COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5399

Variety Stores

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

22companies1783–1997founding years18still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.FoundedThe North West Company, Inc.
1783
FoundedSpiegel, Inc.FoundedSpiegel, Inc.
1893
FoundedL. Luria & Son, Inc.
1898
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedColes Myer Ltd.FoundedColes Myer Ltd.
1921
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedThe Golub CorporationFoundedThe Golub Corporation
1932
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedEl Corte Inglés Group
1940
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.
FoundedCasey's General Stores, Inc.FoundedCasey's General Stores, Inc.
1967
FoundedService Merchandise Company, Inc.FoundedService Merchandise Company, Inc.
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedBrookstone, Inc.
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.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedPlanet Hollywood International, Inc.FoundedPlanet Hollywood International, Inc.
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.
Founded800-JR Cigar, Inc.
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

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…
Spiegel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
Spiegel, Inc.
Spiegel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1893
Spiegel, Inc.
L. Luria & Son, Inc. →
Active · founded 1898
L.
L. Luria & Son, Inc. →
Active · founded 1898
L.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
The Golub Corporation →
Active · founded 1932
"Successful, innovative, and civic-minded" are terms that describe well The Golub Corporation of Schenectady, New York.
The Golub Corporation →
Active · founded 1932
"Successful, innovative, and civic-minded" are terms that describe well The Golub Corporation of Schenectady, New York.
El Corte Inglés Group →
Active · founded 1940 · Spain
El Corte Inglés, S.A.
El Corte Inglés Group →
Active · founded 1940 · Spain
El Corte Inglés, S.A.
Casey's General Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Casey's General Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Casey's General Stores, Inc.
Service Merchandise Company, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1970
Service Merchandise Company, Inc.
Service Merchandise Company, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1970
Service Merchandise Company, Inc.
Brookstone, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Brookstone, Inc.
Brookstone, Inc. →
Active · founded 1973
Brookstone, Inc.
Planet Hollywood International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
Planet Hollywood International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
800-JR Cigar, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
800-JR Cigar, Inc.
800-JR Cigar, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
800-JR Cigar, Inc.
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