Consumer Goods

Gamestop Corporate Office

GameStop began in 1984 in Dallas, Texas as Babbage’s by James McCurry and Gary Kusin. The company was originally a software retailer selling Atari games and in 1987, Nintendo games.

In 1994, Babbage’s merged with Software Etc. In 1996, the company had 800 total stores and filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The company was kept afloat by Leonard Riggio, of Barnes and Noble.

In 2004, GameStop was spun off from Barnes & Noble as its own company.

In 2005, the company merged with EB Games (formerly Electronics Boutique).

In 2007, the company acquired Rhino Video Game from Blockbuster. In 2011, Spawn Labs was acquired.

The overall market for physical game media has been in a state of decline since online services, including Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, have become popular. GameStop, whose business was long rooted in new and pre-owned software, has begun feeling the effects of this changing market. In 2017, GameStop reported a 16.4% drop in sales for the 2016 holiday season but expressed optimism in its non-physical gaming businesses. Reasons cited for the decline in sales included industry weakness, promotional pricing pressure, and overall lower in-store traffic.

GameStop currently operates over 5,630 stores in 18 countries worldwide. Revenue in 2017 was $9.22 billion.

In September 2019, the company announced that it was closing approximately 200 locations, with a company spokesperson stating that the company would close “a larger number” of stores in 2020, but declined to give an actual number of stores.

Recently appointed CEO George Sherman stated that the company realizes that it must change along with gamers but declined to say how the company would accomplish this.

Company headquarters are located in Grapevine, Texas.

GameStop

GameStop began in 1984 in Dallas, Texas as Babbage’s by James McCurry and Gary Kusin. The company was originally a software retailer selling Atari games and in 1987, Nintendo games.

In 1994, Babbage’s merged with Software Etc. In 1996, the company had 800 total stores and filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The company was kept afloat by Leonard Riggio, of Barnes and Noble.

History

In 2004, GameStop was spun off from Barnes & Noble as its own company.

In 2005, the company merged with EB Games (formerly Electronics Boutique).

In 2007, the company acquired Rhino Video Game from Blockbuster. In 2011, Spawn Labs was acquired.

GameStop currently operates over 5,630 stores in 18 countries worldwide. Revenue in 2017 was $9.22 billion.

Recently appointed CEO George Sherman stated that the company realizes that it must change along with gamers but declined to say how the company would accomplish this.

Company headquarters are located in Grapevine, Texas.

hhgregg Corporate Office

hhgregg, also known as Gregg Appliances, was founded in 1955 in Indianapolis, Indiana by Henry Harold Gregg and his wife Fansy. They initially sold home appliances but soon expanded to televisions and other electronics.

In 1971, a second store was opened in Kokomo. A third store was opened the same year on the south side of Indianapolis. In 1973, a fourth store opened in Anderson.

In 1975, Jerry W. Throgmartin began working at his grandfather’s company in middle school. He eventually became CEO of hhgregg.

In 1984, the company purchased Famous State Sales out of Nashville. This was their first expansion outside Indiana.

Dennis May succeeded Throgmartin as CEO in 2009.

In 2004, the company opened Fine Lines, a chain of stores that carries premium appliance brands.

In 2007, the company went public on the NYSE under symbol HGG.

Today, hhgregg operates over 200 stores in 18 states.

The Company filed for bankruptcy and closed all locations in April of 2017. It is unknown at this time if they will reopen.

hhgregg

In 1971, a second store was opened in Kokomo. A third store was opened the same year on the south side of Indianapolis. In 1973, a fourth store opened in Anderson.

In 1975, Jerry W. Throgmartin began working at his grandfather’s company in middle school. He eventually became CEO of hhgregg.

History

In 1984, the company purchased Famous State Sales out of Nashville. This was their first expansion outside Indiana.

Dennis May succeeded Throgmartin as CEO in 2009.

In 2004, the company opened Fine Lines, a chain of stores that carries premium appliance brands.

In 2007, the company went public on the NYSE under symbol HGG.

Today, hhgregg operates over 200 stores in 18 states.

The Company filed for bankruptcy and closed all locations in April of 2017. It is unknown at this time if they will reopen.

Conn’s Home Plus Corporate Office

Conn’s began in 1934 when Carol Washington Conn, Sr. purchased a plumbing company and named it Conns Plumbing and Heating.

