BBC News - History of Harrods department store

1 Recognized for its celebrity-endorsed sales, food hall and signature green bags, Harrods at Knightsbridge station of London underground is one of the world's largest and most famous department stores, which in 2011 was owned by Qatari royal family.

2 The Knightsbridge store was established in 1849 by Charles Henry Harrod. Beginning in a single room and employing two assistants and a messenger boy, it mainly sold tea and groceries.

3 Harrods steadily expanded, and by 1880 was a thriving department store, offering everything from medicines and perfumes to clothing and food and attracted wealthy customers. Among the most famous items sold by the store was an airplane, sold in 1917; the company also sold an alligator, as a gift to Noel Coward. The tradition of offering unusual items continued throughout the century: in the 1980s, the store sold a baby elephant as a gift for then U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

4 Harrods offers something for everyone at all budget levels. With more than a million square feet (90,000 sq m) of space, Harrods sells luxury and everyday items across seven floors. It now employs about 4,000 staff. The store has over 330 departments offering a wide range of products and services. Services provided include 32 restaurants, serving everything from high tea to tapas to pub food to haute cuisine. There is also a personal shopping service, a watch repair service; a tailor; a dispensing pharmacy; a beauty spa and salon; a barbers shop; Financial Services and Bank, Bathroom Planning and Design Service; private events planning and catering; food delivery; a wine steward; bespoke "picnic" hampers and gift boxes; bespoke cakes; and bespoke fragrance formulations. Products sold include clothing, electronics, jewellery, sporting gear, bridal trousseau, pets and pet accessories, toys, food and drink, health and beauty items, packaged gifts, stationery, housewares, home appliances, furniture, and much more. Up to 300,000 customers visit the store on peak days and it attracts 15 million customers each year, comprising the highest proportion of guests from non-English speaking countries of any department store in London.

2. Answer the questions based on the text:

- Where can you find Harrods?

- Who was the founder of the department store? When was it established?

- How many departments are there nowadays?

- What kinds of goods are offered?
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