COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 44814

Family Clothing Stores

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

14companies1901–1992founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedPeek & Cloppenburg KGFoundedPeek & Cloppenburg KG
1901
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.
FoundedArcadia Group plcFoundedArcadia Group plc
1917
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.
FoundedGoody's Family Clothing, Inc.FoundedGoody's Family Clothing, Inc.
1954
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.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedPacific Sunwear of California, Inc.FoundedPacific Sunwear of California, Inc.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSyms CorporationFoundedSyms Corporation
1983
FoundedWal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.FoundedWal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedBig Dog Holdings, Inc.FoundedBig Dog Holdings, Inc.
1992
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

Peek & Cloppenburg KG →
Active · founded 1901 · Germany
Based in Düsseldorf, Peek & Cloppenburg KG is among Germany's leading apparel retailers.
Peek & Cloppenburg KG →
Active · founded 1901 · Germany
Based in Düsseldorf, Peek & Cloppenburg KG is among Germany's leading apparel retailers.
Arcadia Group plc →
Active · founded 1917 · United Kingdom
Arcadia Group plc, previously known as Burton Group plc, is the second largest clothing retailer in the United Kingdom,…
Arcadia Group plc →
Active · founded 1917 · United Kingdom
Arcadia Group plc, previously known as Burton Group plc, is the second largest clothing retailer in the United Kingdom,…
Goody's Family Clothing, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Goody's Family Clothing, Inc., is a value-priced chain with over 335 locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,…
Goody's Family Clothing, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Goody's Family Clothing, Inc., is a value-priced chain with over 335 locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,…
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
A fast-growing specialty retailer, Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc.
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
A fast-growing specialty retailer, Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc.
Syms Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Syms Corporation operates a chain of off-price apparel stores under the Syms name, selling men's clothing and…
Syms Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Syms Corporation operates a chain of off-price apparel stores under the Syms name, selling men's clothing and…
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1984 · Mexico
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A.
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1984 · Mexico
Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A.
Big Dog Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Big Dog Holdings, Inc.
Big Dog Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Big Dog Holdings, Inc.
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