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{{short description|American entrepreneur}}
{{short description|American entrepreneur}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = John Peterman
| name = John Peterman
| image = John_Peterman.jpg
| image = John_Peterman.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth_year and age|1941}}
| birth_date = {{birth_year and age|1941}}
| birth_place = [[West Nyack, New York]]
| birth_place = [[West Nyack, New York]], U.S.
| education = College of the Holy Cross, 1963
| education = [[College of the Holy Cross]] ([[B. S.|BS]])
| occupation = Founder, Chairman of [[J. Peterman Company]]
| occupation = Founder, Chairman of [[J. Peterman Company]]
| years_active = 1987–2000, 2001–present
| years_active = 1987–2000, 2001–present
Line 13: Line 14:
| children = 4
| children = 4
| parents = Charles Peterman, Sally Peterman
| parents = Charles Peterman, Sally Peterman
| website = https://www.jpeterman.com/
| website = {{URL|jpeterman.com/}}
}}
}}


'''John Peterman''' (born 1941)<ref name=":3" /> is an American [[Mail order|catalog]] and [[retail]] [[entrepreneur]] from [[Lexington, Kentucky]], who operates the [[J. Peterman Company]]. He grew up in [[West Nyack, New York]] as the son of a banker and secretary.<ref name=":1" /> He is known for founding the J. Peterman Company after finding a cowboy duster on a business trip.<ref name=":0" /> He is also known for [[List of Seinfeld characters#Jacopopeterman|being fictionalized]] in the TV series ''[[Seinfeld]]''.<ref name=":2">{{cite video|url=//www.youtube.com/watch?v=krBiR-Emm9A|title=Adventurer: Seinfeld's J. Peterman|publisher=[[Forbes.com]] Video Network|access-date=Jun 6, 2009}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> Peterman was also a [[Minor League Baseball]] player, Kentucky rancher, and author.<ref name="insearch">{{Cite news|url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/in-search-of-the-real-j-peterman/521433/|title=In search of the real J. Peterman|work=Retail Dive|access-date=2018-08-21|language=en-US}}</ref>
'''John Peterman''' (born 1941)<ref name=":3" /> is an American [[Mail order|catalog]] and [[retail]] [[entrepreneur]] from [[Lexington, Kentucky]], who operates the [[J. Peterman Company]]. He grew up in [[West Nyack, New York]] as the son of a banker and secretary.<ref name=":1" /> He is known for founding the J. Peterman Company after finding a cowboy duster on a business trip.<ref name=":0" /> He is also known for [[List of Seinfeld characters#Jacopopeterman|being fictionalized]] in the TV series ''[[Seinfeld]]''.<ref name=":2">{{cite video|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krBiR-Emm9A|title=Adventurer: Seinfeld's J. Peterman|publisher=[[Forbes.com]] Video Network|access-date=June 6, 2009}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> Peterman was also a [[Minor League Baseball]] player, Kentucky rancher, and author.<ref name="insearch">{{Cite news|url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/in-search-of-the-real-j-peterman/521433/|title=In search of the real J. Peterman|work=Retail Dive|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref>


==Early life ==
==Early life ==
Peterman was the third of four children born to Charles and Sally Peterman. He had two brothers and a sister.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://lancasteronline.com/features/putting-on-the-ritzy-the-man-the-myth-the-legend/article_ad20a991-eeb1-57d8-b3ab-43be1dc7e007.html|title=Putting on the ritzy / The man, the myth, the legend, the catalog and the new line of furniture|last=Jurgelski|first=Susan|work=LancasterOnline|access-date=2018-08-24|language=en}}</ref> Charles Peterman became a loan officer and, later, the assistant vice president<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Rockland County Times 21 October 1971|url=https://news.hrvh.org/veridian/cgi-bin/senylrc?a=d&d=rocklandctytimes19711021.1.8&|language=en}}</ref> of the Irving Trust Co. after working his way up from the mailroom. John Peterman grew up in Van Houten Fields, an agrarian commune in [[West Nyack, New York]]. Those who were part of the community built their own houses and grew a portion of their own food. Peterman learned to garden, tend chickens, and participate in other physical labor.<ref name=":3" /> His mother worked as an administrative assistant after her children started school.<ref name=":5" />
Peterman was the third of four children born to Charles and Sally Peterman. He had two brothers and a sister.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://lancasteronline.com/features/putting-on-the-ritzy-the-man-the-myth-the-legend/article_ad20a991-eeb1-57d8-b3ab-43be1dc7e007.html|title=Putting on the ritzy / The man, the myth, the legend, the catalog and the new line of furniture|last=Jurgelski|first=Susan|work=LancasterOnline|access-date=August 24, 2018}}</ref> Charles Peterman became a loan officer and, later, the assistant vice president<ref>{{Cite news| publisher=Rockland County Times| title=Obituaries |date=October 21, 1971|url=https://news.hrvh.org/veridian/cgi-bin/senylrc?a=d&d=rocklandctytimes19711021.1.8}}</ref> of the Irving Trust Co. after working his way up from the mailroom. John Peterman grew up in Van Houten Fields, an agrarian commune in [[West Nyack, New York]]. Those who were part of the community built their own houses and grew a portion of their own food. Peterman learned to garden, tend chickens, and participate in other physical labor.<ref name=":3" /> His mother worked as an administrative assistant after her children started school.<ref name=":5" />


