COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 443112

Radio, Television, and Other Electronics Stores

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

32companies1917–1987founding years24still active8no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedGUS plcFoundedGUS plc
1917
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedDixons Group plc
1937
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.
FoundedCircuit City Stores, Inc.
1949
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedLojas Arapua S.A.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedR.C. Willey Home Furnishings
1959
FoundedAudiovox CorporationFoundedMTS Inc.FoundedRadioShack Corporation
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBest Buy Co., Inc.FoundedBest Buy Co., Inc.
1966
FoundedUltimate Electronics, Inc.
1968
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedTweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedSound Advice, Inc.
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedThe Good Guys, Inc.
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedFuture Shop Ltd.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCablevision Systems Corporation
1985
FoundedCar Toys, Inc.
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

GUS plc →
Active · founded 1917 · United Kingdom
GUS plc, formerly the Great Universal Stores plc, is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom and also is a…
GUS plc →
Active · founded 1917 · United Kingdom
GUS plc, formerly the Great Universal Stores plc, is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom and also is a…
Dixons Group plc →
Defunct · founded 1937 · United Kingdom
Dixons Group plc is the largest specialized retailer of consumer electronics in Europe and controls more than 1,250…
Dixons Group plc →
Defunct · founded 1937 · United Kingdom
Dixons Group plc is the largest specialized retailer of consumer electronics in Europe and controls more than 1,250…
Circuit City Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Circuit City Stores, Inc., is the nation's second largest retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, and…
Circuit City Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Circuit City Stores, Inc., is the nation's second largest retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, and…
Lojas Arapua S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · Brazil
Once the largest retailer of household appliances and electronics in Brazil with 16 percent of the market for durable…
Lojas Arapua S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · Brazil
Once the largest retailer of household appliances and electronics in Brazil with 16 percent of the market for durable…
R.C. Willey Home Furnishings →
Active · founded 1959
R.C.
R.C. Willey Home Furnishings →
Active · founded 1959
R.C.
Audiovox Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1960
Audiovox Corporation is an international leader in the marketing of cellular telephones, consumer electronics, auto…
Audiovox Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1960
Audiovox Corporation is an international leader in the marketing of cellular telephones, consumer electronics, auto…
MTS Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
MTS Inc., the little-known corporate name of the much more widely recognized Tower Records, is the second largest music…
MTS Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
MTS Inc., the little-known corporate name of the much more widely recognized Tower Records, is the second largest music…
RadioShack Corporation →
Active · founded 1960
RadioShack Corporation--known as Tandy Corporation from its founding in 1960 until mid-2000--is one of the largest…
RadioShack Corporation →
Active · founded 1960
RadioShack Corporation--known as Tandy Corporation from its founding in 1960 until mid-2000--is one of the largest…
Best Buy Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., Inc.
Ultimate Electronics, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1968
Ultimate Electronics, Inc.
Ultimate Electronics, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1968
Ultimate Electronics, Inc.
Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1972
Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc.
Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1972
Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc.
Sound Advice, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
Sound Advice, Inc., headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, owns and operates a chain of stores that retail high-quality…
Sound Advice, Inc. →
Active · founded 1974
Sound Advice, Inc., headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, owns and operates a chain of stores that retail high-quality…
The Good Guys, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
The Good Guys, Inc.
The Good Guys, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
The Good Guys, Inc.
Future Shop Ltd. →
Active · founded 1983 · Canada
Future Shop Ltd.
Future Shop Ltd. →
Active · founded 1983 · Canada
Future Shop Ltd.
Cablevision Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the largest cable systems operators in the United States, providing service…
Cablevision Systems Corporation →
Active · founded 1985
Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the largest cable systems operators in the United States, providing service…
Car Toys, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Car Toys, Inc.
Car Toys, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Car Toys, Inc.
Build It Today

Starting a radio, television, and other electronics stores company now

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