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Corporate Office

Ben Franklin Corporate Office

Ben Franklin Stores were originally named Butler Brothers stores. The company was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1877. The company had more than 100,000 customers at the turn of the century. The company founded the Ben Franklin name in 1927 and the chain was sold in 1959.

The founder of Walmart, Sam Walton, began his retail chain inside of a Ben Franklin location, as well as the creator of Michael’s Craft Stores, Michael Dupey, who converted a Ben Franklin store into his first retail location.

The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996. Some locations were sold to their franchise owners, others closed permanently.

Today, the company is owned by Promotions Unlimited, which was the supplier of many of the craft items sold at Ben Franklin stores. Promotions Unlimited operates 209 craft stores and 123 variety stores. Some Ben Franklin locations also contain pharmacies, others provide clothing. Most locations are found in small towns across the United States.

Ben Franklin Stores

Ben Franklin Stores were originally named Butler Brothers stores. The company was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1877. The company had more than 100,000 customers at the turn of the century. The company founded the Ben Franklin name in 1927 and the chain was sold in 1959.

The founder of Walmart, Sam Walton, began his retail chain inside of a Ben Franklin location, as well as the creator of Michael’s Craft Stores, Michael Dupey, who converted a Ben Franklin store into his first retail location.

The company filed for bankruptcy in 1996. Some locations were sold to their franchise owners, others closed permanently.

History

Today, the company is owned by Promotions Unlimited, which was the supplier of many of the craft items sold at Ben Franklin stores. Promotions Unlimited operates 209 craft stores and 123 variety stores. Some Ben Franklin locations also contain pharmacies, others provide clothing. Most locations are found in small towns across the United States.

Variety Wholesalers Corporate Office

Variety Wholesalers was founded in 1930 by the Pope family. John Pope took over the family business in 1949 and began expanding the company to include numerous stores in the southeast including Roses, Roses Express, Maxway, Super 10, Bargain Town, Bill’s Dollar Store, and Super Dollar.

Today, the company owns more than 380 locations and employs almost 8,000 persons. Variety Wholesalers is still privately held by the Pope family. The current CEO is Art Pope. Variety Wholesalers is headquartered in Henderson, North Carolina.

The company is made up of 3 main divisions; Roses stores, which consist of 160 locations. Roses stores are discount stores that average more than 50,000 square feet. Second are the Maxway stores, with 135 locations selling junior clothing. Super 10 makes up the last division, with 85 locations. Most Super 10 stores are no more than 5,000 to 10,000 square feet.

The company continues to expand, with the most recent Roses store opening in December 2022 in North Coventry, Pennsylvania. 

Variety Wholesalers

Variety Wholesalers was founded in 1930 by the Pope family. John Pope took over the family business in 1949 and began expanding the company to include numerous stores in the southeast including Roses, Roses Express, Maxway, Super 10, Bargain Town, Bill’s Dollar Store, and Super Dollar.

History

Today, the company owns more than 380 locations and employs almost 8,000 persons. Variety Wholesalers is still privately held by the Pope family. The current CEO is Art Pope. Variety Wholesalers is headquartered in Henderson, North Carolina.

The company is made up of 3 main divisions; Roses stores, which consist of 160 locations. Roses stores are discount stores that average more than 50,000 square feet. Second are the Maxway stores, with 135 locations selling junior clothing. Super 10 makes up the last division, with 85 locations. Most Super 10 stores are no more than 5,000 to 10,000 square feet.

The company continues to expand, with the most recent Roses store opening in December 2022 in North Coventry, Pennsylvania. 

Ace Hardware Corporate Office

Ace Hardware was founded in 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. The company was named after the ace fighter pilots in World War I.  The company was incorporated in 1927 and by 1949, had expanded to hundreds of locations.

After the last founding partner retired in 1973, the company was sold to its retailers, making it one of the largest cooperatives of its time. Since Ace Hardware stores are not a franchise, every store looks a bit different.

Today, Ace Hardware has more than 5,200 stores and has moved its headquarters to Oak Brook, Illinois. The company sells the usual hardware, paint, and home repair items including hand tools, key duplication, and tool blade sharpening.

Ace Hardware had $8.6 billion in sales in 2021 and ranked #1 for the 9th consecutive year in customer satisfaction on the J.D. Powers Index.

In September 2023, Ace Hardware and the Central Pacific Bank Foundation joined forces to distribute water and other supplies to the residents of the West Maui area after wildfires devastated the island. 

Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware was founded in 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. The company was named after the ace fighter pilots in World War I.  The company was incorporated in 1927 and by 1949, had expanded to hundreds of locations.

After the last founding partner retired in 1973, the company was sold to its retailers, making it one of the largest cooperatives of its time. Since Ace Hardware stores are not a franchise, every store looks a bit different.

History

Today, Ace Hardware has more than 5,200 stores and has moved its headquarters to Oak Brook, Illinois. The company sells the usual hardware, paint, and home repair items including hand tools, key duplication, and tool blade sharpening.