As a high schooler, Peterman attended Clarkstown High School and participated in basketball, baseball, and football. He was recognized in the local newspaper for his performance in all three sports.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959-1960/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959-1960%20-%200599.pdf|title=Spice of Sports|last=Basson|first=Sam|date=1960-01-14|work=Orangetown Telegram|access-date=2018-08-24}}</ref> In baseball, he played second base and was voted All-P.S.A.L Baseball first team selection as a second baseman.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959%20-%200703.pdf|title=Lions Share to Rams, Suffern, Bucs in All P.S.A.L. Baseball Selections|last=Basson|first=Sam|date=1959-06-18|work=Orangetown Telegram|access-date=2018-08-24}}</ref> He graduated from Clarkstown High School in 1960.<ref name=":6" />
As a high schooler, Peterman attended Clarkstown High School and participated in basketball, baseball, and football. He was recognized in the local newspaper for his performance in all three sports.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959-1960/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959-1960%20-%200599.pdf|title=Spice of Sports|last=Basson|first=Sam|date=January 14, 1960|work=Orangetown Telegram|access-date=August 24, 2018}}</ref> In baseball, he played second base and was voted All-P.S.A.L Baseball first team selection as a second baseman.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959/Pearl%20River%20NY%20Orangetown%20Telegram%20%201959%20-%200703.pdf|title=Lions Share to Rams, Suffern, Bucs in All P.S.A.L. Baseball Selections|last=Basson|first=Sam|date=June 18, 1959|work=Orangetown Telegram|access-date=August 24, 2018}}</ref> He graduated from Clarkstown High School in 1960.<ref name=":6" />


==Education and baseball career==
==Education and baseball career==
Peterman graduated from the [[College of the Holy Cross]], in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]<ref name=":1" /> in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in economics.<ref name=":5" /> He played [[Third baseman|third base]] on the [[Holy Cross Crusaders baseball|Holy Cross baseball]] teams that went to the [[College World Series]] in [[1962 College World Series|1962]] and [[1963 College World Series|1963]]. As a junior in 1962, he had a .362 [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]], and as a senior in 1963, he had a .291 batting average and led his team with 17 [[Run batted in|runs batted in]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goholycross.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=33100&ATCLID=210240389|title=Bio - John H. Peterman|website=goholycross.com|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref>
Peterman graduated from the [[College of the Holy Cross]], in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]<ref name=":1" /> in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in economics.<ref name=":5" /> He played [[Third baseman|third base]] on the [[Holy Cross Crusaders baseball|Holy Cross baseball]] teams that went to the [[College World Series]] in [[1962 College World Series|1962]] and [[1963 College World Series|1963]]. As a junior in 1962, he had a .362 [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]], and as a senior in 1963, he had a .291 batting average and led his team with 17 [[Run batted in|runs batted in]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goholycross.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=33100&ATCLID=210240389|title=Bio - John H. Peterman|website=goholycross.com|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref>


He also played [[minor-league baseball]] for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] organization for two seasons as a second baseman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=peterm002joh |title=John Peterman Minor League Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=2013-12-02}}</ref> In 1963, Peterman had a one-day tryout with the [[New York Yankees]] at [[Yankee Stadium]] where he played next to [[Mickey Mantle]], [[Roger Maris]], and [[Tony Kubek]], but did not sign with the team.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1998/11/02/251189/yankee-stadium-for-sale-home-plate-and-old-seats-at-j-petermans-aint-cheap|title=Yankee Stadium for Sale Home Plate and Old Seats at J. Peterman's Ain't Cheap|last=Walters|first=John|date=1998-11-02|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=2018-08-22}}</ref> His baseball career ended in his early 20s after a leg injury.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/life/texana/2018/04/04/real-j-peterman-turns-texas-company-baseball-product-spring-catalog|title=The real J. Peterman turns to a Texas company for a baseball product in his spring catalog|date=2018-04-04|work=Dallas News|access-date=2018-08-22|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-04-01/features/9704010017_1_john-peterman-don-staley-seinfeld-characters|title=John Peterman Has 40 Million Reasons To Smile|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=2018-08-22|language=en}}</ref>
He also played [[minor-league baseball]] for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] organization for two seasons as a second baseman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=peterm002joh |title=John Peterman Minor League Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=December 2, 2013}}</ref> In 1963, Peterman had a one-day tryout with the [[New York Yankees]] at [[Yankee Stadium]] where he played next to [[Mickey Mantle]], [[Roger Maris]], and [[Tony Kubek]], but did not sign with the team.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1998/11/02/251189/yankee-stadium-for-sale-home-plate-and-old-seats-at-j-petermans-aint-cheap|title=Yankee Stadium for Sale Home Plate and Old Seats at J. Peterman's Ain't Cheap|last=Walters|first=John|date=November 2, 1998|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref> His baseball career ended in his early 20s after a leg injury.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/life/texana/2018/04/04/real-j-peterman-turns-texas-company-baseball-product-spring-catalog|title=The real J. Peterman turns to a Texas company for a baseball product in his spring catalog|date=April 4, 2018|work=Dallas News|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/04/01/john-peterman-has-40-million-reasons-to-smile/|title=John Peterman Has 40 Million Reasons To Smile|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref>


