COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 442299

Other Home Furnishings Stores

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

44companies1854–1987founding years44still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRoyal Doulton plc
1854
FoundedNext plc
1864
FoundedRed Wing Pottery Sales, Inc.
1877
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSears, Roebuck and Co.
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedMikasa, Inc.
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedAdolfo Dominguez S.A.
1952
FoundedWilliams-Sonoma, Inc.
1956
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedR.C. Willey Home Furnishings
1959
FoundedEuromarket Designs Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedEddie Bauer, Inc.
1968
FoundedAEON Co., Ltd.
1969
FoundedBed Bath & Beyond Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedThe Yankee Candle Company, Inc.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedLechters, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedA.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc.FoundedRag Shops, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedChiasso Inc.FoundedSLI, Inc.
1985
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.
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

Royal Doulton plc →
Active · founded 1854 · United Kingdom
Royal Doulton plc is one of the world's best-known fine china companies, designing and producing high-quality tableware…
Royal Doulton plc →
Active · founded 1854 · United Kingdom
Royal Doulton plc is one of the world's best-known fine china companies, designing and producing high-quality tableware…
Next plc →
Active · founded 1864 · United Kingdom
Next plc designs, manufactures, and distributes clothing and home furnishing and accessory items to nearly 330 Next…
Next plc →
Active · founded 1864 · United Kingdom
Next plc designs, manufactures, and distributes clothing and home furnishing and accessory items to nearly 330 Next…
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc. →
Active · founded 1877
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc.
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc. →
Active · founded 1877
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. →
Active · founded 1906
With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…
Sears, Roebuck and Co. →
Active · founded 1906
With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…
Mikasa, Inc. →
Active · founded 1936
A fast-growing retailer and wholesaler, Mikasa, Inc.
Mikasa, Inc. →
Active · founded 1936
A fast-growing retailer and wholesaler, Mikasa, Inc.
Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) →
Active · founded 1949 · Germany
While Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) is the world's largest mail-order company with subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe,…
Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) →
Active · founded 1949 · Germany
While Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) is the world's largest mail-order company with subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe,…
Adolfo Dominguez S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Adolfo Dominguez S.A.
Adolfo Dominguez S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Adolfo Dominguez S.A.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. →
Active · founded 1956
Williams-Sonoma, Inc., has become virtually synonymous with home furnishings through its mail-order catalogs and retail…
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. →
Active · founded 1956
Williams-Sonoma, Inc., has become virtually synonymous with home furnishings through its mail-order catalogs and retail…
R.C. Willey Home Furnishings →
Active · founded 1959
R.C.
R.C. Willey Home Furnishings →
Active · founded 1959
R.C.
Euromarket Designs Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Euromarket Designs Inc.
Euromarket Designs Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Euromarket Designs Inc.
The TJX Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
The TJX Companies, Inc.
The TJX Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
The TJX Companies, Inc.
Eddie Bauer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Eddie Bauer, Inc.
Eddie Bauer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Eddie Bauer, Inc.
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.
The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
The Yankee Candle Company Inc.
The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
The Yankee Candle Company Inc.
Lechters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Lechters, Inc.
Lechters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Lechters, Inc.
Restoration Hardware, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Restoration Hardware, Inc.
Restoration Hardware, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Restoration Hardware, Inc.
A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
A.C.
A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
A.C.
Rag Shops, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Rag Shops, Inc.
Rag Shops, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Rag Shops, Inc.
Chiasso Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Chiasso Inc.
Chiasso Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Chiasso Inc.
SLI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
For the past 29 years, SLI, Inc.
SLI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
For the past 29 years, SLI, Inc.
Strouds, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Strouds, Inc., 'The Linen Experts,' is a specialty retailer that offers a wide selection of home textiles for bed,…
Strouds, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
Strouds, Inc., 'The Linen Experts,' is a specialty retailer that offers a wide selection of home textiles for bed,…
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