COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5211

Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers

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

13companies1844–1997founding years13still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Molson Companies Limited
1844
FoundedWickes Inc.
1854
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGrossman's Inc.
1919
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedLowe's Companies, Inc.
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHechinger Company
1959
FoundedPay 'N Pak Stores, Inc.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedWolohan Lumber Co.
1964
FoundedGroupe Castorama-Dubois Investissements
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedAlfa, S.A. de C.V.FoundedGIB Group
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedThe Home Depot, 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.
FoundedOrchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
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.
FoundedTruServ Corporation
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

The Molson Companies Limited →
Active · founded 1844 · Canada
Established in 1786, The Molson Companies Limited is perhaps best known for its brewery, which is the oldest in North…
Wickes Inc. →
Active · founded 1854
Wickes Inc., most recently known as Wickes Lumber Company, is a staple in the building supplies retail and wholesale…
Grossman's Inc. →
Active · founded 1919
Grossman's Inc.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
Lowe's Companies, Inc., is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the United States (trailing Home Depot…
Hechinger Company →
Active · founded 1959
One of the leading retailers in the do-it-yourself industry, Hechinger Company is also one of the industry pioneers.
Pay 'N Pak Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Before its 1992 dissolution, do-it-yourself retailer Pay 'N Pak Stores, Inc.
Wolohan Lumber Co. →
Active · founded 1964
A leading retailer in the lumber and building supply industry, Wolohan Lumber Co.
Groupe Castorama-Dubois Investissements →
Active · founded 1969 · France
Groupe Castorama-Dubois Investissements operates the leading chain of DIY (do-it-yourself) and home improvement…
Alfa, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1974 · Mexico
Alfa, S.A.
GIB Group →
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
The Home Depot, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
The Home Depot, Inc.
Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
A leading home improvement retailer in California, Orchard Supply Stores Corporation operates a chain of hardware…
TruServ Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
TruServ Corporation is the largest 100 percent member-owned cooperative in the $145 billion do-it-yourself industry,…
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