==Business career==
==Business career==
===Sales===
===Sales===
Peterman had a career in sales for 20 years after his baseball career ended. He worked as a regional sales manager in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama for General Foods and Castle & Cooke.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/30/garden/a-legend-in-his-own-ad-copy-and-on-seinfeld.html|title=A Legend in His Own Ad Copy, and on 'Seinfeld'|last=de Witt|first=Karen |work=The New York Times |date=30 April 1997 |access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> During his time in sales, Peterman sold dog food, cereal, pineapple, tuna fish, and inspirational tapes. In 1981, he was managing fertilizer accounts but was dismissed.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/suburban-cowboy-john-peterman-rides-the-long-coattails-of-his-dude-ish-duster-to-catalog-success-vol-34-no-10/|title=Suburban Cowboy John Peterman Rides the Long Coattails of His Dude-Ish Duster to Catalog Success|work=PEOPLE.com|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref>
Peterman had a career in sales for 20 years after his baseball career ended. He worked as a regional sales manager in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama for General Foods and Castle & Cooke.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/30/garden/a-legend-in-his-own-ad-copy-and-on-seinfeld.html|title=A Legend in His Own Ad Copy, and on 'Seinfeld'|last=de Witt|first=Karen |work=The New York Times |date=April 30, 1997 |access-date=August 17, 2018}}</ref> During his time in sales, Peterman sold dog food, cereal, pineapple, tuna fish, and inspirational tapes. In 1981, he was managing fertilizer accounts but was dismissed.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/suburban-cowboy-john-peterman-rides-the-long-coattails-of-his-dude-ish-duster-to-catalog-success-vol-34-no-10/|title=Suburban Cowboy John Peterman Rides the Long Coattails of His Dude-Ish Duster to Catalog Success|work=PEOPLE.com|access-date=August 17, 2018}}</ref>


===Corporate consultant===
===Corporate consultant===
Peterman became a corporate consultant after deciding “that was the first and last time I was going to be fired.”<ref name=":0" /> As a corporate specialty-foods sales<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KF0S3yTcOxMC&q=Irving+Trust+charles+peterman&pg=PA33|title=Accidental Branding: How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Brands|last=Vinjamuri|first=David|date=2008-03-31|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780470282083|pages=22–49|language=en}}</ref> consultant, he helped people make deals with other companies, and it allowed him to travel. During a meeting to help a client find an advertising company, Peterman met Donald Staley and they began to work closely together. They agreed to collaborate on any entrepreneurial ideas they envisioned, which led to several businesses.<ref name=":0" />
Peterman became a corporate consultant after deciding “that was the first and last time I was going to be fired.”<ref name=":0" /> As a corporate specialty-foods sales<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KF0S3yTcOxMC&q=Irving+Trust+charles+peterman&pg=PA33|title=Accidental Branding: How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Brands|last=Vinjamuri|first=David|date=March 31, 2008|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780470282083|pages=22–49}}</ref> consultant, he helped people make deals with other companies, and it allowed him to travel. During a meeting to help a client find an advertising company, Peterman met Donald Staley and they began to work closely together. They agreed to collaborate on any entrepreneurial ideas they envisioned, which led to several businesses.<ref name=":0" />


===Entrepreneur===
===Entrepreneur===
Together, Peterman and Staley started a mail-order company to heal sick houseplants as well as a manufacturing business making [[Beer cheese (spread)|beer cheese]]; both were successful.<ref name=":0" /> The beer cheese business was originally [[Hall's Beer Cheese]] and Peterman bought half the company. While he was selling beer cheese, he found a horseman's duster that would propel him into the retail business. The beer cheese was being sold downstairs and the retail business was upstairs until Hall's was eventually sold.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aceweekly.com/2016/04/how-j-peterman-is-resurrecting-retail/|title=How J. Peterman Is Resurrecting Retail|date=2016-04-26|work=Ace Weekly|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en-US}}</ref>
Together, Peterman and Staley started a mail-order company to heal sick houseplants as well as a manufacturing business making [[Beer cheese (spread)|beer cheese]]; both were successful.<ref name=":0" /> The beer cheese business was originally [[Hall's Beer Cheese]] and Peterman bought half the company. While he was selling beer cheese, he found a horseman's duster that would propel him into the retail business. The beer cheese was being sold downstairs and the retail business was upstairs until Hall's was eventually sold.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aceweekly.com/2016/04/how-j-peterman-is-resurrecting-retail/|title=How J. Peterman Is Resurrecting Retail|date=April 26, 2016|work=Ace Weekly|access-date=August 17, 2018}}</ref>


