COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5999

Miscellaneous Retail Stores, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

30companies1824–1988founding years26still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedBaccaratFoundedBaccarat
1824
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.
FoundedColes Myer Ltd.
1921
FoundedShiseido Company, Limited
1927
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.
FoundedThe Circle K Company
1951
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedThe Cosmetic Center, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLeslie's Poolmart, Inc.FoundedLeslie's Poolmart, Inc.
1963
FoundedBaby Superstore, Inc.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedSunglass Hut International, Inc.
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.
FoundedBlyth Industries, Inc.
1977
FoundedForever Living Products International Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedOld America Stores, Inc.FoundedOld America Stores, Inc.FoundedThe Pampered Chef, Ltd.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedWild Oats Markets, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedNextel Communications, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedOfficeMax Inc.
1988
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

Baccarat →
Active · founded 1824 · France
The name Baccarat has become nearly synonymous with luxury.
Baccarat →
Active · founded 1824 · France
The name Baccarat has become nearly synonymous with luxury.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
Shiseido Company, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Japan
Shiseido Company, Limited is the leading cosmetics company in Japan and one of the largest in the world.
Shiseido Company, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Japan
Shiseido Company, Limited is the leading cosmetics company in Japan and one of the largest in the world.
The Circle K Company →
Active · founded 1951
The Circle K Company, which became a division of Tosco Corporation in 1996, is the third-largest convenience store…
The Circle K Company →
Active · founded 1951
The Circle K Company, which became a division of Tosco Corporation in 1996, is the third-largest convenience store…
The Cosmetic Center, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
The Cosmetic Center, Inc.
The Cosmetic Center, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
The Cosmetic Center, Inc.
Leslie's Poolmart, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The world's largest specialty retailer of swimming pool supplies, Leslie's Poolmart, Inc.
Leslie's Poolmart, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The world's largest specialty retailer of swimming pool supplies, Leslie's Poolmart, Inc.
Baby Superstore, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Baby Superstore, Inc., operates a chain of 60 stores in 16 southeastern and midwestern states.
Baby Superstore, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Baby Superstore, Inc., operates a chain of 60 stores in 16 southeastern and midwestern states.
Sunglass Hut International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Sunglass Hut International, Inc.
Sunglass Hut International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Sunglass Hut International, Inc.
Blyth Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Blyth Industries, Inc.
Blyth Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Blyth Industries, Inc.
Forever Living Products International Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
With more than $1 billion in annual sales, Forever Living Products International Inc.
Forever Living Products International Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
With more than $1 billion in annual sales, Forever Living Products International Inc.
Old America Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
One of a handful of retailers who redefined the arts and crafts industry during the 1980s and 1990s, Old America…
Old America Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
One of a handful of retailers who redefined the arts and crafts industry during the 1980s and 1990s, Old America…
The Pampered Chef, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1980
Classified among Inc.
The Pampered Chef, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1980
Classified among Inc.
Wild Oats Markets, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Wild Oats Markets, Inc., is the second largest natural foods grocery chain in the United States.
Wild Oats Markets, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Wild Oats Markets, Inc., is the second largest natural foods grocery chain in the United States.
Nextel Communications, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1987
Founded originally to develop mobile telephone service on existing radio bands, Nextel Communications, Inc.
Nextel Communications, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1987
Founded originally to develop mobile telephone service on existing radio bands, Nextel Communications, Inc.
OfficeMax Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
OfficeMax, Inc.
OfficeMax Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
OfficeMax, Inc.
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