COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5661

Shoe Stores

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

22companies1783–1985founding years22still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.
1783
FoundedThe South African Breweries LimitedFoundedThe South African Breweries Limited
1895
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.
FoundedMorse Shoe Inc.
1922
FoundedMarshalls IncorporatedFoundedMarshalls Incorporated
1923
FoundedGenesco Inc.FoundedGenesco Inc.
1925
FoundedJG Industries, Inc.
1928
FoundedEdison Brothers Stores, Inc.FoundedEdison Brothers Stores, Inc.
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.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
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.
FoundedAcademy Sports & OutdoorsFoundedAcademy Sports & Outdoors
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedJust For Feet, Inc.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedKenneth Cole Productions, Inc.FoundedKenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedLamonts Apparel, Inc.
1985
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

The North West Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1783 · Canada
The North West Company, Inc., is the leading seller of food and other general merchandise in small towns across the…
The North West Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1783 · Canada
The North West Company, Inc., is the leading seller of food and other general merchandise in small towns across the…
The South African Breweries Limited →
Active · founded 1895 · South Africa
The South African Breweries Limited (SAB) is a holding company whose principal line of business is brewing.
The South African Breweries Limited →
Active · founded 1895 · South Africa
The South African Breweries Limited (SAB) is a holding company whose principal line of business is brewing.
Morse Shoe Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Morse Shoe Inc.
Morse Shoe Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Morse Shoe Inc.
Marshalls Incorporated →
Active · founded 1923
Marshall's Incorporated is one of the nation's leading off-price family retailers.
Marshalls Incorporated →
Active · founded 1923
Marshall's Incorporated is one of the nation's leading off-price family retailers.
Genesco Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Genesco Inc.
Genesco Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Genesco Inc.
JG Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
JG Industries, Inc., is the holding company for Goldblatt's Department Stores, one of Chicago's oldest discount…
JG Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
JG Industries, Inc., is the holding company for Goldblatt's Department Stores, one of Chicago's oldest discount…
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc., is a leading retailer, specializing in apparel, footwear, and entertainment.
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Edison Brothers Stores, Inc., is a leading retailer, specializing in apparel, footwear, and entertainment.
Academy Sports & Outdoors →
Active · founded 1973
Privately owned by the Gochman family, Academy Sports & Outdoors operates the fourth largest chain of retail sporting…
Academy Sports & Outdoors →
Active · founded 1973
Privately owned by the Gochman family, Academy Sports & Outdoors operates the fourth largest chain of retail sporting…
Just For Feet, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Just For Feet, Inc.
Just For Feet, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Just For Feet, Inc.
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. →
Active · founded 1982
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
Lamonts Apparel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
Lamonts Apparel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
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