=== J. Peterman Company ===
=== J. Peterman Company ===
{{Main|J. Peterman Company}}
{{Main|J. Peterman Company}}
In 1986, Peterman was on a business trip in [[Denver]], Colorado, and decided to explore [[Wyoming]]. He went to [[Jackson Hole]] and bought a horseman's [[duster (clothing)|duster]] because he liked it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Jacob |title=Remember the J.Peterman Catalog? It's Still Going Strong and so is Mr. Peterman |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/remember-the-j-peterman-catalog-its-still-going-strong-and-so-is-mr-peterman-11547569560 |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref> After wearing it consistently, he and his friend Staley decided to sell more of the coats, putting an advertisement in ''[[The New Yorker]]''. That led to the sale of about 70 coats and the J. Peterman Company was created.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of J. Peterman, the Real-Life Catalog That Survived Seinfeld |url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/menswear/j-peterman-looks-to-the-past-present-and-future-seinfeld |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=InsideHook |language=en-US}}</ref> In the fall of 1988, the company's first catalog was published, with black and white drawings and a literary copy style. Color illustrations were introduced to the catalog in 1989.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
In 1986, Peterman was on a business trip in [[Denver]], Colorado, and decided to explore [[Wyoming]]. He went to [[Jackson Hole]] and bought a horseman's [[duster (clothing)|duster]] because he liked it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Jacob |title=Remember the J.Peterman Catalog? It's Still Going Strong and so is Mr. Peterman |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/remember-the-j-peterman-catalog-its-still-going-strong-and-so-is-mr-peterman-11547569560 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=WSJ}}</ref> After wearing it consistently, he and his friend Staley decided to sell more of the coats, putting an advertisement in ''[[The New Yorker]]''. That led to the sale of about 70 coats and the J. Peterman Company was created.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of J. Peterman, the Real-Life Catalog That Survived Seinfeld |url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/menswear/j-peterman-looks-to-the-past-present-and-future-seinfeld |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=InsideHook}}</ref> In late 1988, the company's first catalog was published, with black and white drawings and a literary copy style. Color illustrations were introduced to the catalog in 1989.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}


Peterman found unique items to sell in the catalog and Staley wrote the product descriptions. Bob Hagel was the first J. Peterman Co. illustrator and art director. He made the decision to draw and paint the clothes from the catalog without bodies, so they appeared like "well-traveled ghosts."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racked.com/2018/3/23/17143908/j-peterman-catalog-art|title=The Reason J. Peterman Catalogs Use Art Instead of Photographs|last=Alpern|first=Emma|date=2018-03-23|website=Racked|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref> The catalog drew the attention of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks. The company continued to grow and, in 1995, the TV show ''[[Seinfeld]]'' debuted J. Peterman as a character played by [[John O'Hurley]]. After the character's first appearance, Peterman agreed with ''Seinfeld''’s lawyers that he would approve the scripts in which his fictional part had a role.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Peterman |first=John |date=September–October 1999 |title=The Rise and Fall of the J. Peterman Company |url=https://hbr.org/1999/09/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-j-peterman-company |magazine=[[Harvard Business Review]] |location=[[Brighton, Boston|Brighton]], [[Massachusetts]] |publisher=[[Harvard Business Publishing]] |access-date=June 24, 2021 |quote=I did review the scripts. After the first time O’Hurley appeared as me on the show, Seinfeld’s lawyers contacted me, and we agreed that I would sign off on the scripts in which my character had a part.}}</ref> The J. Peterman Co. also sold movie replicas of the "Heart of The Ocean" necklace from the 1997 film ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''. The company sold $1 million worth of necklace replicas along with other costume and prop replicas.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.racked.com/2017/12/13/16752938/titanic-heart-of-the-ocean-j-peterman|title=How Titanic's Iconic Necklace Almost Sank an Entire Company|last=Fishman|first=Elana|date=2017-12-13|website=Racked|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref>
Peterman found unique items to sell in the catalog and Staley wrote the product descriptions. Bob Hagel was the first J. Peterman Co. illustrator and art director. He made the decision to draw and paint the clothes from the catalog without bodies, so they appeared like "well-traveled ghosts."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racked.com/2018/3/23/17143908/j-peterman-catalog-art|title=The Reason J. Peterman Catalogs Use Art Instead of Photographs|last=Alpern|first=Emma|date=March 23, 2018|website=Racked|access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> The catalog drew the attention of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks. The company continued to grow and, in 1995, the TV show ''[[Seinfeld]]'' debuted J. Peterman as a character played by [[John O'Hurley]]. After the character's first appearance, Peterman agreed with ''Seinfeld''’s lawyers that he would approve the scripts in which his fictional part had a role.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Peterman |first=John |date=September–October 1999 |title=The Rise and Fall of the J. Peterman Company |url=https://hbr.org/1999/09/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-j-peterman-company |magazine=[[Harvard Business Review]] |location=[[Brighton, Boston|Brighton]], [[Massachusetts]] |publisher=[[Harvard Business Publishing]] |access-date=June 24, 2021 |quote=I did review the scripts. After the first time O’Hurley appeared as me on the show, Seinfeld’s lawyers contacted me, and we agreed that I would sign off on the scripts in which my character had a part.}}</ref> The J. Peterman Co. also sold movie replicas of the "Heart of The Ocean" necklace from the 1997 film ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''. The company sold $1 million worth of necklace replicas along with other costume and prop replicas.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.racked.com/2017/12/13/16752938/titanic-heart-of-the-ocean-j-peterman|title=How Titanic's Iconic Necklace Almost Sank an Entire Company|last=Fishman|first=Elana|date=December 13, 2017|website=Racked|access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref>


