John Peterman
Encyclopedia
John Peterman is a catalog
and retail
entrepreneur
from Lexington
, Kentucky
, who operates The J. Peterman Company
.
Peterman graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
in 1963 and played third base on Holy Cross baseball teams that went to the College World Series in 1962
and 1963
. He also played baseball
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
organization for three years as a second baseman.
The J. Peterman Company
had sales of over $75 million at its peak. However, after opening several retail stores, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection in January 1999, and the brand name was sold to the Paul Harris Company.
Later, when the Paul Harris Company went out of business, Peterman was able to purchase the rights to his own name as a brand, with funding help from John O'Hurley
, the actor who portrayed J. Peterman on Seinfeld. With the help of a core group from the original company (creative director, William McCullam, marketing director Jonathan Dunavant, merchant Paula Collins and director of manufacturing Kyle Foster), The J. Peterman Company was relaunched.
John Peterman wrote a book about the company's trials, Seinfeld influence, and more called Peterman Rides Again (ISBN 0-7352-0199-4).
Peterman is the father-in-law to actor Steve Zahn
.
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
and retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
from Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, who operates The J. Peterman Company
The J. Peterman Company
The J. Peterman Company is a retail company that sells clothing and fashion accessories primarily through catalogs and the Internet.-History:...
.
Peterman graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in 1963 and played third base on Holy Cross baseball teams that went to the College World Series in 1962
1962 College World Series
The 1962 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 11 to June 16. The sixteenth tournament's champion was the University of Michigan, coached by Don Lund...
and 1963
1963 College World Series
The 1963 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 10 to June 14. The seventeenth tournament's champion was the University of Southern California, coached by Rod Dedeaux...
. He also played baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
organization for three years as a second baseman.
The J. Peterman Company
The J. Peterman Company
The J. Peterman Company is a retail company that sells clothing and fashion accessories primarily through catalogs and the Internet.-History:...
had sales of over $75 million at its peak. However, after opening several retail stores, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
protection in January 1999, and the brand name was sold to the Paul Harris Company.
Later, when the Paul Harris Company went out of business, Peterman was able to purchase the rights to his own name as a brand, with funding help from John O'Hurley
John O'Hurley
John George O'Hurley is an American actor, voice actor, and television personality. He is known for the role of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and was the host of the game show Family Feud from 2006 to 2010.-Early life:...
, the actor who portrayed J. Peterman on Seinfeld. With the help of a core group from the original company (creative director, William McCullam, marketing director Jonathan Dunavant, merchant Paula Collins and director of manufacturing Kyle Foster), The J. Peterman Company was relaunched.
John Peterman wrote a book about the company's trials, Seinfeld influence, and more called Peterman Rides Again (ISBN 0-7352-0199-4).
Peterman is the father-in-law to actor Steve Zahn
Steve Zahn
-Early life:Zahn was born in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Zelda, who worked for the YMCA, and Carleton E. Zahn, a retired Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor. Zahn spent part of his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota, attending Kennedy Elementary School...
.
External links
- The J Peterman Company
- Peterman's Eye - A daily brief for curious minds
- The Return of J. Peterman An article about a talk J. Peterman gave at his alma materAlma materAlma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, The College of the Holy CrossCollege of the Holy CrossThe College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...