Consumer Goods

Casey’s General Stores Corporate Office

Casey’s General Stores began in 1959 when Donald Lamberti leased a service station from his father in Des Moines, Iowa. After operating it for nine years, he purchased a service station in nearby Boone, Iowa and named it Casey’s after the friend that gave him the tip on the sale.

This location was a success, and Lamberti began to buy more stores in small towns of less than 5,000 people.

In 1970 Casey’s had 118 stores and opened its first warehouse.

In 1982 the company opened a distribution center, and in 1983 began publicly trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol: CASY

In 1996 Casey’s opened it’s one-thousandth store and exceeded $1 billion in sales.

In 2010 the company expanded to Oklahoma, in 2011 to Arkansas, in 2012 in Kentucky, and to North Dakota in 2013.

In January 2020, Casey’s announced plans to build about 350 new locations over the next three years.

The company also had the honor of ringing the bell to start off the offical trading on the NASDAQ.

In September 2023, the company hit record sales with its ready-to-cook pizza.

Today Casey’s General Store is a chain of 2,500 convenience stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Arkansas. Casey’s has 36,000 employees and had $9.35 billion in revenue in 2019.

Casey's General Store

This location was a success, and Lamberti began to buy more stores in small towns of less than 5,000 people.

History

In 1970 Casey’s had 118 stores and opened its first warehouse.

In 1982 the company opened a distribution center, and in 1983 began publicly trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol: CASY

In 1996 Casey’s opened it’s one-thousandth store and exceeded $1 billion in sales.

In 2010 the company expanded to Oklahoma, in 2011 to Arkansas, in 2012 in Kentucky, and to North Dakota in 2013.

In January 2020, Casey’s announced plans to build about 350 new locations over the next three years.

The company also had the honor of ringing the bell to start off the offical trading on the NASDAQ.

In September 2023, the company hit record sales with its ready-to-cook pizza.

Michael’s Stores Corporate Office

Michael Dupey founded Michael’s when he converted one of his father’s Ben Franklin stores into an arts and crafts store in 1973. This first store became a part of Dupey Enterprises, Inc., the Dupey family business run by Michael’s father, Jim Dupey, and the predecessor to Michael’s Stores, Inc.

In 1983 Micheal’s 11 stores were acquired by Peoples Restaurants, and one year later was spun-off as a publicly traded company, with shares trading on the NASDAQ.

After the IPO, Michael’s quickly acquired two chains of arts and crafts stores, making Michael’s national.

During the 1990’s Michael’s stuck to its goal of rapid expansion throughout the United States, and achieved a growth rate of 15%.

In 2006 two private equity groups, Bain Capital and Blackstone Group, purchased the company for $6 billion.

Craft stores have tried to stay open during the coronavirus quarantine periods, including Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn’s Fabrics.

Today there are 1,040 Michael’s stores in 49 U.S. states and Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers chain, with 140 stores. Michael’s produces ten brands: Recollections, Studio Decor, Bead Landing, Creatology, Ashland, Celebrate It, Art Minds, Artist’s Loft, Craft Smart, and Loops & Threads. Michael’s has 44,000 employees and had $5.072 billion in revenue in 2019.

Michael’s CEO has decided to begin turning away from craft items and aim for more DIYer projects.

Michael’s maintains its corporate office in Irving, Texas.

Michael's Stores, Inc.

History

In 1983 Micheal’s 11 stores were acquired by Peoples Restaurants, and one year later was spun-off as a publicly traded company, with shares trading on the NASDAQ.

After the IPO, Michael’s quickly acquired two chains of arts and crafts stores, making Michael’s national.

During the 1990’s Michael’s stuck to its goal of rapid expansion throughout the United States, and achieved a growth rate of 15%.

In 2006 two private equity groups, Bain Capital and Blackstone Group, purchased the company for $6 billion.

Craft stores have tried to stay open during the coronavirus quarantine periods, including Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn’s Fabrics.

Michael’s CEO has decided to begin turning away from craft items and aim for more DIYer projects.

Michael’s maintains its corporate office in Irving, Texas.

Williams-Sonoma Corporate Office

Williams-Sonoma was founded by Charles E. Williams in 1956 when he began selling restaurant-quality kitchenware for homes in his store in Sonoma, California. In 1971 he began to publish a mail-order catalog.

By 1972 he was sending out thousands of catalogs and had taken out a business loan to open more stores.