The J. Peterman Co. was unable to sustain its rapid growth and, in 1999, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was bought by Paul Harris Stores. However, in 2000, Paul Harris Stores went bankrupt and Peterman was able to buy back his namesake brand.<ref name=":4" /> The J. Peterman Company catalog was relaunched and Tim Peterman, John Peterman's son, was the CEO of J. Peterman Company until 2014. {{As of|2018}}, the president of the J. Peterman Company was Kyle Foster.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2018 |first=Ben |last=Unglesbee |title=In search of the real J. Peterman |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/in-search-of-the-real-j-peterman/521433/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Retail Dive |language=en-US}}</ref> The company developed Peterman's Eye, a social networking site, and an online catalog that offers mail-order inventory, as well as unique antiques.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28813817/ns/business-small_business/t/j-peterman-rides-again/|title=J. Peterman rides again|author=Frank Silverstein |date=2009-01-25|publisher=MSNBC|language=en|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref>
The J. Peterman Co. was unable to sustain its rapid growth and, in 1999, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was bought by Paul Harris Stores. However, in 2000, Paul Harris Stores went bankrupt and Peterman was able to buy back his namesake brand.<ref name=":4" /> The J. Peterman Company catalog was relaunched and Tim Peterman, John Peterman's son, was the CEO of J. Peterman Company until 2014. {{As of|2018}}, the president of the J. Peterman Company was Kyle Foster.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2018 |first=Ben |last=Unglesbee |title=In search of the real J. Peterman |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/in-search-of-the-real-j-peterman/521433/ |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=Retail Dive}}</ref> The company developed Peterman's Eye, a social networking site, and an online catalog that offers mail-order inventory, as well as unique antiques.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28813817/ns/business-small_business/t/j-peterman-rides-again/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419031228/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28813817/ns/business-small_business/t/j-peterman-rides-again|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2013|title=J. Peterman rides again|author=Frank Silverstein |date=January 25, 2009|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Peterman was married to his wife, Audrey (née Aramini, born to Ann and Albert Aramini) in 1964. They have four children:<ref name=":1" /> Robyn, Sean, Timothy, and Matthew.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kentucky/obituary.aspx?n=sean-peterman&pid=175373575|title=Sean Peterman|date=July 27, 2015|website=Legacy|access-date=October 17, 2018}}</ref> Peterman's daughter Robyn Peterman Zahn, a writer and former actress, is married to the actor [[Steve Zahn]]. They have two children, Henry James Zahn and Audrey Clair Zahn.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676293/bio|title=Robyn Peterman|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref> Sean was a cattle and grain farmer until he was killed July 23, 2015, in a farming accident in Lexington, Kentucky.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lex18.com/story/29629680/j-petermans-son-killed-in-farming-accident|title=J. Peterman's Son Killed In Farming Accident|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> Tim Peterman was CEO of J. Peterman Company from 2008 until 2014, and helped build the company's web presence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223638|title=Bouncing Back from Bankruptcy to Reinvent a Brand|last=Schiller|first=Kristan|date=2012-07-06|work=Entrepreneur|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en}}</ref> Around 2014, Matt Peterman started working at the J. Peterman Company as Creative Director after spending time in Los Angeles, California, in the film business.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
Peterman was married to his wife, Audrey (née Aramini, born to Ann and Albert Aramini) in 1964. They have four children:<ref name=":1" /> Robyn, Sean, Timothy, and Matthew.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kentucky/obituary.aspx?n=sean-peterman&pid=175373575|title=Sean Peterman|date=July 27, 2015|website=Legacy|access-date=October 17, 2018}}</ref> Peterman's daughter Robyn Peterman Zahn, a writer and former actress, is married to the actor [[Steve Zahn]]. They have two children, Henry James Zahn and Audrey Clair Zahn.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676293/bio|title=Robyn Peterman|website=IMDb|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref> Sean was a cattle and grain farmer until he was killed July 23, 2015, in a farming accident in Lexington, Kentucky.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lex18.com/story/29629680/j-petermans-son-killed-in-farming-accident|title=J. Peterman's Son Killed In Farming Accident|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> Tim Peterman was CEO of J. Peterman Company from 2008 until 2014, and helped build the company's web presence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223638|title=Bouncing Back from Bankruptcy to Reinvent a Brand|last=Schiller|first=Kristan|date=July 6, 2012|work=Entrepreneur|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref> Around 2014, Matt Peterman started working at the J. Peterman Company as Creative Director after spending time in Los Angeles, California, in the film business.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}


