COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 561499

All Other Business Support Services

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

14companies1921–1988founding years12still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedAmey PlcFoundedAmey Plc
1921
FoundedRentokil Initial PlcFoundedRentokil Initial Plc
1925
FoundedCintas CorporationFoundedCintas Corporation
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedElamex, S.A. de C.V.FoundedElamex, S.A. de C.V.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedBoron, LePore & Associates, Inc.FoundedBoron, LePore & Associates, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedRewards Network Inc.FoundedRewards Network Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedAffiliated Computer Services, Inc.FoundedAffiliated Computer Services, Inc.
1988
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Amey Plc →
Active · founded 1921 · United Kingdom
Amey Plc has tried on a new hat for the 21st century.
Amey Plc →
Active · founded 1921 · United Kingdom
Amey Plc has tried on a new hat for the 21st century.
Rentokil Initial Plc →
Active · founded 1925 · United Kingdom
1940s:Both British Ratin and Rentokil begin offering insect control services.
Rentokil Initial Plc →
Active · founded 1925 · United Kingdom
1940s:Both British Ratin and Rentokil begin offering insect control services.
Cintas Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Cintas Corporation is the leading supplier of rental uniforms in the United States, with a market share of around 25…
Cintas Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Cintas Corporation is the leading supplier of rental uniforms in the United States, with a market share of around 25…
Elamex, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1972
Elamex, S.A.
Elamex, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1972
Elamex, S.A.
Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc., now doing business as BLP Group Companies (BLP), is a Wayne, New Jersey, medical…
Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc., now doing business as BLP Group Companies (BLP), is a Wayne, New Jersey, medical…
Rewards Network Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Rewards Network Inc.
Rewards Network Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Rewards Network Inc.
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1988
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1988
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
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