Irving Shulman

Irving Shulman
Chairman
Daffy’s Inc.
Russian

Arriving at Ellis Island in the 1920’s at the age of five, Irving Shulman remembers peering in awe at the Statue of Liberty. His name was Anglicized to “Shulman” by an immigration officer. It was there on the second floor of the terminal at Ellis Island, that Irving first met his father, Julius, who lofted him in the air. The family lived in an apartment in Rahway, New Jersey, where the family made ends meet by selling dry-goods to immigrant families. Three younger brothers, Paul, Morris, and Richard were born in America.

Irving Shulman was raised in the blossoming cultural mosaic of America which was gripped by the Great Depression. His childhood memories were predominated by the cobblestone streets and push carts of the lower East Side of New York. He was inculcated in the tradition of hard work and Jewish identity.

Eager for success after the war, Irving began an auction business with his brother Sam, which eventuated into a store by the name of “Mickey Finn” in Hoboken, New Jersey, which featured close-outs, bankrupt and irregular clothing. Encouraged by his wife, Shirley, Irving ventured out on his own, founding “Daffy Dan’s Bargaintown” in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in April of 1961 with two employees. This old factory building featured two crooked floors of straight clothing bargains. Throngs would line up for a chance to grab the wacky clothing bargains. Irving was a pioneer in market of discount clothing.

In May of 1980, Irving’s daughter Marcia Shulman Wilson, came on board. With the blended talents of father and daughter, Daffy Dan’s (now Daffy’s) expanded from one to fifteen stores in four states: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The number of employees is about 1,250 and growing. The stores now feature discount leading fashion apparel direct from Italy and other exotic points of origin. The company recently opened an office in Florence, Italy.

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