beach Plaza after the downtown complex was sold; that complex was demolished in 1985. Buffums entered liquidation after the 1990 Christmas season. A brief retail relaunch opened in Long Beach's Belmont Shore neighborhood in October 2015 and closed in March 2016.
Take Buffums history along on your next trip with this luggage tag. The company started in Long Beach in 1904 and expanded into a chain of 16 specialty stores across Southern California, building a recognizable local identity along the way. From its downtown flagship to its later move to Long Beach Plaza, Buffums remained part of the region's retail story for generations. This tag makes a distinctive travel accessory for collectors, former shoppers, and anyone with ties to Long Beach.
Buffums began in Long Beach, California, in 1904, when Charles and Edwin Buffum and other partners bought the Schilling Bros. dry goods business and began operating it as The Mercantile Co. The business grew from a downtown store into a regional chain of 16 specialty department stores across Southern California. Its downtown flagship expanded over several decades: a new building opened in stages in 1924, a parking garage followed in 1941, and additions in 1960 and 1964 enlarged the complex. From the 1950s, the chain gradually added stores and promoted its specialty-store identity. Known locally as the “Grand Dame” of department stores, Buffums used the advertising line “I've been to Buffums” in the 1970s and 1980s. Australian retailer David Jones bought the chain in the 1970s; by the time of its attempted sale in the 1980s, it had become part of Adelaide Steamship Company. In 1982, the Long Beach store and headquarters moved to Long Beach Plaza after the downtown complex was sold; that complex was demolished in 1985. Buffums entered liquidation after the 1990 Christmas season. A brief retail relaunch opened in Long Beach's Belmont Shore neighborhood in October 2015 and closed in March 2016.
| 2.4'' × 4'' | |
| Width, in | 2.40 |
| Height, in | 4.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.20 |
Product features
- Durable 100% acrylic body with glossy printed front
- Adjustable black leather strap with buckle
- One-side high-definition print in vibrant colors
- Rear opening pocket for business card or contact info
- Compact size 2.4” × 4” (6 × 10 cm)
Care instructions
- Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
Care instructions: Wipe with a damp cloth, air dry or use a soft, non-abrasive cloth