Field was one of the early pioneers in the retail industry. Moving to Chicago when it was still a vastly unsettled western outpost, Field built one of the largest department stores in the world. His department stores included innovations such as displayed price tags, open return policies, in-store restaurants, free gift wrapping, and vibrant window displays. Field purchased items from around the world to bring cosmopolitan luxuries to his prime target audience – the growing middle class in the Midwest.