COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5261

Retail Nurseries, Lawn and Garden Supply Stores

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

16companies1909–1986founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedKingfisher plcFoundedKingfisher plc
1909
FoundedGeneral Host CorporationFoundedGeneral Host Corporation
1911
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedJ Sainsbury plcFoundedJ Sainsbury plc
1922
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.
FoundedLowe's Companies, Inc.FoundedLowe's Companies, Inc.
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedFrank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc.FoundedFrank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHechinger CompanyFoundedHechinger Company
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedGIB GroupFoundedGIB Group
1974
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.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedOrchard Supply Hardware Stores CorporationFoundedOrchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation
1986
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

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.
General Host Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
General Host Corporation owns and operates Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc., a chain of specialty retail stores that sell…
General Host Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
General Host Corporation owns and operates Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc., a chain of specialty retail stores that sell…
J Sainsbury plc →
Active · founded 1922 · United Kingdom
Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other grocery outlets clustered tightly in the south of England form the nucleus of…
J Sainsbury plc →
Active · founded 1922 · United Kingdom
Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other grocery outlets clustered tightly in the south of England form the nucleus of…
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…
Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc.
Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc.
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.
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.
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…
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…
Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
A leading home improvement retailer in California, Orchard Supply Stores Corporation operates a chain of hardware…
Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
A leading home improvement retailer in California, Orchard Supply Stores Corporation operates a chain of hardware…
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