Electronics

Kmart Corporate Office

Kmart was founded by Sebastian S. Kresge when he invested in to five-and-dime stores that became the first S.S. Kresge stores in 1897.

By 1912 S.S. Kresge had 85 stores, by 1924, 257 stores, and by 1929, 597 stores.

The company first went public in 1918, trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

S.S. Kresge opened the first Kmart store on March 1, 1962. Eighteen more stores were opened that year.

In 1977 S.S. Kresge changed its name to Kmart Corporation.

Until 1990, when it was passed by Walmart, Kmart was the second-biggest retailer after Sears.

In 2002 the company filed for bankruptcy, emerging from bankruptcy protection as Kmart Holdings Corporation.

In 2004 the company bought Sears, changing its name to Sears Holding Corporation.

As of 2022, there are only 12 Kmart stores left in the US, with the majority being located in the US Virgin Islands.

Kmart

Kmart was founded by Sebastian S. Kresge when he invested in to five-and-dime stores that became the first S.S. Kresge stores in 1897.

By 1912 S.S. Kresge had 85 stores, by 1924, 257 stores, and by 1929, 597 stores.

The company first went public in 1918, trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

History

S.S. Kresge opened the first Kmart store on March 1, 1962. Eighteen more stores were opened that year.

In 1977 S.S. Kresge changed its name to Kmart Corporation.

Until 1990, when it was passed by Walmart, Kmart was the second-biggest retailer after Sears.

In 2002 the company filed for bankruptcy, emerging from bankruptcy protection as Kmart Holdings Corporation.

In 2004 the company bought Sears, changing its name to Sears Holding Corporation.

As of 2022, there are only 12 Kmart stores left in the US, with the majority being located in the US Virgin Islands.

Bluestem Brands Corporate Office

Previous to 2010, Bluestem Brands was named Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

Fingerhut Companies, Inc. was founded in 1948 by William Fingerhut and his brother, Manny Fingerhut. At first, the company produced and sold automobile seat covers.

In 1952 the brothers reorganized their company as a mail-order company.

Fingerhut Companies went public in 1969.

In 1995 Fingerhut launched two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and AndysGarage.com.

The company was acquired several times in its history, with the most recent being by Bain Capital, the current owner of the company.

Since the acquisition of the company by Bain Capital the company has shown tremendous growth. Previous to 2004, the year of the first investment by Bain, Fingerhut had only $135 million annually in sales. In 2012 the company has $700 million in sales.

Fingerhut was rebranded as Bluestem Brands in 2010.

Today Bluestem Brands offers private-label and name-brand merchandise, including apparel, appliances, electronics, furniture, health and beauty products, jewelry, kitchenware, luggage, sporting goods, toys, and tools through its two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and Gettington.com. The company also owns and operates Paycheck Direct, an employee purchase plan whereby employees can buy big ticket items through interest-free payroll deductions.

Bluestem Brands, Inc.

Previous to 2010, Bluestem Brands was named Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

Fingerhut Companies, Inc. was founded in 1948 by William Fingerhut and his brother, Manny Fingerhut. At first, the company produced and sold automobile seat covers.

In 1952 the brothers reorganized their company as a mail-order company.

History

Fingerhut Companies went public in 1969.

In 1995 Fingerhut launched two e-commerce sites: fingerhut.com and AndysGarage.com.

The company was acquired several times in its history, with the most recent being by Bain Capital, the current owner of the company.

Fingerhut was rebranded as Bluestem Brands in 2010.

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.