Watch on Soap2day. Selfridges was the brain child of an American-Mr. Harry Gordon Selfridge. He brought about a complete revolution in the way that Londoners shopped, introducing a new American retail model which made shopping less of a practical pursuit and more of a luxurious adventure. But there was another side to the story-Harry's private life. When it began to seep into his business, the effect on him and his store was devastating.