Ecommerce

PC Connection Corporate Office

PC Connection was founded in 1982 by Patricia Gallup and David Hall in Marlow, VT. They used savings of $8,000 to purchase inventory and take out one advertisement in a magazine.

The company began to grow quickly under the principles of excellent customer service and cultivating long-term customers.

In 1998 the company completed an IPO and became a public company traded on the NASDAQ.

In 1999 PC Connection acquired Comteq Federal and began to serve the computing needs of the Navy, the NSA, and the IRS.

In 2002 the company expanded its business in Florida through the acquisition of MoreDirect, in 2005 in New Hampshire with the acquisition of Amherst Technologies, Inc, and in 2011 in Chicago with the acquisition of ValCom technologies.

Today PC Connection is a leading direct marketer of computer products selling hardware, software, networking devices, and peripherals. It also provides a range of IT services. PC Connections has 2,000 employees and had $2.2 billion in revenue in 2012.

PC Connection

PC Connection was founded in 1982 by Patricia Gallup and David Hall in Marlow, VT. They used savings of $8,000 to purchase inventory and take out one advertisement in a magazine.

The company began to grow quickly under the principles of excellent customer service and cultivating long-term customers.

In 1998 the company completed an IPO and became a public company traded on the NASDAQ.

History

In 1999 PC Connection acquired Comteq Federal and began to serve the computing needs of the Navy, the NSA, and the IRS.

Rakuten.com Shopping Corporate Office

Scott Blum founded Buy.com in 1997. The company sold electronics at below cost and made up the difference with advertising and ancillary services like warranties and equipment leases.

Buy.com had the record for first year sales of any company with $111 million in 1998, its first full year of business.

Scott Blum sold his stake in the company to SoftBank in 1999 for $195 million, right before the company filed an IPO. Stock values plummeted the following year and he bought his stake back for $23.6 million in 2001.

In 2002 Buy.com expanded beyond electronics and began adding soft goods to their catalog.

Buy.com has an extensive eBay store and has over 1 million positive reviews.

In 2010 Buy.com was acquired by Rakuten, Inc., Japan’s biggest e-commerce company. The acquisition had an approximate value of $250 million.

In 2013 Rakuten, Inc. announced the official rebranding of Buy.com to “Rakuten.com Shopping.”

Rakuten.com Shopping offers more than 17 million products and is ranked in the top three e-commerce companies in the world.

Rakuten.com Shopping

Scott Blum founded Buy.com in 1997. The company sold electronics at below cost and made up the difference with advertising and ancillary services like warranties and equipment leases.

Buy.com had the record for first year sales of any company with $111 million in 1998, its first full year of business.

History

In 2002 Buy.com expanded beyond electronics and began adding soft goods to their catalog.

Buy.com has an extensive eBay store and has over 1 million positive reviews.

In 2010 Buy.com was acquired by Rakuten, Inc., Japan’s biggest e-commerce company. The acquisition had an approximate value of $250 million.

In 2013 Rakuten, Inc. announced the official rebranding of Buy.com to “Rakuten.com Shopping.”

Rakuten.com Shopping offers more than 17 million products and is ranked in the top three e-commerce companies in the world.

Overstock.com Corporate Office

Patrick M. Byrne founded Overstock.com in 1997 to sell surplus and returned inventory of retail stores, liquidating the inventories of at least 18 failed dot-com companies at prices that were below wholesale.

The first year of operation, Overstock.com had $1.8 million in revenue.

The company showed a profit for the first time in 2008. In 2009 the company resumed making losses and finally became profitable in 2010.

In recent years Overstock.com has expanded to sell new merchandise. From 2004 to 2011 the company offered online auctions but the practice was ultimately retired.

Overstock.com began rebranding in 2011 as “O.co” in an effort to simplify and unify its international operations. However, customer confusion led to a temporary retraction of the rebranding.

Today Overstock.com is an internet retailer providing discounts on brand name, non-brand name, and closeout merchandise in the United States and internationally. The company also has a vehicle selling service.

