Ecommerce

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.

Victoria’s Secret Corporate Office

Victoria’s Secret was founded by Roy Raymond in 1977 in San Francisco, California.

According to founder Roy Raymond, he had been embarrassed while buying lingerie for his wife in a department store and wanted to create a store where men would feel comfortable shopping for their wives.

Raymond studied the lingerie market for 8 years before borrowing $40,000 from his parents and $40,000 from the bank and opening his first store in Palo Alto, California.

In its first year of business, Victoria’s Secret grossed $500,000.

In 1982 the company had grown to have six stores, a 42-page catalog, and was grossing $6 million annually. Leslie Wexner, the creator of Limited Stores Inc, bought Victoria’s Secret for $4 million.

In 1983 Wexner discarded the model of selling to male customers and changed the focus to selling to women.

By 1986 Wexner had transformed the brand and Victoria’s Secret had 346 stores.

In 2000, the company had 1,000 stores and accounted for one-third of all purchases in the intimate apparel industry.

Victoria’s Secret is a subsidiary of L Brands and accounts for more than 40% of sales for its parent company. The company sells lingerie, hosiery, swimwear, shoes, beauty products, perfume, sleepwear, and sweats. Victoria’s Secret had sales of $6.12 billion in 2012.

As of 2015, the company had 1,017 company-owned stores and 18 independently owned locations. Victoria’s Secret had annual revenue in 2015 of $12.5 billion, worldwide.

In May 2016, the company announced that it would discontinue their swimwear, clothing, shoes, and other accessories in order to focus on fragrances, sleepwear, and lingerie. Summer of 2016 will be the last time these items will be sold.

The company’s longtime CEO, Sharon Jester Turney, suddenly quit in early February of 2016, in order to “prioritize her family life”. Les Wexner has again returned as CEO until a replacement can be found.

Victoria's Secret

Victoria’s Secret was founded by Roy Raymond in 1977 in San Francisco, California.

History

Raymond studied the lingerie market for 8 years before borrowing $40,000 from his parents and $40,000 from the bank and opening his first store in Palo Alto, California.

In its first year of business, Victoria’s Secret grossed $500,000.

In 1982 the company had grown to have six stores, a 42-page catalog, and was grossing $6 million annually. Leslie Wexner, the creator of Limited Stores Inc, bought Victoria’s Secret for $4 million.

In 1983 Wexner discarded the model of selling to male customers and changed the focus to selling to women.

By 1986 Wexner had transformed the brand and Victoria’s Secret had 346 stores.

In 2000, the company had 1,000 stores and accounted for one-third of all purchases in the intimate apparel industry.

As of 2015, the company had 1,017 company-owned stores and 18 independently owned locations. Victoria’s Secret had annual revenue in 2015 of $12.5 billion, worldwide.

Sony USA Corporate Office

Masaru Ibuka started an electronics shop in post World War II Tokyo. The next year, with partner Akio Morita, they founded the company Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation). The company built the first tape recorder in Japan, the Type-G. The company’s name was changed to Sony in 1958.

Today Sony Corporation is a multinational conglomerate corporation with worldwide headquarters in Tokyo.

Sony Corporation has 146,000 employees, trades on the New York Stock Exchange, and had $72.3 billion in revenue in 2012.

Sony Corporation of America (SCA) is based in New York and is the United States subsidiary of the Sony Corporation. SCA is the umbrella company under which all Sony companies operate in the U.S.

Some of SCA’s subsidiaries are Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Entertainment Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, and Sony Mobile Communications Inc.

Sony Corporation of America

Today Sony Corporation is a multinational conglomerate corporation with worldwide headquarters in Tokyo.

Sony Corporation has 146,000 employees, trades on the New York Stock Exchange, and had $72.3 billion in revenue in 2012.

History

Sony Corporation of America (SCA) is based in New York and is the United States subsidiary of the Sony Corporation. SCA is the umbrella company under which all Sony companies operate in the U.S.

Some of SCA’s subsidiaries are Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Entertainment Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, and Sony Mobile Communications Inc.