COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5947

Gift, Novelty and Souvenir Shops

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

16companies1868–1986founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedTiffany & Co.FoundedTiffany & Co.
1868
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAbercrombie & Fitch Co.FoundedAbercrombie & Fitch Co.
1904
FoundedSanborn Hermanos, S.A.FoundedSanborn Hermanos, S.A.
1907
FoundedGeneral Host CorporationFoundedGeneral Host Corporation
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe Seagram Company Ltd.FoundedThe Seagram Company Ltd.
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedStanhome Inc.FoundedStanhome Inc.
1931
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
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.
FoundedCML Group, Inc.FoundedCML Group, Inc.
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedThe Score Board, Inc.FoundedThe Score Board, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
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.
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

Tiffany & Co. →
Active · founded 1868
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. →
Active · founded 1868
Tiffany & Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. →
Active · founded 1904
During the first half of the 20th century Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. →
Active · founded 1904
During the first half of the 20th century Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Sanborn Hermanos, S.A. →
Active · founded 1907 · Mexico
Best known in the United States as the American tourist's home away from home in Mexico, Sanborn Hermanos, S.A.
Sanborn Hermanos, S.A. →
Active · founded 1907 · Mexico
Best known in the United States as the American tourist's home away from home in Mexico, Sanborn Hermanos, S.A.
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…
The Seagram Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1928 · Canada
The Seagram Company Ltd., which is 32-percent owned by the Bronfman family, is a major international liquor giant…
The Seagram Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1928 · Canada
The Seagram Company Ltd., which is 32-percent owned by the Bronfman family, is a major international liquor giant…
Stanhome Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
A pioneer in the direct-sales industry, Stanhome Inc.
Stanhome Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
A pioneer in the direct-sales industry, Stanhome Inc.
CML Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
The CML Group, Inc.
CML Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
The CML Group, Inc.
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
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