COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5712

Furniture Stores

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

32companies1875–1988founding years32still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRhodes Inc.FoundedRhodes Inc.
1875
FoundedThe South African Breweries Limited
1895
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedKingfisher plc
1909
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedJG Industries, Inc.
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedEthan Allen Interiors, Inc.
1932
FoundedBhs plc
1933
FoundedAmerican Furniture Company, Inc.
1935
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedIKEA International A/S
1943
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLevitz Furniture Inc.FoundedLevitz Furniture Inc.
1965
FoundedBaby Superstore, Inc.
1970
FoundedRoberds Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedKrause's Furniture, Inc.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedJennifer Convertibles, Inc.
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedJardine Matheson Holdings Limited
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedStorehouse PLC
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedOfficeMax Inc.
1988
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.
1994
TechnologyE-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.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

Rhodes Inc. →
Active · founded 1875
Founded in 1875, furniture retailer Rhodes Inc.
Rhodes Inc. →
Active · founded 1875
Founded in 1875, furniture retailer Rhodes Inc.
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.
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.
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…
Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Ethan Allen, Interiors, Inc.
Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Ethan Allen, Interiors, Inc.
Bhs plc →
Active · founded 1933 · England
Known for more than 50 years as British Home Stores, Bhs plc ranks among the United Kingdom's largest department store…
Bhs plc →
Active · founded 1933 · England
Known for more than 50 years as British Home Stores, Bhs plc ranks among the United Kingdom's largest department store…
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…
IKEA International A/S →
Active · founded 1943 · Denmark
Based in Denmark, IKEA International A/S is one of the world's top retailers of furniture, home furnishings, and…
IKEA International A/S →
Active · founded 1943 · Denmark
Based in Denmark, IKEA International A/S is one of the world's top retailers of furniture, home furnishings, and…
Levitz Furniture Inc. →
Active · founded 1965
A pioneer of the warehouse-showroom concept, in which both facilities are within a single building, Levitz Furniture…
Levitz Furniture Inc. →
Active · founded 1965
A pioneer of the warehouse-showroom concept, in which both facilities are within a single building, Levitz Furniture…
Baby Superstore, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Baby Superstore, Inc., operates a chain of 60 stores in 16 southeastern and midwestern states.
Baby Superstore, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Baby Superstore, Inc., operates a chain of 60 stores in 16 southeastern and midwestern states.
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,…
Krause's Furniture, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Krause's Furniture, Inc.
Krause's Furniture, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Krause's Furniture, Inc.
Jennifer Convertibles, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Jennifer Convertibles, Inc.
Jennifer Convertibles, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Jennifer Convertibles, Inc.
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Storehouse PLC →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
With its British Home Stores (Bhs) and Mothercare chains, Storehouse PLC ranks among the United Kingdom's top ten…
Storehouse PLC →
Active · founded 1986 · United Kingdom
With its British Home Stores (Bhs) and Mothercare chains, Storehouse PLC ranks among the United Kingdom's top ten…
OfficeMax Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
OfficeMax, Inc.
OfficeMax Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
OfficeMax, Inc.
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