Footwear

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.

The Sportsman’s Guide Corporate Office

The Sportsman’s Guide was started by Gary Olen in his basement in 1970. The company’s first product was a patch for hunting jackets detailing the previous year’s trophy success. It proved immediately popular with hunters across the country.

In 1977 The Sportsman’s Guide began producing a one-page catalog, which was successful. Soon the catalog was called, “Gary Olen’s Hand-picked, Field-tested Outdoor Gear at Ridiculously Low Prices!”

By 1992 the company was mailing eight catalogs annually.

In 1994 the first Government Surplus catalog was mailed.

In 1995 the The Sportsman’s Guide released the first Ammunition and Shooting catalog, in 1997 the Camping and Outdoor Living catalog, in 2010 the Work Wear Savings catalog, and in 2011 the Boating Savings catalog.

The Sportsman’s Guide began as a hunting company but today also sells ammunition, shooting supplies and accessories, clothing, footwear, camping gear, home, garden, optics, gifts, sports, and truck and ATV items.

The Sportsman’s Guide is a subsidiary of the French-owned Redcats Group.

The Sportsman's Guide

By 1992 the company was mailing eight catalogs annually.

History

In 1994 the first Government Surplus catalog was mailed.

The Sportsman’s Guide is a subsidiary of the French-owned Redcats Group.

REI Corporate Office

Recreational Equipment Incorporated, commonly known as REI, was founded by Lloyd and Mary Anderson in 1938 in Seattle, Washington. They had imported an ice axe from Austria and decided to set up a cooperative to help other people buy quality outdoor recreational equipment at reasonable prices.

At first the company was known as REI Co-op and was primarily focused on equipment for backpackers, climbers, and mountaineering expeditions.

In the 1980’s the company’s focus changed to family camping, kayaking, bicycling, and other outdoor sports. Sport-casual clothing also became an important part of the product line at this time.

REI still operates as a co-op for its members, but this title has been dropped as it also does business with the general public whether they are members or not.

REI has repeatedly been ranked in the top 100 of Fortune’s Top 100 Companies to Work for in the United States, finally earning the #8 spot in the Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For: All Stars in 2013.

REI has 11.6 million members, over 11,000 employees, and had $1.93 billion in revenue in 2012.

REI

At first the company was known as REI Co-op and was primarily focused on equipment for backpackers, climbers, and mountaineering expeditions.

In the 1980’s the company’s focus changed to family camping, kayaking, bicycling, and other outdoor sports. Sport-casual clothing also became an important part of the product line at this time.

History

REI still operates as a co-op for its members, but this title has been dropped as it also does business with the general public whether they are members or not.

REI has 11.6 million members, over 11,000 employees, and had $1.93 billion in revenue in 2012.

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.