COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5091

Sporting and Recreational Goods & Supplies

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

16companies1897–1979founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedShakespeare CompanyFoundedShakespeare Company
1897
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedBrunswick CorporationFoundedBrunswick Corporation
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedRiddell Sports Inc.FoundedRiddell Sports Inc.
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedEllett Brothers, Inc.FoundedEllett Brothers, Inc.
1933
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedK2 Inc.FoundedK2 Inc.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedCobra Golf Inc.FoundedCobra Golf Inc.
1978
FoundedGT BicyclesFoundedGT Bicycles
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.
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

Shakespeare Company →
Active · founded 1897
An integral subsidiary of K2 Inc., Shakespeare Company manufactures fishing tackle equipment, marine antennas,…
Shakespeare Company →
Active · founded 1897
An integral subsidiary of K2 Inc., Shakespeare Company manufactures fishing tackle equipment, marine antennas,…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Brunswick Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Brunswick Corporation, the oldest and largest manufacturer of recreation and leisure-time products in the United…
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Riddell Sports Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Riddell Sports Inc.
Ellett Brothers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
A leading national distributor of outdoor sporting goods, Ellett Brothers, Inc.
Ellett Brothers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
A leading national distributor of outdoor sporting goods, Ellett Brothers, Inc.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
K2 Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
A thriving recreational and industrial products company, K2 Inc.
K2 Inc. →
Active · founded 1959
A thriving recreational and industrial products company, K2 Inc.
Cobra Golf Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Cobra Golf Inc.
Cobra Golf Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Cobra Golf Inc.
GT Bicycles →
Active · founded 1979
GT Bicycles is the nation's leading supplier of dirt-track racing, or bicycle motocross "BMX," bicycles and one of the…
GT Bicycles →
Active · founded 1979
GT Bicycles is the nation's leading supplier of dirt-track racing, or bicycle motocross "BMX," bicycles and one of the…
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