Ace Hardware had $8.6 billion in sales in 2021 and ranked #1 for the 9th consecutive year in customer satisfaction on the J.D. Powers Index.

In September 2023, Ace Hardware and the Central Pacific Bank Foundation joined forces to distribute water and other supplies to the residents of the West Maui area after wildfires devastated the island. 

Ikea Corporate Office

Ikea was founded in 1943 in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Ingvar Kamprad, who was 17 years old at the time.  The name Ikea is actually an acronym from the initials of the name of the farm where he grew up  and the name of the small town where he grew up.

The company designs and sells ready to assemble, simple furniture, kitchen cabinets, bedding, kitchen appliances, desks and chairs. Ikea is known for eco-friendly, innovative designs that make the most of space with minimalist lines. Ikea is one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world.

The Ikea group is a complex structure of companies and consists of 476 stores in 47 countries. The company also sells almost everything found in their stores online.  Ikea had $41.3 billion in sales worldwide in 2019 and employs more than 220,000 persons.

In a climate report dated 2021, Ikea, along with Amazon and Walmart were named the “dirtiest shippers” when it came to maritime emissions. 

Ikea maintains a corporate office in the USA in Conshohocken, Pennslyvania.

Ikea

Ikea was founded in 1943 in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Ingvar Kamprad, who was 17 years old at the time.  The name Ikea is actually an acronym from the initials of the name of the farm where he grew up  and the name of the small town where he grew up.

History

The company designs and sells ready to assemble, simple furniture, kitchen cabinets, bedding, kitchen appliances, desks and chairs. Ikea is known for eco-friendly, innovative designs that make the most of space with minimalist lines. Ikea is one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world.

The Ikea group is a complex structure of companies and consists of 476 stores in 47 countries. The company also sells almost everything found in their stores online.  Ikea had $41.3 billion in sales worldwide in 2019 and employs more than 220,000 persons.

In a climate report dated 2021, Ikea, along with Amazon and Walmart were named the “dirtiest shippers” when it came to maritime emissions. 

Ikea maintains a corporate office in the USA in Conshohocken, Pennslyvania.

Lord & Taylor Corporate Office

Lord and Taylor Logo

Samuel Lord and George Washington Taylor founded their store in 1826 on Catherine Street in Manhattan, New York. The company originally sold women’s hosiery, cashmere shawls, and women’s clothing. The store moved several times over the years; to Broadway at Grand in 1861, the later to a cast iron building at Broadway and 20th Street. In 1914, the company moved, and made their headquarters, on 5th Avenue, the first store to open on what would become the infamous 5th Avenue. The company also made headlines when they appointed the first female to head a retail establishment in 1945, Dorothy Shaver.

Lord and Taylor store front

Today, Lord & Taylor has grown to more than 50 locations across the U.S. Each store is uniquely designed and has a distinctive blend of both classical and contemporary elements.

Lord & Taylor offers luxury women’s clothing, handbags, shoes, belts, and accessories. The company offers personal shoppers, restaurants, and personal attention from sales associates.

Lord and Taylor Store Sign

NRDC Equity Partners purchased Lord & Taylor for $1.2 billion in 2006. In October of 2017, Rhone Capital purchased a minority share of Lord & Taylor. The iconic 5th Ave store was sold to office space sharing company WeWork, who will allow the company to operate through 2018, then has plans for revamping both the company and the building.

In August 2019, Lord and Taylor was sold to start up clothing rental company Le Tote for $100 million. 

Lord and Taylor Logo 2

Lord & Taylor

Lord and Taylor Logo

Samuel Lord and George Washington Taylor founded their store in 1826 on Catherine Street in Manhattan, New York. The company originally sold women’s hosiery, cashmere shawls, and women’s clothing. The store moved several times over the years; to Broadway at Grand in 1861, the later to a cast iron building at Broadway and 20th Street. In 1914, the company moved, and made their headquarters, on 5th Avenue, the first store to open on what would become the infamous 5th Avenue. The company also made headlines when they appointed the first female to head a retail establishment in 1945, Dorothy Shaver.

Lord and Taylor store front

History

Today, Lord & Taylor has grown to more than 50 locations across the U.S. Each store is uniquely designed and has a distinctive blend of both classical and contemporary elements.

Lord & Taylor offers luxury women’s clothing, handbags, shoes, belts, and accessories. The company offers personal shoppers, restaurants, and personal attention from sales associates.

Lord and Taylor Store Sign

NRDC Equity Partners purchased Lord & Taylor for $1.2 billion in 2006. In October of 2017, Rhone Capital purchased a minority share of Lord & Taylor. The iconic 5th Ave store was sold to office space sharing company WeWork, who will allow the company to operate through 2018, then has plans for revamping both the company and the building.

In August 2019, Lord and Taylor was sold to start up clothing rental company Le Tote for $100 million. 

Lord and Taylor Logo 2