Félix Potin
Félix Potin, a pioneer of mass distribution in France, opened a grocer's store in Boulevard de Sebastopol, Paris in 1860, which was followed by numerous other stores throughout France. As an innovative entrepreneur, he came up with the idea of giving his customers photographs to collect featuring personalities of the time. This idea marked the beginning of loyalty marketing and the advent of the first ever "celebrity" photographs. Félix Potin produced two albums of 510 portraits between 1900 and 1907. Nadar and other photographers captured writers, politicians and kings and queens of foreign countries on film as well as sportsmen, explorers, artists, members of the clergy, magistrates and other stars. The albums met with resounding success and a century later, these photos have become collectors' items that can be found on the internet.
