Vienna's prosperity had also left Duke Uvarov utterly astonished. He had visited Vienna several times before, but never stayed long.
And every time, he had been accompanied. Duke Uvarov understood that he had only been shown what the Austrians wanted him to see.
But this time was different. As an ambassador, he had far more freedom of action. He had declined the company of Austrian officials and merely had his security detail follow behind.
The department store, this new model of retail, impressed Duke Uvarov especially.
In the past, to buy goods, one had to visit specific shops or stalls in the market. Sometimes, to gather just a few items, one had to trek from street to street.
The arrival of department stores had changed all that. From household goods to clothing, furniture, and hunting rifles, they carried thousands of products, with something for everyone.
This novel and convenient way of shopping was far ahead of its time.
The department stores' luxurious interiors, exquisite designs, upscale furnishings, and elegant displays provided a comfortable shopping environment.
This was especially important for wealthy people who were not born into the nobility, because they loved feeling respected and valued.
For nobles, places like these were suitably refined and all the better for showing off their status.
For speculators, they offered a perfect springboard for climbing the social ladder.
Franz had also introduced a new concept: fixed prices.
In 1848, the vast majority of the world's shops had yet to adopt price tags. Shopkeepers generally sized up their customers, and the price of a product depended directly on how well each side could haggle.
Franz's invention of price tags made prices transparent. This reduced the chances of shopkeepers fleecing customers and saved shoppers a great deal of hassle.
For some unmarried male nobles in