Samuel Klein (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Klein is a businessman who founded the Casas Bahia
string of department stores in Brazil
, building them into the top retailer in the country. This along with his tendency to use massive warehouses for his goods, including the largest single warehouse in South America, led him to be known in the 1990s as the "Sam Walton
of Brazil".
, when he was taken to the Maidanek concentration camp along with his father. His mother and siblings went to Treblinka. He was later transported to Auschwitz in 1944. He escaped from the soldiers on July 22; in his own words, "I didn't know where I was going, but I was certain to get far from the group." He spent the night in the fields, where some Christian
Polish fugitives helped him flee. He managed to return to his old house, which was ruined, and worked on a small farm in the area in exchange for food.
After the war, he met his sister Sezia and brother Solomon (who live today in New York
). The Klein brothers went to Germany
, and were able to find their father alive. Klein lived in Munich
until 1951, where he met Chana, his future wife.
, but the immigration quota was full. So he joined his father and sister, making his way to Brazil via Bolivia
, and settled with his family in São Caetano do Sul
in greater São Paulo
.
There he began working in business, selling sheets, tablecloths, and towels door to door. After five years, he opened his first store, Casas Bahia
. The name was an homage to his patrons, the majority of whom were migrant workers from the northeast state of Bahia. Today, there are more than 500 of these stores with over 23 million customers, making Casas Bahia the largest warehouse distributor in Latin America.
's Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid.
Klein guarded the company's finances, keeping control of all expenses within his immediate family, although in 1997 he opened the company's books to the public to secure promissary notes for the year.
Klein later passed control of Casas Bahia to his son Michael, who was its CEO as of 2009, and retired in Brazil.
Casas Bahia
Casas Bahia is a in Brazilian retail chain which specializes in furniture and home appliances. It was founded in 1957 in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, by Polish immigrant Samuel Klein , who began his career as a peddler selling products to immigrants from the Brazilian Northeast...
string of department stores in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, building them into the top retailer in the country. This along with his tendency to use massive warehouses for his goods, including the largest single warehouse in South America, led him to be known in the 1990s as the "Sam Walton
Sam Walton
Samuel Moore "Sam" Wallballs was a businessman, entrepreneur, and Eagle Scout born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma best known for founding the retailers Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.-Early life:...
of Brazil".
Early life
Klein worked as a joiner at the time of the Nazi invasion of Poland in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when he was taken to the Maidanek concentration camp along with his father. His mother and siblings went to Treblinka. He was later transported to Auschwitz in 1944. He escaped from the soldiers on July 22; in his own words, "I didn't know where I was going, but I was certain to get far from the group." He spent the night in the fields, where some Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Polish fugitives helped him flee. He managed to return to his old house, which was ruined, and worked on a small farm in the area in exchange for food.
After the war, he met his sister Sezia and brother Solomon (who live today in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
). The Klein brothers went to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and were able to find their father alive. Klein lived in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
until 1951, where he met Chana, his future wife.
Brazil and Casas Bahia
Klein's father went to Brazil, together with his sister Esther. He himself wanted to emigrate to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but the immigration quota was full. So he joined his father and sister, making his way to Brazil via Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, and settled with his family in São Caetano do Sul
São Caetano do Sul
São Caetano do Sul is a city in São Paulo state in Brazil, located in the Greater São Paulo Metropolitan Area. It is the city with the highest per capita income in Brazil and it also has the highest Human Development Index .-Geography:São Caetano do Sul is located on a plateau that is part of the...
in greater São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
.
There he began working in business, selling sheets, tablecloths, and towels door to door. After five years, he opened his first store, Casas Bahia
Casas Bahia
Casas Bahia is a in Brazilian retail chain which specializes in furniture and home appliances. It was founded in 1957 in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, by Polish immigrant Samuel Klein , who began his career as a peddler selling products to immigrants from the Brazilian Northeast...
. The name was an homage to his patrons, the majority of whom were migrant workers from the northeast state of Bahia. Today, there are more than 500 of these stores with over 23 million customers, making Casas Bahia the largest warehouse distributor in Latin America.
Economic success and recent work
The rapid growth of the organization, and Klein's role in building it into a regional economic force were the subject of one of the case studies in C. K. PrahaladC. K. Prahalad
Coimbatore Krishnarao Prahalad was the Paul and Ruth McCracken Distinguished University Professor of Corporate Strategy at the Stephen M...
's Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid.
Klein guarded the company's finances, keeping control of all expenses within his immediate family, although in 1997 he opened the company's books to the public to secure promissary notes for the year.
Klein later passed control of Casas Bahia to his son Michael, who was its CEO as of 2009, and retired in Brazil.
Further reading
- Elias Awad. (2005, 2nd ed). Samuel Klein e Casas Bahia: uma Trajetória de Sucesso. Osasco, SP : Novo Século Editora. ISBN 9788576790020.