Ecommerce

Gymboree Corporate Office

Gymboree was founded in 1976 by Joan Barnes. The company was originally a workout facility for children called Gymboree Play & Music.

By 1984, there were 125 franchise locations operating in 20 states.

In 1986, Barnes opens the first Gymboree retail store. The store was a success and 15 more were opened the following year.

By 1989, there were 32 retail stores.

In 1993, the company goes public. Nancy Pedot is promoted to CEO.

In 1997, Pedot is replaced by Gary White.

In 2001, the company sells its Zutopia brand to Wet Seal.

In 2003, the company headquarters moves from Burlingame, CA to San Francisco, where it remains today.

In 2010, the company is acquired and taken private by Bain Capital.

Today, Gymboree operates over 1200 children’s apparel stores in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. There are an additional 500 Play & Music centers worldwide.

Gymboree

Gymboree was founded in 1976 by Joan Barnes. The company was originally a workout facility for children called Gymboree Play & Music.

By 1984, there were 125 franchise locations operating in 20 states.

In 1986, Barnes opens the first Gymboree retail store. The store was a success and 15 more were opened the following year.

History

By 1989, there were 32 retail stores.

In 1993, the company goes public. Nancy Pedot is promoted to CEO.

In 1997, Pedot is replaced by Gary White.

In 2001, the company sells its Zutopia brand to Wet Seal.

In 2003, the company headquarters moves from Burlingame, CA to San Francisco, where it remains today.

In 2010, the company is acquired and taken private by Bain Capital.

Today, Gymboree operates over 1200 children’s apparel stores in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. There are an additional 500 Play & Music centers worldwide.

American Apparel Corporate Office

American Apparel was founded in 1989 by Dov Charney while he was a freshman at Tufts University.

In 1997, the company headquarters moved to Los Angeles. Charney sub-contracted his sewing to Sam Lim. Charney and Lim became partners two months later.

In 2000, the company moved to a warehouse in downtown LA. The company was primarily a wholesaler of t-shirts at this time.

The company eventually moved into retail and was an Inc 500 company in 2005.

In 2006, the company went through a reverse merger and was listed on the ASE.

In 2010, Deloitte and Touche resigned as auditors for the company after the companies 2009 financial statements were determined to be unreliable. The SEC filed an investigation.

Today, American Apparel operates over 300 retail locations. The company is still a major wholesaler of basic sold color garments.

American Apparel

American Apparel was founded in 1989 by Dov Charney while he was a freshman at Tufts University.

In 1997, the company headquarters moved to Los Angeles. Charney sub-contracted his sewing to Sam Lim. Charney and Lim became partners two months later.

In 2000, the company moved to a warehouse in downtown LA. The company was primarily a wholesaler of t-shirts at this time.

History

The company eventually moved into retail and was an Inc 500 company in 2005.

In 2006, the company went through a reverse merger and was listed on the ASE.

In 2010, Deloitte and Touche resigned as auditors for the company after the companies 2009 financial statements were determined to be unreliable. The SEC filed an investigation.

Today, American Apparel operates over 300 retail locations. The company is still a major wholesaler of basic sold color garments.

Nike Corporate Office

Nike was founded in 1964 by University of Oregon track athlete Philip Knight and his coach, Bill Bowerman. The company was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports and began as a distributor for Asics.

In 1966, BRS opened its first retail outlet in Santa Monica, California.

In 1971, the company began selling its own line of footwear. The shoes had a distinctive swoosh on the side. The swoosh was trademarked in 1974.

In 1978, the company became Nike, Inc.

By 1980, the company had attained a 50% share of the athletic shoe market. The company went public.

In 1988, the company acquired Cole Haan. Cole Haan was sold in 2013.

In 1994, Bauer Hockey was acquired.

In 2002, the company acquired the Hurley Surf Company.

In 2003, Converse was acquired, followed by Starter and Umbro in 2004. Umbro was eventually sold in 2012.

In 2004, Phil Knight retired as CEO. He was replaced by William Perez.

In September 2018, Nike chose Colin Kaepernick to be the face of Nike in their advertising campaigns, despite protests and threats of a boycott.

The company has been hit with another boycott from conservatives after its decision to not sell the Betsy Ross flag shoe after Kaepernick suggested that the flag was a symbol of racism since slavery was legal when that flag design was made.

Today, Nike is one of the largest suppliers of athletic footwear and apparel in the world. In 2017, the company had annual revenue of $34.35 billion

Nike

Nike was founded in 1964 by University of Oregon track athlete Philip Knight and his coach, Bill Bowerman. The company was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports and began as a distributor for Asics.

