Headquarters

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.

L.L. Bean Corporate Office

Leon Leonwood Bean, a hunter, and fisherman developed a waterproof boot which was a combination of leather uppers and rubber bottoms and named it the Maine Hunting Boot in 1912. He sold them at first through a mail order circular and then through a four-page mail-order catalog.

This boot, now named the L.L. Bean Boot, is still a staple of the company’s product line.

L.L. Bean opened its flagship store in Freeport, Maine in 1917. This store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and has only closed four days since 1951: two Sundays when the blue laws were changed in Maine in 1961, to honor the death of President Kennedy, and to honor the death of the company’s founder in 1967.

L.L. Bean continues to be a family company and the current leadership includes Shawn Gorman, great-grandson of the founder.

The company is a global one, selling its products online or via catalog all over the world. In addition to the duck boot, the company sells men’s and women’s clothing, backpacks, outdoor gear, and other types of shoes.

The company has educational programs connected to many of its retail outlets to support the outdoor interests of its customers. Customers can sign up to participate in a number of outdoor activities and learn the basics: all equipment and instruction are provided. Activities include clay shooting, fly casting, archery, and sea kayaking, to name a few.

L.L. Bean has 115 stores in the United States and Japan, has 5,500 employees, and had $1.61 billion in revenue in 2014.

In November 2020, L.L. Bean began selling their clothign and shoes at upscale department stores, such as Nordstroms.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, retailers such as L.L. Bean are having a difficult time receiving merchandise from manufacturers in Vietnam in 2021.

The L.L.Bean “Bootmobile”, which travels the country throughout the year, also serves as a mobile store during its college tour, selling Bean Boots, custom laces, and more.

L.L. Bean maintains a corporate office in Freeport, Maine.

L.L. Bean

This boot, now named the L.L. Bean Boot, is still a staple of the company’s product line.

History

L.L. Bean continues to be a family company and the current leadership includes Shawn Gorman, great-grandson of the founder.

L.L. Bean has 115 stores in the United States and Japan, has 5,500 employees, and had $1.61 billion in revenue in 2014.

In November 2020, L.L. Bean began selling their clothign and shoes at upscale department stores, such as Nordstroms.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, retailers such as L.L. Bean are having a difficult time receiving merchandise from manufacturers in Vietnam in 2021.

The L.L.Bean “Bootmobile”, which travels the country throughout the year, also serves as a mobile store during its college tour, selling Bean Boots, custom laces, and more.

L.L. Bean maintains a corporate office in Freeport, Maine.

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.

W. W. Grainger, Inc. Corporate Office

W.W. Grainger was founded by William W. Grainger in Chicago in 1927 as an efficient solution for fulfilling customer’s business needs.

Sales were primarily through mail-order catalog and post cards in the early days of the company.

In 1967 Grainger became a publicly traded company, going public on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 1984 the company reached $1 billion in sales.

By 2008 Grainger’s catalog had 183,000 products, and 350,000 available products on www.grainger.com.

In 2010, 400,000 products were available in the catalog and 900,000 on the website.

Today Grainger sells products and services to small and medium-sized businesses, large corporations, government entities, and other institutions through local branches sales representatives, catalogs, and the internet.

The company has operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

W.W. Grainger is an S&P 500 component, has 18,400 employees, and had $8.1 billion in revenue in 2011.

W.W. Grainger

W.W. Grainger was founded by William W. Grainger in Chicago in 1927 as an efficient solution for fulfilling customer’s business needs.

Sales were primarily through mail-order catalog and post cards in the early days of the company.

In 1967 Grainger became a publicly traded company, going public on the New York Stock Exchange.

History

In 1984 the company reached $1 billion in sales.

By 2008 Grainger’s catalog had 183,000 products, and 350,000 available products on www.grainger.com.

In 2010, 400,000 products were available in the catalog and 900,000 on the website.

The company has operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

W.W. Grainger is an S&P 500 component, has 18,400 employees, and had $8.1 billion in revenue in 2011.