COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 454111

Electronic Shopping

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

20companies1793–1999founding years20still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBonhams 1793 Ltd.
1793
FoundedJ.L. Hammett Company
1863
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedWolverine World Wide, Inc.
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
1922
FoundedMaidenform, Inc.
1925
FoundedCanadian Tire Corporation, Limited
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedRecreational Equipment, Inc.
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSchool-Tech, Inc.
1953
FoundedFindel plc
1955
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedFrederick's of Hollywood, Inc.FoundedThe TJX Companies, Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedCabela's Inc.
1965
FoundedManutan International S.A.
1966
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedToys "R" Us, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedAmerican Girl, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedZones, Inc.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedBluefly, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedCelebrate Express, Inc.
1994
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.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

Bonhams 1793 Ltd. →
Active · founded 1793 · United Kingdom
Bonhams 1793 Ltd.
J.L. Hammett Company →
Active · founded 1863
J.L.
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. →
Active · founded 1906
Late 1980s:Company begins making hiking and outdoor boots under both the Wolverine and the licensed Coleman brand.
The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
Maidenform, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Maidenform, Inc.
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Canada
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is one of the leading retailers in Canada.
Recreational Equipment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
School-Tech, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
School-Tech, Inc.
Findel plc →
Active · founded 1955 · United Kingdom
Despite an attempt by Novara's management to take over the company through a management buyout, Novara's shareholders…
Highsmith Inc. →
Active · founded 1956
Situated on a rural campus in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, Highsmith Inc.
Frederick's of Hollywood, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Frederick's of Hollywood, Inc.
The TJX Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
The TJX Companies, Inc.
Cabela's Inc. →
Active · founded 1965
Cabela's Inc.
Manutan International S.A. →
Active · founded 1966 · France
Manutan International S.A.
Toys "R" Us, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Toys "R" Us, Inc.
American Girl, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
American Girl, Inc.
Zones, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Zones, Inc.
Bluefly, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Bluefly started off 2001 facing negative publicity, as Barron's Online ranked the firm as number two on its "Burn…
Celebrate Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Celebrate Express, Inc., sells children's party supplies, costumes, and clothing over the Internet and via mail-order…
Systemax, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Systemax, Inc.
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