The company went public in 1983 and bought Pottery Barn from Gap, Inc. In 1999 Williams-Sonoma introduced Pottery Barn Kids, then PBTeen in 2003.

Williams-Sonoma products have been featured on several television shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sex and the City, American Dad!, Friends, Frasier, The King of Queens, and Weeds.

Today Williams-Sonoma sells high-end kitchenwares, furniture, linens, housewares, home furnishings, specialty foods, soaps, and lotions. The company operates over 500 retail stores, has 26,000 employees, and had $4.042 billion in revenue in 2012.

Williams-Sonoma

By 1972 he was sending out thousands of catalogs and had taken out a business loan to open more stores.

The company went public in 1983 and bought Pottery Barn from Gap, Inc. In 1999 Williams-Sonoma introduced Pottery Barn Kids, then PBTeen in 2003.

History

Williams-Sonoma products have been featured on several television shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sex and the City, American Dad!, Friends, Frasier, The King of Queens, and Weeds.

The TJX Companies Corporate Office

The TJX Companies was founded in 1956 by Stanley Feldberg as Zayre Corp. He was the first president of the company, serving until 1978.

Zayre Corp opened its first T.J. Maxx branch in 1976 and its first BJ’s Wholesale Club in 1984.

In 1988 Zayre sold its nameplate to rival Ames and renaming itself The TJX Companies, Inc.

In 1990 TJX acquired Winners’ five stores in Canada.

In 1992 TJX launched HomeGoods in the United States.

TJX expanded beyond North America when it founded T.K. Maxx in the United Kingdom in 1994.

TJX acquired Marshall’s in 1995, which doubled the size of the company.

The company launched a sixth brand, A.J. Wright, in 1998 and a seventh, HomeSense, in 2001.

Today The TJX Companies is the largest off-price department store chain for apparel and home fashion in the United States. The company has over 150,000 employees worldwide and had $21.9 billion in revenue in 2010.

The TJX Companies

The TJX Companies was founded in 1956 by Stanley Feldberg as Zayre Corp. He was the first president of the company, serving until 1978.

Zayre Corp opened its first T.J. Maxx branch in 1976 and its first BJ’s Wholesale Club in 1984.

In 1988 Zayre sold its nameplate to rival Ames and renaming itself The TJX Companies, Inc.

History

In 1990 TJX acquired Winners’ five stores in Canada.

In 1992 TJX launched HomeGoods in the United States.

TJX expanded beyond North America when it founded T.K. Maxx in the United Kingdom in 1994.

TJX acquired Marshall’s in 1995, which doubled the size of the company.

The company launched a sixth brand, A.J. Wright, in 1998 and a seventh, HomeSense, in 2001.

Johnson & Johnson Corporate Office

The three Johnson brothers, Robert Wood, James Wood, and Edward Mead together created a line of ready-to-use surgical dressings in 1885. They produced their first product the next year, and the company incorporated in 1887.

Johnson & Johnson started producing consumer products in the 1920s. The company created a separate division for surgical products in 1941. This division eventually became the pharmaceutical division.

Johnson & Johnson expanded into women’s sanitary products and toiletries in the 1970s and 1980s.

In recent years the company has diversified even further, into such areas as orthopedics, internet publishing, and biopharmaceuticals.

Johnson & Johnson’s most well-know brands are Band-Aid, Tylenol, Johnson’s baby products, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, and Acuvue.

On December 31, 2012 the FDA approved Sirturo, the first new tuberculosis drug on the market in 40 years.

Today Johnson & Johnson has 250 subsidiaries with operations in 57 countries, sells products in 175 countries, is part of the S&P 500, has 118,000 employees, and had $65 billion in revenue in 2012.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson started producing consumer products in the 1920s. The company created a separate division for surgical products in 1941. This division eventually became the pharmaceutical division.

Johnson & Johnson expanded into women’s sanitary products and toiletries in the 1970s and 1980s.

History

In recent years the company has diversified even further, into such areas as orthopedics, internet publishing, and biopharmaceuticals.

Johnson & Johnson’s most well-know brands are Band-Aid, Tylenol, Johnson’s baby products, Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, and Acuvue.

On December 31, 2012 the FDA approved Sirturo, the first new tuberculosis drug on the market in 40 years.

Today Johnson & Johnson has 250 subsidiaries with operations in 57 countries, sells products in 175 countries, is part of the S&P 500, has 118,000 employees, and had $65 billion in revenue in 2012.