Final answer:
The emphasis of business from 1920 to 1950 was on developing a culture of consumption, marked by sophisticated advertising, strong sales forces, and high-pressure sales techniques that sold not just products, but hopes and dreams.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emphasis of business from the period between 1920 and 1950 was on creating a culture of consumption. During this era, there was a significant shift in the ways businesses competed for customers due to the variety of goods available. A key part of this competition involved enhancing advertising, bolstering sales forces, and sometimes employing high-pressure sales techniques. The goal for companies became not only to sell products but to sell a vision or a dream of what those products could do for the consumers' lives.
Advertisers were skilled at stirring the emotions of potential buyers, convincing them that purchasing their products was a step towards achieving the good life. This era saw the rise of professional advertising agencies and an explosion in consumer advertising across various media, including newspapers and the newfound commercial radio. Businesses targeted not just needs, but hopes and desires, selling optimism and the hope of continued prosperity.
Marketing strategies from that time reflect a broader American dream of wealth and comfort, influencing consumer behavior through aspirations and desires. Notably, the use of credit became a popular method to make goods more accessible to the wider public, and new technologically advanced products were offered to fulfill the dreams of modernity and convenience.