COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 54186

Direct Mail Advertising

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

9companies1913–1997founding years7still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedEquifax Inc.
1913
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGUS plc
1917
FoundedAdvo, Inc.
1929
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPublishers Clearing House
1953
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedFrankel & Co.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAcxiom Corporation
1969
FoundedMorris Communications Corporation
1970
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedKirshenbaum Bond + Partners, Inc.
1987
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.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedTreasure Chest Advertising Company, Inc.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

Equifax Inc. →
Active · founded 1913
Equifax Inc.
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…
Advo, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Advo, Inc., is America's largest direct mail marketer, dispatching 16 million pieces of advertising to American homes…
Publishers Clearing House →
Defunct · founded 1953
Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is one of the largest magazine subscription agencies in the United States.
Frankel & Co. →
Active · founded 1962
Frankel & Co.
Acxiom Corporation →
Renamed · founded 1969
Acxiom Corporation--Acxiom is a registered trademark--is a leading provider of information management services and…
Morris Communications Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Morris Communications Corporation (MCC) is a mid-sized media company with holdings in diverse media.
Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners, Inc.
Treasure Chest Advertising Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
Treasure Chest Advertising Company, Inc.
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