COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5651

Family Clothing Stores

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

26companies1880–1985founding years26still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedParisian, Inc.FoundedParisian, Inc.
1880
FoundedSpiegel, Inc.
1893
FoundedSaks Holdings, Inc.FoundedSaks Holdings, Inc.
1902
FoundedHarley-Davidson, Inc.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedMarshalls Incorporated
1923
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.
FoundedDaffy's Inc.FoundedDaffy's Inc.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedMerry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedCounty Seat Stores Inc.FoundedCounty Seat Stores Inc.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedLOT$OFF Corporation
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedBanana Republic Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedRoss Stores, Inc.FoundedRoss Stores, Inc.
1982
FoundedGadzooks, Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedLamonts Apparel, Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
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

Parisian, Inc. →
Active · founded 1880
Parisian, Inc., is one of the most successful retail family clothing store chains located in the southern United States.
Parisian, Inc. →
Active · founded 1880
Parisian, Inc., is one of the most successful retail family clothing store chains located in the southern United States.
Spiegel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
Spiegel, Inc.
Spiegel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
Spiegel, Inc.
Saks Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
The name "Saks" is known throughout the retail world, synonymous with luxurious haute couture.
Saks Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
The name "Saks" is known throughout the retail world, synonymous with luxurious haute couture.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. →
Active · founded 1903
The only motorcycle manufacturer in the United States, Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Marshalls Incorporated →
Active · founded 1923
Marshall's Incorporated is one of the nation's leading off-price family retailers.
Marshalls Incorporated →
Active · founded 1923
Marshall's Incorporated is one of the nation's leading off-price family retailers.
Daffy's Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Daffy's Inc.
Daffy's Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Daffy's Inc.
Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1968 as a trendy boutique selling only blue jeans, Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc.
Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1968 as a trendy boutique selling only blue jeans, Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc.
County Seat Stores Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
County Seat is one of the nation's largest mall-based specialty retailers of casualwear for teens and young adults.
County Seat Stores Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
County Seat is one of the nation's largest mall-based specialty retailers of casualwear for teens and young adults.
LOT$OFF Corporation →
Active · founded 1975
LOT$OFF Corporation, formerly 50-Off Stores, Inc., operates approximately 40 discount stores throughout the United…
LOT$OFF Corporation →
Active · founded 1975
LOT$OFF Corporation, formerly 50-Off Stores, Inc., operates approximately 40 discount stores throughout the United…
Banana Republic Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
A subsidiary of The Gap, Inc.
Banana Republic Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
A subsidiary of The Gap, Inc.
Ross Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
One of the leading off-price retailers in the United States, Ross Stores, Inc., operates a chain of roughly 300 Ross…
Ross Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
One of the leading off-price retailers in the United States, Ross Stores, Inc., operates a chain of roughly 300 Ross…
Gadzooks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Gadzooks, Inc.
Gadzooks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Gadzooks, Inc.
Lamonts Apparel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
Lamonts Apparel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
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