Peterman owns a cabin on a 550-acre parcel of land in Lexington, Kentucky, that was formerly farmed by his son Sean.<ref name=":3" />
Peterman owns a cabin on a 550-acre parcel of land in Lexington, Kentucky, that was formerly farmed by his son Sean.<ref name=":3" />
Line 54: Line 55:


==Works==
==Works==
After the J. Peterman Company filed for bankruptcy and was bought by Paul Harris Stores, Peterman wrote a book, ''Peterman Rides Again'', a 2000 memoir that explores his life from his early baseball career to finding products for the catalog while traveling.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/petermanridesaga00pete|title=Nonfiction Book Review: Peterman Rides Again by John Peterman, Author Prentice Hall Press $25 (288p)|isbn=978-0-7352-0199-6|work=PublishersWeekly.com|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en|last1=Peterman|first1=John|year=2000}}</ref> It also chronicles the rise and fall of the J. Peterman Company and Peterman's lessons in entrepreneurship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/spring01/booknotes/index.html|title=College of the Holy Cross {{!}} Holy Cross Magazine|website=www.holycross.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> The book was published November 6, 2000 and has 225 pages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2722712-peterman-rides-again|title=Peterman Rides Again|website=www.goodreads.com|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Peterman Rides Again |last=Peterman |first=John |publisher=[[Prentice Hall Press]] |location=Paramus, N.J. |date=2000 |isbn=0-7352-0199-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/petermanridesaga00pete }}</ref>
After the J. Peterman Company filed for bankruptcy and was bought by Paul Harris Stores, Peterman wrote a book, ''Peterman Rides Again'', a 2000 memoir that explores his life from his early baseball career to finding products for the catalog while traveling.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/petermanridesaga00pete|title=Nonfiction Book Review: Peterman Rides Again by John Peterman, Author Prentice Hall Press $25 (288p)|isbn=978-0-7352-0199-6|work=PublishersWeekly.com|access-date=August 27, 2018|last=Peterman|first=John|year=2000}}</ref> It also chronicles the rise and fall of the J. Peterman Company and Peterman's lessons in entrepreneurship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/spring01/booknotes/index.html|title=College of the Holy Cross {{!}} Holy Cross Magazine|website=www.holycross.edu|access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref> The book was published November 6, 2000, and has 225 pages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2722712-peterman-rides-again|title=Peterman Rides Again|website=www.goodreads.com|access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Peterman Rides Again |last=Peterman |first=John |publisher=[[Prentice Hall Press]] |location=Paramus, N.J. |date=2000 |isbn=0-7352-0199-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/petermanridesaga00pete }}</ref>


== ''Seinfeld'' caricature ==
== ''Seinfeld'' caricature ==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.jpeterman.com/ The J Peterman Company]
* [http://www.jpeterman.com/ The J Peterman Company]
* [http://www.petermanseye.com/ Peterman's Eye - A daily brief for curious minds]
* [http://www.petermanseye.com/ Peterman's Eye - A daily brief for curious minds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129052609/http://petermanseye.com/ |date=November 29, 2018 }}
* [http://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/spring01/features/spr01_fea61.html The Return of J. Peterman] An article about a talk J. Peterman gave at his ''[[alma mater]]'', The [[College of the Holy Cross]]
* [http://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/spring01/features/spr01_fea61.html The Return of J. Peterman] An article about a talk J. Peterman gave at his ''[[alma mater]]'', The [[College of the Holy Cross]]
* {{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br= |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=peterm002joh }}
* {{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br= |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=peterm002joh }}
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[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baseball players from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Rockland County, New York]]
[[Category:Baseball third basemen]]
[[Category:Baseball third basemen]]
[[Category:Batavia Pirates players]]
[[Category:Batavia Pirates players]]
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[[Category:Holy Cross Crusaders baseball players]]
[[Category:Holy Cross Crusaders baseball players]]
[[Category:People from West Nyack, New York]]
[[Category:People from West Nyack, New York]]
[[Category:College of the Holy Cross alumni]]

Latest revision as of 19:41, 9 September 2024

John Peterman
Born1941 (age 82–83)
West Nyack, New York, U.S.
EducationCollege of the Holy Cross (BS)
Occupation(s)Founder, Chairman of J. Peterman Company
Years active1987–2000, 2001–present
Known forFounding the J. Peterman Company
Being fictionalized in the TV series Seinfeld
Notable workPeterman Rides Again
Spouse
Audrey Peterman
​
(m. 1964)​
Children4
Parent(s)Charles Peterman, Sally Peterman
Websitejpeterman.com

John Peterman (born 1941)[1] is an American catalog and retail entrepreneur from Lexington, Kentucky, who operates the J. Peterman Company. He grew up in West Nyack, New York as the son of a banker and secretary.[2] He is known for founding the J. Peterman Company after finding a cowboy duster on a business trip.[3] He is also known for being fictionalized in the TV series Seinfeld.[4] Peterman was also a Minor League Baseball player, Kentucky rancher, and author.[5]

