COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5722

Radio, Television and Consumer Electronics Stores

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

28companies1889–1984founding years24still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedMontgomery Ward & Co., IncorporatedFoundedMontgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated
1889
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedKingfisher plc
1909
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedAmerican Furniture Company, Inc.
1935
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.
FoundedLechmere Inc.FoundedLechmere Inc.
1948
FoundedSun Television & Appliances Inc.
1949
FoundedFretter, Inc.
1951
FoundedLowe's Companies, Inc.
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedDarty S.A.FoundedDarty S.A.
1957
FoundedLinens 'n Things, Inc.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedABC Appliance, Inc.
1964
FoundedTops Appliance City, Inc.FoundedTops Appliance City, Inc.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedRoberds Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedCampo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc.
1972
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.
FoundedREX Stores Corp.
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.
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

Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated →
Defunct · founded 1889
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated is a national retailer with more than 400 stores in 43 states.
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated →
Defunct · founded 1889
Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated is a national retailer with more than 400 stores in 43 states.
Kingfisher plc →
Active · founded 1909 · United Kingdom
Based in London, Kingfisher plc is a major European retailing and property group.
Kingfisher plc →
Active · founded 1909 · United Kingdom
Based in London, Kingfisher plc is a major European retailing and property group.
American Furniture Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1935
Recognized as one of the largest retail home furnishing companies in the southwest United States, American Furniture…
American Furniture Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1935
Recognized as one of the largest retail home furnishing companies in the southwest United States, American Furniture…
Lechmere Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Lechmere Inc.
Lechmere Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
Lechmere Inc.
Sun Television & Appliances Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Sun Television & Appliances Inc., Ohio's leading consumer electronics and appliance discounter, expanded its operations…
Sun Television & Appliances Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Sun Television & Appliances Inc., Ohio's leading consumer electronics and appliance discounter, expanded its operations…
Fretter, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951
Fretter, Inc.
Fretter, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951
Fretter, 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…
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…
Darty S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
With its "contract of confidence," Darty S.A.
Darty S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · France
With its "contract of confidence," Darty S.A.
Linens 'n Things, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1958
Linens 'n Things, Inc.
Linens 'n Things, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1958
Linens 'n Things, Inc.
ABC Appliance, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
ABC Appliance, Inc., a leading retail supplier of radio, television, and consumer electronics, operates establishments…
ABC Appliance, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
ABC Appliance, Inc., a leading retail supplier of radio, television, and consumer electronics, operates establishments…
Tops Appliance City, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Starting with a tiny store in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Leslie S.
Tops Appliance City, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Starting with a tiny store in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Leslie S.
Roberds Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Characterized as "one of the most successful retailers of appliances in the Dayton area" by the Dayton Daily News,…
Roberds Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Characterized as "one of the most successful retailers of appliances in the Dayton area" by the Dayton Daily News,…
Campo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Campo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc.
Campo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Campo Electronics, Appliances & Computers, Inc.
REX Stores Corp. →
Active · founded 1984
REX Stores Corp.
REX Stores Corp. →
Active · founded 1984
REX Stores Corp.
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