Mail-Order Houses

Founded in 1856, The Orvis Company, Inc.

Founded in 1856, The Orvis Company, Inc.

With over 150 years of history under its belt, Hammacher Schlemmer & Company Inc.

With over 150 years of history under its belt, Hammacher Schlemmer & Company Inc.

Marshall Field's, a division of Target Corporation, is a major mid-market to upscale department store chain operating…

Marshall Field's, a division of Target Corporation, is a major mid-market to upscale department store chain operating…

Nordstrom, Inc.

Nordstrom, Inc.

Target Corporation is the fourth largest retailer in the United States, operating 1,556 stores in 47 states.

Target Corporation is the fourth largest retailer in the United States, operating 1,556 stores in 47 states.

With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…

With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…

Hartmarx Corporation is a holding company for a number of clothing companies, including its flagship brands of men's…

Hartmarx Corporation is a holding company for a number of clothing companies, including its flagship brands of men's…

Late 1980s:Battle for control of Mondadori begins between De Benedetti and Berlusconi.

Late 1980s:Battle for control of Mondadori begins between De Benedetti and Berlusconi.

Kmart Corporation, which entered 2002 as the second largest U.S.

Kmart Corporation, which entered 2002 as the second largest U.S.

GUS plc, formerly the Great Universal Stores plc, is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom and also is a…

GUS plc, formerly the Great Universal Stores plc, is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom and also is a…

Karstadt Quelle AG is the product of the 1999 merger between German retail powerhouse Karstadt Aktiengesellschaft and…

Karstadt Quelle AG is the product of the 1999 merger between German retail powerhouse Karstadt Aktiengesellschaft and…

Takashimaya Company, Limited is the oldest and one of the largest department store retailers in Japan.

Takashimaya Company, Limited is the oldest and one of the largest department store retailers in Japan.

Although it trails arch-rival Walgreen Co.

Although it trails arch-rival Walgreen Co.

1940s:Merck's laboratories make a series of discoveries: vitamin B12, cortisone, streptomycin.

1940s:Merck's laboratories make a series of discoveries: vitamin B12, cortisone, streptomycin.

Boise Cascade Corporation has grown from a small local lumber company into a major manufacturer of wood products,…

Boise Cascade Corporation has grown from a small local lumber company into a major manufacturer of wood products,…

L.L.

L.L.

Late 1970s/Early 1980s:[fsps*7]Company begins a mail-order business and opens its first specialty stores.

Late 1970s/Early 1980s:[fsps*7]Company begins a mail-order business and opens its first specialty stores.

Current, Inc.

Current, Inc.

With more than 550 stores in 12 countries across Europe, Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) has quickly become one of the…

With more than 550 stores in 12 countries across Europe, Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) has quickly become one of the…

J.

J.

Circuit City Stores, Inc., is the nation's second largest retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, and…

Circuit City Stores, Inc., is the nation's second largest retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, and…

Norm Thompson Outfitters, Inc.

Norm Thompson Outfitters, Inc.

While Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) is the world's largest mail-order company with subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe,…

While Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) is the world's largest mail-order company with subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe,…

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is one of the largest magazine subscription agencies in the United States.

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is one of the largest magazine subscription agencies in the United States.

MNS, Ltd.

MNS, Ltd.

Quill Corporation is the largest and most successful direct marketer of office products in the United States.

Quill Corporation is the largest and most successful direct marketer of office products in the United States.

RadioShack Corporation--known as Tandy Corporation from its founding in 1960 until mid-2000--is one of the largest…

RadioShack Corporation--known as Tandy Corporation from its founding in 1960 until mid-2000--is one of the largest…

Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., Inc.

Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., Inc.

Eddie Bauer, Inc.

Eddie Bauer, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

The leading specialty retailer in the United States of prerecorded music, movies, and audio and video accessories,…

The leading specialty retailer in the United States of prerecorded music, movies, and audio and video accessories,…

Another part of the firm's strategy was saturation of the metropolitan markets it entered, which it had done in New…

Another part of the firm's strategy was saturation of the metropolitan markets it entered, which it had done in New…

With an active customer base of 31 million people, Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

With an active customer base of 31 million people, Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

Restoration Hardware, Inc.

Restoration Hardware, Inc.

HSN, formerly known as Home Shopping Network, Inc., is the second-largest shop-at-home television network in the United…

HSN, formerly known as Home Shopping Network, Inc., is the second-largest shop-at-home television network in the United…

PC Connection, Inc.

PC Connection, Inc.

Zingerman's Community of Businesses encompasses a delicatessen, a full-service restaurant, a catering service, a…

Zingerman's Community of Businesses encompasses a delicatessen, a full-service restaurant, a catering service, a…

Hanna Andersson Corp.

Hanna Andersson Corp.

Long the world's largest direct-sale computer vendor, Dell Inc.

Long the world's largest direct-sale computer vendor, Dell Inc.

Staples, Inc.

Staples, Inc.

Starbucks Corporation is the leading roaster, retailer, and marketer of specialty coffee in North America.

Starbucks Corporation is the leading roaster, retailer, and marketer of specialty coffee in North America.

Corporate Express, Inc., wholly owned by the Dutch firm Buhrmann N.V.

Corporate Express, Inc., wholly owned by the Dutch firm Buhrmann N.V.

Following its March 2004 acquisition of eMachines, Inc., Gateway, Inc.

Following its March 2004 acquisition of eMachines, Inc., Gateway, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc.

Office Depot, Inc.

Provell Inc., formerly Damark International Inc., develops, markets, and manages membership and customer relationship…

Provell Inc., formerly Damark International Inc., develops, markets, and manages membership and customer relationship…

A fast-growing, family-owned business, Levenger Company markets a unique array of goods via catalog, Internet, and…

A fast-growing, family-owned business, Levenger Company markets a unique array of goods via catalog, Internet, and…

The Bombay Company, Inc.

The Bombay Company, Inc.

The J.

The J.

The name Neiman Marcus is practically synonymous with upscale retailing in the United States.

The name Neiman Marcus is practically synonymous with upscale retailing in the United States.

Gaiam, Inc.

Gaiam, Inc.

Successories, Inc.

Successories, Inc.

Concepts Direct, Inc.

Concepts Direct, Inc.

Digital River, Inc.

Digital River, Inc.

Travelocity.com, Inc.

Travelocity.com, Inc.