COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5099

Importers & Exporters

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

22companies1854–1995founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedWickes Inc.FoundedWickes Inc.
1854
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedSamsonite Corp.FoundedSamsonite Corp.
1912
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedBall Corporation
1922
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.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
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.
FoundedTodhunter International, Inc.FoundedTodhunter International, Inc.
1964
FoundedK-tel International, Inc.
1968
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.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedNavarre CorporationFoundedNavarre Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedAlliance Entertainment Corp.FoundedAlliance Entertainment Corp.
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedBaker & Taylor, Inc.
1992
FoundedNorton McNaughton, Inc.FoundedNorton McNaughton, Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedBallantyne of Omaha, Inc.
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

Wickes Inc. →
Active · founded 1854
Wickes Inc., most recently known as Wickes Lumber Company, is a staple in the building supplies retail and wholesale…
Wickes Inc. →
Active · founded 1854
Wickes Inc., most recently known as Wickes Lumber Company, is a staple in the building supplies retail and wholesale…
Samsonite Corp. →
Active · founded 1912
Samsonite is the leading manufacturer of luggage in the world and the top seller of luggage in the United States,…
Samsonite Corp. →
Active · founded 1912
Samsonite is the leading manufacturer of luggage in the world and the top seller of luggage in the United States,…
Ball Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Although the Ball Corporation is best known for its distinctive home canning jars, that business was just one segment…
Ball Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Although the Ball Corporation is best known for its distinctive home canning jars, that business was just one segment…
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Todhunter International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Todhunter International, Inc.
Todhunter International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Todhunter International, Inc.
K-tel International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
An international marketing and distribution company, K-tel International, Inc.
K-tel International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
An international marketing and distribution company, K-tel International, Inc.
Navarre Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Navarre Corporation is one of the largest independent distributors of compact discs, cassettes, and computer software…
Navarre Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Navarre Corporation is one of the largest independent distributors of compact discs, cassettes, and computer software…
Alliance Entertainment Corp. →
Active · founded 1990
The largest full-service distributor of music and music-related products in the United States, Alliance Entertainment…
Alliance Entertainment Corp. →
Active · founded 1990
The largest full-service distributor of music and music-related products in the United States, Alliance Entertainment…
Baker & Taylor, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
A solid and respected leader in its field, Baker & Taylor, Inc., operates as the holding company for two companies…
Baker & Taylor, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
A solid and respected leader in its field, Baker & Taylor, Inc., operates as the holding company for two companies…
Norton McNaughton, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Norton McNaughton, Inc.
Norton McNaughton, Inc. →
Active · founded 1993
Norton McNaughton, Inc.
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc.
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc.
Build It Today

Starting a importers & exporters company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.