In 1937, the company began selling gas ranges and refrigerators.

In 1940, a physical store was opened on Pearl Street in Beaumont, Texas.

In 1959, a second store was opened on 11th Street.

In 1964, Conn Credit Corporation was founded to help consumers finance their purchases from Conns.

In 1966, C.W. Conn Jr. took over as company president and CEO. The company operated 4 stores at this time.

The company expanded under his leadership and eventually went public on the NASDAQ in 2003 under the ticker symbol CONN. In 2019, the company had $1.544 billion in revenue.

Today, the company has 161 retail locations that sell electronics, furniture, and appliances.

In August 2020, Conn’s stated that there was a computer glitch which caused robocalls to credit customers warning them of overdue payments. Some customers stated that new charges appeared on their accounts as well.

While profits have been lower for Conn’s due to the coronavirus, the stock has soared in November 2020.

Conn’s maintain’s a corporate office in The Woodlands, Texas.

Conns

Conn’s began in 1934 when Carol Washington Conn, Sr. purchased a plumbing company and named it Conns Plumbing and Heating.

In 1937, the company began selling gas ranges and refrigerators.

History

In 1940, a physical store was opened on Pearl Street in Beaumont, Texas.

In 1959, a second store was opened on 11th Street.

In 1964, Conn Credit Corporation was founded to help consumers finance their purchases from Conns.

In 1966, C.W. Conn Jr. took over as company president and CEO. The company operated 4 stores at this time.

The company expanded under his leadership and eventually went public on the NASDAQ in 2003 under the ticker symbol CONN. In 2019, the company had $1.544 billion in revenue.

Today, the company has 161 retail locations that sell electronics, furniture, and appliances.

While profits have been lower for Conn’s due to the coronavirus, the stock has soared in November 2020.

Conn’s maintain’s a corporate office in The Woodlands, Texas.

Forever 21 Corporate Office

Forever 21 was founded in 1984 by current CEO Do Won Chang and his wife Jin. Sook Chang The store was originally called Fashion 21 and targeted middle-aged women. Today, the company’s focus is more on younger women. The first store, located in Los Angeles, is still in operation today.

In 1989, the company opened their 11th store. It was their first location inside a shopping mall.

In 1995, the first location outside of California was opened in Miami, FL.

By 1997, there were 40 stores.

In 2010, the company opened its flagship two-story, 85,000 square foot store at the Los Cerritos Center. The company also expanded to the UK.

Forever 21 currently operates over 723 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The company had annual revenue in 2016 of $4.4 billion.

In late August 2019, the company stated that it was considering filing for bankruptcy to restructure its debts.

Forever 21

In 1989, the company opened their 11th store. It was their first location inside a shopping mall.

History

In 1995, the first location outside of California was opened in Miami, FL.

By 1997, there were 40 stores.

In 2010, the company opened its flagship two-story, 85,000 square foot store at the Los Cerritos Center. The company also expanded to the UK.

Forever 21 currently operates over 723 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The company had annual revenue in 2016 of $4.4 billion.

In late August 2019, the company stated that it was considering filing for bankruptcy to restructure its debts.

General Mills Corporate Office

General Mills was originally founded in 1856 as the Minneapolis Milling Company by Robert Smith.

The name General Mills wasn’t adopted until 1928 when then named Washburn-Crosby merged with 26 other local mills.

In 1929, the company introduced Better Crocker coupons on the box tops of their products.

In 1965, the company acquired Rainbow Crafts, maker of Play-Doh.

In 1970, the company acquired Red Lobster, then only a 5 restaurant operation and expanded it nationwide. In 1982, Olive Garden was created. In 1995, the restaurants were spun off as a new company, Darden Restaurants.

In 2001, Pilsbury was acquired.

Today, General Mills produces many popular food brands including Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Totinos, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Cheerios & Lucky Charms. In total, their portfolio is comprised of over 100 food brands.

General Mills

General Mills was originally founded in 1856 as the Minneapolis Milling Company by Robert Smith.

The name General Mills wasn’t adopted until 1928 when then named Washburn-Crosby merged with 26 other local mills.

In 1929, the company introduced Better Crocker coupons on the box tops of their products.

History

In 1965, the company acquired Rainbow Crafts, maker of Play-Doh.

In 2001, Pilsbury was acquired.