Early life

[edit]

Peterman was the third of four children born to Charles and Sally Peterman. He had two brothers and a sister.[6] Charles Peterman became a loan officer and, later, the assistant vice president[7] of the Irving Trust Co. after working his way up from the mailroom. John Peterman grew up in Van Houten Fields, an agrarian commune in West Nyack, New York. Those who were part of the community built their own houses and grew a portion of their own food. Peterman learned to garden, tend chickens, and participate in other physical labor.[1] His mother worked as an administrative assistant after her children started school.[6]

As a high schooler, Peterman attended Clarkstown High School and participated in basketball, baseball, and football. He was recognized in the local newspaper for his performance in all three sports.[8] In baseball, he played second base and was voted All-P.S.A.L Baseball first team selection as a second baseman.[9] He graduated from Clarkstown High School in 1960.[8]

Education and baseball career

[edit]

Peterman graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts[2] in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in economics.[6] He played third base on the Holy Cross baseball teams that went to the College World Series in 1962 and 1963. As a junior in 1962, he had a .362 batting average, and as a senior in 1963, he had a .291 batting average and led his team with 17 runs batted in.[10]

He also played minor-league baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for two seasons as a second baseman.[11] In 1963, Peterman had a one-day tryout with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium where he played next to Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Tony Kubek, but did not sign with the team.[12] His baseball career ended in his early 20s after a leg injury.[13][14]

Business career

[edit]

Sales

[edit]

Peterman had a career in sales for 20 years after his baseball career ended. He worked as a regional sales manager in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama for General Foods and Castle & Cooke.[3] During his time in sales, Peterman sold dog food, cereal, pineapple, tuna fish, and inspirational tapes. In 1981, he was managing fertilizer accounts but was dismissed.[2]

Corporate consultant

[edit]

Peterman became a corporate consultant after deciding “that was the first and last time I was going to be fired.”[3] As a corporate specialty-foods sales[1] consultant, he helped people make deals with other companies, and it allowed him to travel. During a meeting to help a client find an advertising company, Peterman met Donald Staley and they began to work closely together. They agreed to collaborate on any entrepreneurial ideas they envisioned, which led to several businesses.[3]

Entrepreneur

[edit]

Together, Peterman and Staley started a mail-order company to heal sick houseplants as well as a manufacturing business making beer cheese; both were successful.[3] The beer cheese business was originally Hall's Beer Cheese and Peterman bought half the company. While he was selling beer cheese, he found a horseman's duster that would propel him into the retail business. The beer cheese was being sold downstairs and the retail business was upstairs until Hall's was eventually sold.[15]

J. Peterman Company

[edit]
Main article: J. Peterman Company

In 1986, Peterman was on a business trip in Denver, Colorado, and decided to explore Wyoming. He went to Jackson Hole and bought a horseman's duster because he liked it.[16] After wearing it consistently, he and his friend Staley decided to sell more of the coats, putting an advertisement in The New Yorker. That led to the sale of about 70 coats and the J. Peterman Company was created.[17] In late 1988, the company's first catalog was published, with black and white drawings and a literary copy style. Color illustrations were introduced to the catalog in 1989.[citation needed]

Peterman found unique items to sell in the catalog and Staley wrote the product descriptions. Bob Hagel was the first J. Peterman Co. illustrator and art director. He made the decision to draw and paint the clothes from the catalog without bodies, so they appeared like "well-traveled ghosts."[18] The catalog drew the attention of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks. The company continued to grow and, in 1995, the TV show Seinfeld debuted J. Peterman as a character played by John O'Hurley. After the character's first appearance, Peterman agreed with Seinfeld’s lawyers that he would approve the scripts in which his fictional part had a role.[19] The J. Peterman Co. also sold movie replicas of the "Heart of The Ocean" necklace from the 1997 film Titanic. The company sold $1 million worth of necklace replicas along with other costume and prop replicas.[20]

The J. Peterman Co. was unable to sustain its rapid growth and, in 1999, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was bought by Paul Harris Stores. However, in 2000, Paul Harris Stores went bankrupt and Peterman was able to buy back his namesake brand.[20] The J. Peterman Company catalog was relaunched and Tim Peterman, John Peterman's son, was the CEO of J. Peterman Company until 2014. As of 2018, the president of the J. Peterman Company was Kyle Foster.[21] The company developed Peterman's Eye, a social networking site, and an online catalog that offers mail-order inventory, as well as unique antiques.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

Peterman was married to his wife, Audrey (née Aramini, born to Ann and Albert Aramini) in 1964. They have four children:[2] Robyn, Sean, Timothy, and Matthew.[23] Peterman's daughter Robyn Peterman Zahn, a writer and former actress, is married to the actor Steve Zahn. They have two children, Henry James Zahn and Audrey Clair Zahn.[24] Sean was a cattle and grain farmer until he was killed July 23, 2015, in a farming accident in Lexington, Kentucky.[25][23] Tim Peterman was CEO of J. Peterman Company from 2008 until 2014, and helped build the company's web presence.[26] Around 2014, Matt Peterman started working at the J. Peterman Company as Creative Director after spending time in Los Angeles, California, in the film business.[citation needed]

