COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5641

Retailer of Maternity Wear & Children's Apparel

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

16companies1670–1984founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedHudson's Bay CompanyFoundedHudson's Bay Company
1670
FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.
1783
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedDonnkenny, Inc.FoundedDonnkenny, Inc.
1934
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.
FoundedThe Limited, Inc.FoundedThe Limited, Inc.
1963
FoundedCharming Shoppes, Inc.FoundedCharming Shoppes, Inc.
1969
FoundedBaby Superstore, Inc.FoundedBaby Superstore, Inc.
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedMothercare UK Ltd.FoundedMothercare UK Ltd.
1972
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.
FoundedOne Price Clothing Stores, Inc.FoundedOne Price Clothing Stores, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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

Hudson's Bay Company →
Active · founded 1670 · Canada
Canada's number one department store retailer, Hudson's Bay Company, is also Canada's oldest corporation.
Hudson's Bay Company →
Active · founded 1670 · Canada
Canada's number one department store retailer, Hudson's Bay Company, is also Canada's oldest corporation.
The North West Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1783 · Canada
The North West Company, Inc., is the leading seller of food and other general merchandise in small towns across the…
The North West Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1783 · Canada
The North West Company, Inc., is the leading seller of food and other general merchandise in small towns across the…
Donnkenny, Inc. →
Active · founded 1934
Donnkenny, Inc., a holding company, designs, manufactures, imports, and markets a broad line of moderately priced…
Donnkenny, Inc. →
Active · founded 1934
Donnkenny, Inc., a holding company, designs, manufactures, imports, and markets a broad line of moderately priced…
The Limited, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The Limited, Inc.
The Limited, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
The Limited, Inc.
Charming Shoppes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Charming Shoppes, Inc., is a leading retailer, specializing in women's apparel.
Charming Shoppes, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Charming Shoppes, Inc., is a leading retailer, specializing in women's apparel.
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.
Mothercare UK Ltd. →
Active · founded 1972 · England
With more than 370 stores throughout Great Britain, Europe, and the Middle East and Asia, Mothercare UK Ltd.
Mothercare UK Ltd. →
Active · founded 1972 · England
With more than 370 stores throughout Great Britain, Europe, and the Middle East and Asia, Mothercare UK Ltd.
One Price Clothing Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Headquartered in South Carolina, One Price Clothing Stores, Inc., is a retailer of women's and children's clothing and…
One Price Clothing Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Headquartered in South Carolina, One Price Clothing Stores, Inc., is a retailer of women's and children's clothing and…
Build It Today

Starting a retailer of maternity wear & children's apparel company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.