Consumer Goods

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Corporate Office

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory was founded in 1981 by Frank Crail, in Durango, Colorado. Crail was looking for an easier way of life in Colorado and thought a candy company sounded like a sweet deal. Franchising began the following year, with the first franchises opening in Utah and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The company went public on the NASDAQ in 1985 and can be found under the ticker symbol: RMCF. Whitman’s offered to buy the company in 1996, but their offer of $16 million was rejected.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory makes its own premium line of chocolate and other types of candy. The company has more than 300 different types of chocolate or chocolate covered candies, with new ideas being presented each year.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

The company went public on the NASDAQ in 1985 and can be found under the ticker symbol: RMCF. Whitman’s offered to buy the company in 1996, but their offer of $16 million was rejected.

History

Harriet Carter Corporate Office

Harriet Carter started a home based mail order business out of her kitchen in 1958 in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Carter’s children helped to package and fill orders. Some of the first orders for the company were decorative wood switch plate covers, which were made and stained to order, in the family basement.

Today, the company has grown substantially. From the original 4 page catalog, the company now prints more than 100 pages and typically ads 1,000 items each year to their inventory.

Harriet Carter still sells via mail order catalogs, but also has an online business as well. The company is known for selling gifts, household items, and useful items or tools for the home including kitchen utensils, candles, and “As Seen On TV” items.

Harriet Carter reduced staff and considered going out of business in 2019 but instead changed to an eCommerce business.

In October 2020, the company sold its showroom and a large warehouse.

The company maintains a corporate office in Montgomeryville, Pennslyvania.

Harriet Carter

History

Today, the company has grown substantially. From the original 4 page catalog, the company now prints more than 100 pages and typically ads 1,000 items each year to their inventory.

Harriet Carter reduced staff and considered going out of business in 2019 but instead changed to an eCommerce business.

In October 2020, the company sold its showroom and a large warehouse.

The company maintains a corporate office in Montgomeryville, Pennslyvania.

Brookstone Corporate Office

Brookstone was founded in 1965 by Pierre de Beaumont and his wife Mary, after the pair took some basic accounting classes via mail. They made a catalog of items for hobbyists and mailed them to people in their state. Mr. de Beaumont was well known for creating his own handy “tools” or shortcut items, which he soon featured for sale in his catalog. The company is named after their farm.

Today, Brookstone is a chain of 300 retail stores across the US, usually found in airports and shopping malls. The first brick and mortar location was opened in 1973. The company is known for toys and unique items such as massage chairs, pillows with embedded speakers, and iPhone accessories. Brookstone is unique in that customers can try out any item in the store before purchasing.

Brookstone filed for bankruptcy in early 2014 and was acquired by Sailing Capital and Sun Power Corporation in June of 20144. Stores and online services remained open and the company is back in the black.

Brookstone

History

Orchard Supply Hardware Corporate Office

Orchard Supply Hardware, often referred to as OSH, is a chain of home improvement, gardening, and hardware stores in the US. Founded in 1931 as Orchard Supply Farmers Co-Op, the company originally was made up of a group of 30 fruit tree farmers who put up $30 to purchase much-needed supplies during the Great Depression.

Today, Orchard Supply Hardware is a subsidiary of Lowe’s, and has more than 91 locations in the US, along with approximately 5,400 full-time employees.

The company has launched a new program called OSHbots, which are robot employees. These moving robots have LCD screens, 3D cameras, and speak both English and Spanish. The OSHbots can identify items brought in by customers and take them to where replacement items are or customers can research more products or similar products directly on the robot itself. This is a pilot program originally introduced in Lowe’s stores in 2014.

Parent company Lowe’s closed out all Orchard Hardware Supply stores at the end of 2018.

Orchard Supply Hardware

Today, Orchard Supply Hardware is a subsidiary of Lowe’s, and has more than 91 locations in the US, along with approximately 5,400 full-time employees.

History

Parent company Lowe’s closed out all Orchard Hardware Supply stores at the end of 2018.

Ocean State Job Lot Corporate Office

Ocean State Job Lot was founded in 1977 by current CEO Marc Perlman and his brother Alan in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The company is a chain of discount department stores offering everything from food to beach chair, patio plants to swimsuits.

The company has 133 locations in the New England states, including New York and New Jersey. Ocean State Job Lot typically offers name brand and big brand merchandise that is discounted due to overstock, out of season, or discontinued styles. The company also offers new, but not overstock or clearance items, that it maintains stock levels of on a regular basis.

Ocean State Job Lot typically rents previous discount store locations that have gone out of business and reuses as many items as possible to cut costs, such as display cases, checkout tables, and existing light fixtures to save money on remodeling costs. In January 2019, the company announced it was expanding into Pennslyvania by renting former Toys R Us locations.

The company made Forbes Best Midsize Employer list in both 2017 and 2018. Ocean State Job Lot regularly donates to a variety of causes or offers substantial discounts to groups, such as first responders and college students.

In March 2023, the company opened its 151st location in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

Headquarters remain in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Ocean State Job Lots

History

In March 2023, the company opened its 151st location in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

Headquarters remain in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.