Peterman owns a cabin on a 550-acre parcel of land in Lexington, Kentucky, that was formerly farmed by his son Sean.[1]

In 2001, Peterman presented a lecture titled "The Painful but Essential Art of Failing" at his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross.[27]

Works

[edit]

After the J. Peterman Company filed for bankruptcy and was bought by Paul Harris Stores, Peterman wrote a book, Peterman Rides Again, a 2000 memoir that explores his life from his early baseball career to finding products for the catalog while traveling.[28] It also chronicles the rise and fall of the J. Peterman Company and Peterman's lessons in entrepreneurship.[29] The book was published November 6, 2000, and has 225 pages.[30][31]

Seinfeld caricature

[edit]

Peterman was fictionalized in the TV sitcom Seinfeld, played by John O'Hurley, as Elaine Benes' (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) boss in the last three seasons. O'Hurley has said that his distinctive manner of speaking as the character was inspired by "'40s radio drama, combined with a bit of a bad Charles Kuralt."[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Vinjamuri, David (March 31, 2008). Accidental Branding: How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Brands. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 22–49. ISBN 9780470282083.
  2. ^ a b c d "Suburban Cowboy John Peterman Rides the Long Coattails of His Dude-Ish Duster to Catalog Success". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e de Witt, Karen (April 30, 1997). "A Legend in His Own Ad Copy, and on 'Seinfeld'". The New York Times. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Adventurer: Seinfeld's J. Peterman. Forbes.com Video Network. Retrieved June 6, 2009.[dead YouTube link]
  5. ^ "In search of the real J. Peterman". Retail Dive. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Jurgelski, Susan. "Putting on the ritzy / The man, the myth, the legend, the catalog and the new line of furniture". LancasterOnline. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  7. ^ "Obituaries". Rockland County Times. October 21, 1971.
  8. ^ a b Basson, Sam (January 14, 1960). "Spice of Sports" (PDF). Orangetown Telegram. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  9. ^ Basson, Sam (June 18, 1959). "Lions Share to Rams, Suffern, Bucs in All P.S.A.L. Baseball Selections" (PDF). Orangetown Telegram. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "Bio - John H. Peterman". goholycross.com. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  11. ^ "John Peterman Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  12. ^ Walters, John (November 2, 1998). "Yankee Stadium for Sale Home Plate and Old Seats at J. Peterman's Ain't Cheap". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "The real J. Peterman turns to a Texas company for a baseball product in his spring catalog". Dallas News. April 4, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  14. ^ "John Peterman Has 40 Million Reasons To Smile". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  15. ^ "How J. Peterman Is Resurrecting Retail". Ace Weekly. April 26, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  16. ^ Gallagher, Jacob. "Remember the J.Peterman Catalog? It's Still Going Strong and so is Mr. Peterman". WSJ. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "A Brief History of J. Peterman, the Real-Life Catalog That Survived Seinfeld". InsideHook. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Alpern, Emma (March 23, 2018). "The Reason J. Peterman Catalogs Use Art Instead of Photographs". Racked. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  19. ^ Peterman, John (September–October 1999). "The Rise and Fall of the J. Peterman Company". Harvard Business Review. Brighton, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Publishing. Retrieved June 24, 2021. I did review the scripts. After the first time O'Hurley appeared as me on the show, Seinfeld's lawyers contacted me, and we agreed that I would sign off on the scripts in which my character had a part.
  20. ^ a b Fishman, Elana (December 13, 2017). "How Titanic's Iconic Necklace Almost Sank an Entire Company". Racked. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  21. ^ Unglesbee, Ben (April 27, 2018). "In search of the real J. Peterman". Retail Dive. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Frank Silverstein (January 25, 2009). "J. Peterman rides again". MSNBC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Sean Peterman". Legacy. July 27, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  24. ^ "Robyn Peterman". IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  25. ^ "J. Peterman's Son Killed In Farming Accident". Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  26. ^ Schiller, Kristan (July 6, 2012). "Bouncing Back from Bankruptcy to Reinvent a Brand". Entrepreneur. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  27. ^ McNamara, Katharine (Spring 2001). "The Single Most Important Job" (PDF). Holy Cross Magazine. 35: 41.
  28. ^ Peterman, John (2000). "Nonfiction Book Review: Peterman Rides Again by John Peterman, Author Prentice Hall Press $25 (288p)". PublishersWeekly.com. ISBN 978-0-7352-0199-6. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  29. ^ "College of the Holy Cross | Holy Cross Magazine". www.holycross.edu. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  30. ^ "Peterman Rides Again". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  31. ^ Peterman, John (2000). Peterman Rides Again. Paramus, N.J.: Prentice Hall Press. ISBN 0-7352-0199-4.
[edit]
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