In September 2018, the company announced that it was selling Bitcoin through its website using Bitsey Wallet.

In August 2019, CEO Patrick Byrne stepped down after making claims that he had been an FBI informant and that he was involved romantically with a Russian spy. Jonathan Johnson was named as interim CEO.

Many products are made specifically for overstock.com and the company also sells merchandise of other retailers through its website. Overstock. com has 1,800 employees and had $1.745 billion in revenue in 2017.

Overstock.com

History

The first year of operation, Overstock.com had $1.8 million in revenue.

The company showed a profit for the first time in 2008. In 2009 the company resumed making losses and finally became profitable in 2010.

In recent years Overstock.com has expanded to sell new merchandise. From 2004 to 2011 the company offered online auctions but the practice was ultimately retired.

Overstock.com began rebranding in 2011 as “O.co” in an effort to simplify and unify its international operations. However, customer confusion led to a temporary retraction of the rebranding.

In September 2018, the company announced that it was selling Bitcoin through its website using Bitsey Wallet.

HSN Corporate Office

Lowell “Bud” Paxson and Roy Speer founded the Home Shopping Club in 1982 as a local cable channel in Pinellas County, Florida.

Three years later it expanded nationally and was the first national shopping network, under the name Home Shopping Network.

In 1986 HSN began a second network that broadcast over the air on a number of television stations it had acquired under the name Silver King Broadcasting.

The stations were sold in 1999 to Barry Diller and again in 2001 to Univision Communications.

In 1999 the company launched hsn.com, which is one of the most trafficked e-commerce websites.

Today HSN is an interactive, multichannel retailer with two operating segments: HSN and Cornerstone. The company’s brands include Bllard Designs, Chasing Fireflies, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, Grandin Road, Improvements, and TravelSmith. HSN has 6,700 employees and had $3 billion in revenue in 2012.

HSN, Inc.

Lowell “Bud” Paxson and Roy Speer founded the Home Shopping Club in 1982 as a local cable channel in Pinellas County, Florida.

Three years later it expanded nationally and was the first national shopping network, under the name Home Shopping Network.

In 1986 HSN began a second network that broadcast over the air on a number of television stations it had acquired under the name Silver King Broadcasting.

History

The stations were sold in 1999 to Barry Diller and again in 2001 to Univision Communications.

In 1999 the company launched hsn.com, which is one of the most trafficked e-commerce websites.

Systemax Corporate Office

Systemax was founded in 1949 as a materials handler named Global Equipment Company by Michael and Paul Leeds.

In 1972 the company began direct marketing, distributing a mail order catalog under the name Global Industrial Products.

In 1977 annual sales reached $3 million, and in 1987 annual sales reached $100 million.

In 1990 Systemax expanded to Scotland, in 1991 to France, and in 1992 to the U.K., Germany, Italy, Spain, and Canada through the acquisition of MISCO.

In 1995 the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 2005 sales reached $2 billion.

In 2008 Systemax acquired CompUSA.

In 2009 the company acquired Circuit City.

Today Systemax is a Fortune 1000 company that sells computers, computer supplies, consumer electronics, and industrial products through multiple e-commerce sites and retail stores, as well as through relationship marketing and direct mail catalogs. Systemax has more than 5,000 employees and had $3.68 billion in revenue in 2011.

Systemax

Systemax was founded in 1949 as a materials handler named Global Equipment Company by Michael and Paul Leeds.

In 1972 the company began direct marketing, distributing a mail order catalog under the name Global Industrial Products.

In 1977 annual sales reached $3 million, and in 1987 annual sales reached $100 million.

History

In 1990 Systemax expanded to Scotland, in 1991 to France, and in 1992 to the U.K., Germany, Italy, Spain, and Canada through the acquisition of MISCO.

In 1995 the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 2005 sales reached $2 billion.

In 2008 Systemax acquired CompUSA.

In 2009 the company acquired Circuit City.