Consumer Services

1-800-Flowers.com Corporate Office

1-800-Flowers was founded by Granville Semmes and David Snow in 1976. The business went through several transformations and finally prospered when it was sold to Jim McCann, an owner of several flower shops, in 1986.

1-800-Flowers received national attention when it was featured in an ad campaign by AT&T that ran during the 1992 Olympics. The company also advertised on CNN during the Persian Gulf War, a time when the war coverage drew additional viewers to the station.

The company went public on the NASDAQ in 1999 under the ticker symbol: LWS.

In the early 1990’s 1-800-Flowers partnered with CompuServe and AOL, and in 1995 registered the domain www.1800flowers.com

In September of 2007, the company announced a partnership with Martha Stewart Living to produce a line of floral products inspired by Martha Stewart.

In August 2011, the company acquired Flowerama, a floral retailer with 100 locations in 28 states.

The company has acquired numerous companies, including Harry & David, FineStationery.Com, Florists.Com, FruitBouquets.Com, and The Popcorn Factory.

In January 2021, the company announced a revenue growth of 45% in the second quarter.

Today 1-800-Flowers is a floral and gift retailer and distribution company. The company has more than 4,500 employees and had $707 million in revenue in 2012.

1-800-Flowers

History

The company went public on the NASDAQ in 1999 under the ticker symbol: LWS.

In the early 1990’s 1-800-Flowers partnered with CompuServe and AOL, and in 1995 registered the domain www.1800flowers.com

In September of 2007, the company announced a partnership with Martha Stewart Living to produce a line of floral products inspired by Martha Stewart.

In August 2011, the company acquired Flowerama, a floral retailer with 100 locations in 28 states.

The company has acquired numerous companies, including Harry & David, FineStationery.Com, Florists.Com, FruitBouquets.Com, and The Popcorn Factory.

In January 2021, the company announced a revenue growth of 45% in the second quarter.

Today 1-800-Flowers is a floral and gift retailer and distribution company. The company has more than 4,500 employees and had $707 million in revenue in 2012.

Jackson Hewitt Corporate Office

Jackson Hewitt began in 1982 when a group of investors bought 6 Mel Jackson’s Tax Service locations.

The company grew slowly until 1986 when they began to franchise. By 1987, they had added 22 new offices.

In 1989, the company partners with Montgomery Ward to open branch locations inside their stores.

In 1992, the company goes public.

In 1994, the company partners with WalMart to begin opening branches inside WalMart and Sam’s Club stores.

In 1996, John Hewitt leaves the company and is replaced as CEO by Keith Alessi.

In 1998, the company is purchased by the Cendant Corporation.

By 1999, there were 3,000 locations.

On April 3, 2007, the US Justice Department announced that the federal government had filed civil injunction suits alleging tax fraud by five corporations owned or partly owned by Farrukh Sohail, a franchisor. On September 28, 2007, the Department of Justice announced that it had reached settlements with each of the defendants in the case. Under the settlement agreements, the majority owner, Farrukh Sohail, of each of the businesses was to be barred from preparing tax returns for five years, and approximately fifteen of Sohail’s employees were permanently banned from preparing taxes other than their own. Jackson Hewitt states that an internal audit showed that none of their corporate employees knew about the scam which led to the filing by the Justice Department.

In 2011, the company was taken off the NYSE after defaulting on its debt. The company eventually filed bankruptcy and emerged as a private company.

CNet offered an unflattering online review stating that Jackson Hewitt’s low filing fee is attractive but that the bare-bones software leaves something to be desired.

Today, Jackson Hewitt is the 3rd largest tax preparation service in the US. The company operates over 6,800 locations.

Jackson Hewitt

Jackson Hewitt began in 1982 when a group of investors bought 6 Mel Jackson’s Tax Service locations.

The company grew slowly until 1986 when they began to franchise. By 1987, they had added 22 new offices.

History

In 1989, the company partners with Montgomery Ward to open branch locations inside their stores.

In 1992, the company goes public.

In 1994, the company partners with WalMart to begin opening branches inside WalMart and Sam’s Club stores.

In 1996, John Hewitt leaves the company and is replaced as CEO by Keith Alessi.

In 1998, the company is purchased by the Cendant Corporation.

By 1999, there were 3,000 locations.

In 2011, the company was taken off the NYSE after defaulting on its debt. The company eventually filed bankruptcy and emerged as a private company.

CNet offered an unflattering online review stating that Jackson Hewitt’s low filing fee is attractive but that the bare-bones software leaves something to be desired.