In 1966, BRS opened its first retail outlet in Santa Monica, California.

History

In 1971, the company began selling its own line of footwear. The shoes had a distinctive swoosh on the side. The swoosh was trademarked in 1974.

In 1978, the company became Nike, Inc.

By 1980, the company had attained a 50% share of the athletic shoe market. The company went public.

In 1988, the company acquired Cole Haan. Cole Haan was sold in 2013.

In 1994, Bauer Hockey was acquired.

In 2002, the company acquired the Hurley Surf Company.

In 2003, Converse was acquired, followed by Starter and Umbro in 2004. Umbro was eventually sold in 2012.

In 2004, Phil Knight retired as CEO. He was replaced by William Perez.

In September 2018, Nike chose Colin Kaepernick to be the face of Nike in their advertising campaigns, despite protests and threats of a boycott.

Today, Nike is one of the largest suppliers of athletic footwear and apparel in the world. In 2017, the company had annual revenue of $34.35 billion

The Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar Bose. Bose was a former MIT graduate student who began to research reverberant sound quality after buying a sound system in college that disappointed him.

The company’s first loudspeaker was the model 2201. It was a commercial disappointment.

In 1968, the company unveiled the Model 901 loudspeaker. It marked the company’s first success.

In 1970, Bose filed a lawsuit against Consumer Reports after they gave the 901 a bad review. Bose would eventually lose the lawsuit in 1983.

In the 1970s, the company began researching car stereos.

In 1972, the company began selling speakers targeted to professional musicians.

In 1984, the Acoustive Wave audio system is introduced.

In 1990, the Lifestyle Speaker systems are introduced.

In 1993, the Bose Wave radio is launched. The Wave radio would eventually become their signature product.

In 1999, the company begins selling from their website.

Today, Bose operates 8 production facilities and 153 retail stores nationwide.

Bose

The company’s first loudspeaker was the model 2201. It was a commercial disappointment.

In 1968, the company unveiled the Model 901 loudspeaker. It marked the company’s first success.

History

In 1970, Bose filed a lawsuit against Consumer Reports after they gave the 901 a bad review. Bose would eventually lose the lawsuit in 1983.

In the 1970s, the company began researching car stereos.

In 1972, the company began selling speakers targeted to professional musicians.

In 1984, the Acoustive Wave audio system is introduced.

In 1990, the Lifestyle Speaker systems are introduced.

In 1993, the Bose Wave radio is launched. The Wave radio would eventually become their signature product.

In 1999, the company begins selling from their website.

Today, Bose operates 8 production facilities and 153 retail stores nationwide.

Carter’s Corporate Office

Carter’s was founded in 1865 by William Carter in Needham, Massachusetts. The company was originally called the William Carter Company. Their first product was hand knitted mittens.

In the 1870s, adult underwear and union suits were added to the product line.

In the 1950s, the company shifted from adult clothing to children’s clothing.

In 2001, the company created the Just One You brand. This brand focuses on clothing, bedding and decor for infants.

In 2003, the company launched the Child of Mine brand specifically for Walmart.

In 2005, the company acquired OshKosh B’gosh.

In 2010, the company launched the Precious Firsts line for newborns and infants. This line is exclusive to Target.

Today, the company operates over 750 Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh retail locations. They sell infant and chilren’s clothing under 6 brands.

In January 2020, Carter’s received a great deal of criticism after a passerby noticed a trash bin filled with new clothing and shoes that had been slashed or cut. The company revealed that these were seasonal items that were unsold. The Facebook post showing the items has gone viral, with complaints to the company being that this only adds to the landfills and that this clothing could have been donated.

Headquarters for Carter’s are located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carter's

Carter’s was founded in 1865 by William Carter in Needham, Massachusetts. The company was originally called the William Carter Company. Their first product was hand knitted mittens.

In the 1870s, adult underwear and union suits were added to the product line.

History

In the 1950s, the company shifted from adult clothing to children’s clothing.

In 2001, the company created the Just One You brand. This brand focuses on clothing, bedding and decor for infants.

In 2003, the company launched the Child of Mine brand specifically for Walmart.

In 2005, the company acquired OshKosh B’gosh.

In 2010, the company launched the Precious Firsts line for newborns and infants. This line is exclusive to Target.

Today, the company operates over 750 Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh retail locations. They sell infant and chilren’s clothing under 6 brands.

Headquarters for Carter’s are located in Atlanta, Georgia.