COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5999

Miscellaneous Retail Stores

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

16companies1824–1988founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBaccarat
1824
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedColes Myer Ltd.
1921
FoundedShiseido Company, Limited
1927
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.
FoundedThe Circle K Company
1951
FoundedThe Cosmetic Center, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedClaire's Stores, Inc.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLeslie's Poolmart, Inc.
1963
FoundedBaby Superstore, Inc.
1970
FoundedSunglass Hut International, Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedBlyth Industries, Inc.
1977
FoundedForever Living Products International Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
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 sharply around the world.
FoundedOfficeMax Inc.
1988
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.
1994
TechnologyE-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.
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

Baccarat →
Active · founded 1824 · France
The name Baccarat has become nearly synonymous with luxury.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Active · 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.
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.
Claire's Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
A fixture in malls for more than three decades, Claire's Stores, 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.
Sunglass Hut International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Sunglass Hut International, 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.
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.
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. →
Active · founded 1987
Founded originally to develop mobile telephone service on existing radio bands, Nextel Communications, Inc.
OfficeMax Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
OfficeMax, Inc.
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