Today, Jackson Hewitt is the 3rd largest tax preparation service in the US. The company operates over 6,800 locations.

Sirius XM Corporate Office

SiriusXM Radio was the result of a controversial 2007 merger between Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio. XM Radio was first established in 1988 as the American Mobile Satellite Corporation. The company established a division in 1992 which eventually became XM Radio. Their satellite service initially launched in 2001. A year later, in 2002, Sirius Satellite Radio launched.

In 2009, DirecTV acquired 40% of SiriusXM. The company also raised their rates in 2009.

In 2011, the company dropped BBC Radio 1 with no advance notice.

SiriusXM currently serves more than 18.5 million subscribers in the US and Canada.

Sirius XM

In 2009, DirecTV acquired 40% of SiriusXM. The company also raised their rates in 2009.

In 2011, the company dropped BBC Radio 1 with no advance notice.

History

SiriusXM currently serves more than 18.5 million subscribers in the US and Canada.

Yelp Corporate Office

Yelp was launched in San Francisco, California in 2004 by former Paypal software engineers Russel Simmons and current CEO Jeremy Stoppelman. The site focuses on reviews of local businesses with an emphasis on dining and nightlife.

In 2008, the company expanded to the east coast by opening an office in Manhatten. A Canadian version of the site was also launched that same year.

In 2009, Yelp expanded to the UK market and later to France, Spain, and Austria.

In 2012, the company went public and also acquired one of their main competitors, Qype.

Yelp current provides reviews for consumers in 13 countries.

Yelp

History

In 2008, the company expanded to the east coast by opening an office in Manhatten. A Canadian version of the site was also launched that same year.

In 2009, Yelp expanded to the UK market and later to France, Spain, and Austria.

In 2012, the company went public and also acquired one of their main competitors, Qype.

Yelp current provides reviews for consumers in 13 countries.

FedEx Corporate Office

When Fredrick Smith was attending college at Yale in 1962, he was arguing with a professor about a business model for delivery service. He imagined that he could ship packages at night when airports and roads were less crowded. That idea lead to the founding of one of the largest delivery services in the world.

FedEx was founded under the name Federal Express in 1971 by current CEO Frederick W. Smith. The company began by offering document and small package service to 25 cities via Falcon 20 jets.

The company was incorporated as the FedEx Corporation in 1997 when the company acquired Caliber Systems Inc. This lead to a larger service offering than just express shipping. In 1981, the company became the first to offer the Overnight Letter service.

By 1983, the company had reached $1 billion in revenue; the first company to do so without mergers or acquisitions.

FedEx purchases The Flying Tigers in 1989 to expand their international capabilities.

FedEx officially adopts their well-known moniker as a replacement for Federal Express in 1994.

In 2000, the company acquired Tower Group International.

FedEx Express and the U.S. Postal Service forge a public-private alliance in 2001, one which allows FedEx Express to provides air transportation of some U.S. mail and places FedEx Drop Boxes at post offices nationwide.

In 2004, the company acquired Kinko’s and re-branded them as FedEx Kinko’s. In June 2019, Dollar General and FedEx announced a partnership which would allow customers to use their local Dollar General store for pick up and drop-off services.

The company announced weak quarterly results in June 2019, losing $2 billion. FedEx warned that continued weak global trade will hurt overall profits in the coming year.

On July 3rd, 2019, FedEx announced that it would not renew its contract with Amazon.

Today, the company operates several divisions worldwide, including FedEx Ground, FedEx Express and FedEx Freight. The company currently employs nearly 400,000 workers.

In 2016, the company posted annual revenue of $60.319 billion.

FedEx

History

FedEx was founded under the name Federal Express in 1971 by current CEO Frederick W. Smith. The company began by offering document and small package service to 25 cities via Falcon 20 jets.

By 1983, the company had reached $1 billion in revenue; the first company to do so without mergers or acquisitions.

FedEx purchases The Flying Tigers in 1989 to expand their international capabilities.

FedEx officially adopts their well-known moniker as a replacement for Federal Express in 1994.

In 2000, the company acquired Tower Group International.

The company announced weak quarterly results in June 2019, losing $2 billion. FedEx warned that continued weak global trade will hurt overall profits in the coming year.

On July 3rd, 2019, FedEx announced that it would not renew its contract with Amazon.

Today, the company operates several divisions worldwide, including FedEx Ground, FedEx Express and FedEx Freight. The company currently employs nearly 400,000 workers.

In 2016, the company posted annual revenue of $60.319 billion.