Clothing

Nordstrom Corporate Office

John W. Nordstrom was a Swedish emigrant who arrived in the United States in 1887. He struck gold while prospecting and used this money to open a shoe store, Wallin & Nordstrom with co-founder Carl F. Wallin in 1901.

When the company opened its second store in 1923 Nordstrom’s son, Elmer J. Nordstrom, was put in charge of it. Elmer’s brother Everett, joined the business in 1928 when he and Elmer bought the co-founders shares when they reached retirement. A third brother, Lloyd, joined the business in 1933. The three brothers ran the business together for 40 years.

In 1958 Nordstrom’s had eight shoe stores.

In 1971 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ. The shares were changed to the NYSE in 1999.

From 1978 to 1995 Nordstrom opened 46 full-line department stores.

Today Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale fashion retailer that has 252 stores in 34 states, 52,000 employees, and had $8.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

Nordstrom, Inc.

In 1958 Nordstrom’s had eight shoe stores.

History

In 1971 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ. The shares were changed to the NYSE in 1999.

From 1978 to 1995 Nordstrom opened 46 full-line department stores.

Today Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale fashion retailer that has 252 stores in 34 states, 52,000 employees, and had $8.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

Foot Locker Corporate Office

Foot Locker has its roots in the 1963 purchase of the Kinney Shoe Corporation by F.L. Woolworth Company. Under Woolworth’s direction, Kinney branched out into specialty stores Stylco in 1967, Susie Casuals in 1968, and Foot Locker in 1974.

Foot Locker was the most successful of the ventures and by the 1990’s Foot Locker was responsible for 70% of Kinney Shoe Corp’s sales.

The Woolworth Corporation, parent company of Kinney Shoe Corp., changed its name to Venator Group in 1998. The same year Venator Group announced the closing of all Kinney Shoe Corp stores except the high-performing Foot Locker stores.

In 2001 Venator Group changed its name to Foot Locker, Inc., reflecting the company’s top performing brand.

Today Foot Locker operates 3,335 stores under the names Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Footaction, and CCS in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The company also franchises stores in the Middle East and the Republic of Korea. Foot Locker has 44,000 employees worldwide and had $5.62 billion in revenue in 2012.

Foot Locker, Inc.

Foot Locker was the most successful of the ventures and by the 1990’s Foot Locker was responsible for 70% of Kinney Shoe Corp’s sales.

History

In 2001 Venator Group changed its name to Foot Locker, Inc., reflecting the company’s top performing brand.

Neiman Marcus Corporate Office

Herbert Marcus Sr. along with his sister, Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband, A.L. Neiman, had $25,000 to invest from a successful sales-promotion firm they had built in 1907. These business partners had two choices: purchase the rights to a new, unknown sugary soda or return to their hometown and start a new retail store.

They rejected the possible investment in the fledgeling Coca-Cola Company and chose to start a retail business in Dallas instead.

The Neiman Marcus store was stocked with high-quality clothing not commonly found in Texas, mostly bought by Carrie in New York. Within weeks everything was sold out.

In 1914 a fire destroyed the Neiman Marcus store and all of its inventory. When the company reopened it had increased product selection to include lingerie and children’s clothing.

In 1950 Neiman Marcus opened a second location, also in Dallas, and expanded to Houston in 1957. A portrait studio operated by Gittings in the late 1950’s and 1960’s, brought high profile clients into the store to have their portraits done. Stars such as Howard Hughes, Wyatt Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt, and son Anderson Cooper, now of CNN fame.

Throughout the 1970’s the company opened new stores in Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and St. Louis. After the death of Stanley Marcus in 2002, the store has changed hands several times, but still retains its original name. The company is now under the shared ownership of Ares Management and CPP Investment Board.

Today Neiman Marcus has 41 stores nationwide, owns Bergdorf-Goodman department stores, and operates a direct marketing division, Neiman Marcus Direct. Neiman Marcus has over 15,000 employees and had $4.34 billion in revenue in 2012.

Neiman Marcus Group

History

They rejected the possible investment in the fledgeling Coca-Cola Company and chose to start a retail business in Dallas instead.

The Neiman Marcus store was stocked with high-quality clothing not commonly found in Texas, mostly bought by Carrie in New York. Within weeks everything was sold out.

In 1914 a fire destroyed the Neiman Marcus store and all of its inventory. When the company reopened it had increased product selection to include lingerie and children’s clothing.

Toys “R” Us Corporate Office

Toys “R” Us was founded by Charles Lazarus as Children’s Supermart in Washington, DC in 1948. At first, the company sold only baby furniture. However, Lazarus soon began to receive requests for baby toys, then toys for older children.

The company officially changed its focus and name in 1957, when Toys “R” Us was born. The next year Lazarus sold the business to Interstate Stores, Inc. for $7.5 million. Interstate aggressively tried to expand the brand, but failed, and in 1974 was bankrupt. The company sold off its businesses except the Toys “R” Us brand, and changed its name to Toys “R” Us to reflect its principal business. The original founder, Charles Lazarus, continued to serve as president and CEO.

The company grew and prospered in the 1980’s, opening a discount kid’s clothing store chain, Kids “R” Us.

Toys “R” Us reached $1 billion in sales in 1983 and 15% market share by 1987.

Toys “R” Us grew overseas throughout the 1990’s, opening stores in Israel, Hong Kong, Portugal, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Sweden, Turkey, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and The U.K.

In 1996 the company opened its first Babies “R” Us stores.

In the early 2000’s the company faced increasing competition from Walmart and Target and began to lose money. An expensive remodel and re-launch plan was undertaken, and failed. Toys “R” Us was eventually bought out by a consortium of Bain Capital Partners LLC, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and Vornado Trust Realty in a $6.6 billion leveraged buyout.

Today Toys “R” Us has 875 stores nationally, 625 international stores, operates a portfolio of e-commerce sites, and exclusively operates the FAO Schwarz brand. Toys “R” Us had 13.91 billion in revenue in 2012.

Toys "R" Us

The company grew and prospered in the 1980’s, opening a discount kid’s clothing store chain, Kids “R” Us.

History

Toys “R” Us reached $1 billion in sales in 1983 and 15% market share by 1987.

In 1996 the company opened its first Babies “R” Us stores.

Forman Mills Corporate Office

Richard Forman started Forman Mills in 1977 with an $80 loan from his father.

He began to sell sportswear and sweats in a local flea markets on the weekends with this money.

Four years later, in 1981, he opened his first store in Philadelphia.

In 1985 Forman opened his first superstore in a warehouse in Philadelphia. This new type of store was called the Forman Mills Clothing Factory Warehouse and had 16,000 square feet of retail space.

From 1989 to the present, the chain has grown to include stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan.

Forman Mills

Richard Forman started Forman Mills in 1977 with an $80 loan from his father.

He began to sell sportswear and sweats in a local flea markets on the weekends with this money.

Four years later, in 1981, he opened his first store in Philadelphia.

History

In 1985 Forman opened his first superstore in a warehouse in Philadelphia. This new type of store was called the Forman Mills Clothing Factory Warehouse and had 16,000 square feet of retail space.

From 1989 to the present, the chain has grown to include stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan.