Retail

Guess Corporate Office

Guess Clothing was founded by brothers Paul and Maurice Marciano when they opened their first store in Beverly Hills in 1981. The store was an upscale boutique.

Guess soon began advertising and the company’s iconic black and white ads were developed.

The company originally produced and sold jeans for women, but men’s jeans were added in 1983.

In 1984 Guess watches were introduced. They continue to be popular today. Over the years the line of watches has been joined by other accessories lines.

After a lawsuit brought by the Department of Labor (DOL) in 1992 about the company’s failure to pay their workers minimum wage, Guess’s image was damaged and the company faced a severe downturn in sales.

In the 2000’s the company recovered and started to promote a different look and style. Guess ‘ clothing collection includes jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, shorts, blouses, jackets, knitwear, and intimate apparel.

Today Guess owns and operate 500 retail stores in the United States and Canada and 346 in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Its lincencees and distributors operate another 866 stores outside of the U.S. and Canada.

Guess is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GES, is a member of the S&P 400, is #778 on the Fortune 1000, has 14,600 employees, and had $2.57 billion in revenue in 2013.

Guess

Guess Clothing was founded by brothers Paul and Maurice Marciano when they opened their first store in Beverly Hills in 1981. The store was an upscale boutique.

Guess soon began advertising and the company’s iconic black and white ads were developed.

The company originally produced and sold jeans for women, but men’s jeans were added in 1983.

History

In 1984 Guess watches were introduced. They continue to be popular today. Over the years the line of watches has been joined by other accessories lines.

Guess is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GES, is a member of the S&P 400, is #778 on the Fortune 1000, has 14,600 employees, and had $2.57 billion in revenue in 2013.

Spencer Gifts Corporate Office

Spencer’s Gifts was founded in 1947 as a mail-order catalog selling novelty merchandise.

In 1963 the company opened its first retail store in New Jersey.

MCA, an entertainment conglomerate, acquired the company shortly after it launched its retail presence.

In 1995, MCA was acquired by Seagram Company, Ltd. and operated under the name Universal Studios.

Under the Universal Studios umbrella, Spencer’s Gifts expanded to Canada and the United Kingdom.

In 2005 Spencer’s expanded to Puerto Rico.

Today Spencer’s Gifts Spencer’s Gifts operates more than 640 shops in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico as well as more than 1,000 seasonal Spirit Halloween locations throughout the U.S.

The stores sell rock-and-roll clothing, custom t-shirts, fashion jewelry, traditional and new gag gifts, room decor, collectible figures, fantasy, and horror items.

The company is currently owned by ACON Investments.

Spencer's Gifts

Spencer’s Gifts was founded in 1947 as a mail-order catalog selling novelty merchandise.

In 1963 the company opened its first retail store in New Jersey.

MCA, an entertainment conglomerate, acquired the company shortly after it launched its retail presence.

History

In 1995, MCA was acquired by Seagram Company, Ltd. and operated under the name Universal Studios.

Under the Universal Studios umbrella, Spencer’s Gifts expanded to Canada and the United Kingdom.

In 2005 Spencer’s expanded to Puerto Rico.

Today Spencer’s Gifts Spencer’s Gifts operates more than 640 shops in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico as well as more than 1,000 seasonal Spirit Halloween locations throughout the U.S.

The stores sell rock-and-roll clothing, custom t-shirts, fashion jewelry, traditional and new gag gifts, room decor, collectible figures, fantasy, and horror items.

The company is currently owned by ACON Investments.

Hobby Lobby Corporate Office

Hobby Lobby is a chain of arts and crafts stores that was founded by David Green in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1972.

The company operates 525 stores in 40 states and internationally in China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

Hobby Lobby is the United States #3 craft and fabric retailer behind Michael’s Stores and Jo-Ann Stores.

Founder David Green is the CEO and operates the chain according to biblical principles, including closing the stores on Sundays. The chain has faced controversy for carrying Christian-holiday materials only.

The company also received protests and negative publicity after the Supreme Court upheld its right to deny female employees birth control under their health care plan in 2014.

The company recently lost a tax deduction claim through the IRS regarding their properties in early 2018. It is unknown if the company will appeal the $3.2 million payment due.

Hobby Lobby has 23,000 employees and with $3.3 billion in revenue, is #135 on the Forbe’s list of America’s Largest Private Companies.

Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby is a chain of arts and crafts stores that was founded by David Green in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1972.

The company operates 525 stores in 40 states and internationally in China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

History

Hobby Lobby is the United States #3 craft and fabric retailer behind Michael’s Stores and Jo-Ann Stores.

The company also received protests and negative publicity after the Supreme Court upheld its right to deny female employees birth control under their health care plan in 2014.

The company recently lost a tax deduction claim through the IRS regarding their properties in early 2018. It is unknown if the company will appeal the $3.2 million payment due.

Hobby Lobby has 23,000 employees and with $3.3 billion in revenue, is #135 on the Forbe’s list of America’s Largest Private Companies.

Petco Corporate Office

Petco began when Walter Evans opened a mail-order veterinary supplies business in 1965 called UPCO or United Pharmaceutical Company. UPCO’s first customers were ranchers, kennels, and grooming shops.

In 1979 the name of the company was changed to Petco.

In 1980 Evans opened the first Petco store in California.

In 1988 Petco acquired two pet supply chains, WellPoint and Pet Department, which tripled the number of Petco stores from 40 to 130.

In 1994 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol PETC. At this time Petco had 218 stores in 13 states.

In 2002 Petco had 600 stores in 48 states.

In 2005 the company expanded to Alaska, and four years later to Hawaii, giving Petco a presence in all 50 states.

In 2006 private equity firms Texas Pacific Group and Leonard Green & Partners took the company private.

Today Petco is #144 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies, has 22,000 employees, and had $3.15 billion in revenue in 2012.

Petco

In 1979 the name of the company was changed to Petco.

In 1980 Evans opened the first Petco store in California.

History

In 1988 Petco acquired two pet supply chains, WellPoint and Pet Department, which tripled the number of Petco stores from 40 to 130.

In 1994 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol PETC. At this time Petco had 218 stores in 13 states.

In 2002 Petco had 600 stores in 48 states.

In 2005 the company expanded to Alaska, and four years later to Hawaii, giving Petco a presence in all 50 states.

In 2006 private equity firms Texas Pacific Group and Leonard Green & Partners took the company private.

Today Petco is #144 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies, has 22,000 employees, and had $3.15 billion in revenue in 2012.

AutoNation Corporate Office

AutoNation has its roots in the 1981 founding of Republic Industries, a company specializing in waste disposal. The company began selling used cars with the acquisition of Auto Nation USA in 1996. Some dealers began seeking out Republic to sell their dealerships because of the long-term contracts. In 1996, Republic built twelve AutoNation locations.

In 1997, Republic began purchasing new car dealerships. The same year, the company acquired Alamo Rent A Car. The next year Republic acquired several more car rental companies, including Spirit Rent-A-Car, Value Rent-A-Car, Snappy Car Rental, and EuroDollar Rent A Car.

In 2009, AutoNation announced the AutoNation Payment Protection program, which promised that any Autonation dealership would buy back any car at market value, should the owner lose their job.

In August 2013, AutoNation announced the sale of its 9 Millionth vehicle, a record achievement in the auto industry.

In late 2017, AutoNation announced that Waymo, a developer of self-driving technology, enlisted AutoNation to maintain and repair their driverless fleet vehicles.

Today AutoNation is the largest automotive retailer in the United States and is the leading provider of new and pre-owned vehicles. The company owns and operates 371 dealerships across America selling 32 different manufacturing brands in 15 states.

AutoNation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AN, is a member of the S&P 500, and is #177 in the Fortune 500. AutoNation has 26,000 employees and had $20.86 billion in revenue in 2016.

In June 2023, AutoNation stock rallied and CEO Michael Manley scooped up 1 million shares for his portfolio.

Also in June 2023, AutoNation purchase 5 privately owned auto dealerships in the San Diego, California, area.

AutoNation maintains a corporate office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

AutoNation

History

In 2009, AutoNation announced the AutoNation Payment Protection program, which promised that any Autonation dealership would buy back any car at market value, should the owner lose their job.

In August 2013, AutoNation announced the sale of its 9 Millionth vehicle, a record achievement in the auto industry.

In late 2017, AutoNation announced that Waymo, a developer of self-driving technology, enlisted AutoNation to maintain and repair their driverless fleet vehicles.

In June 2023, AutoNation stock rallied and CEO Michael Manley scooped up 1 million shares for his portfolio.

Also in June 2023, AutoNation purchase 5 privately owned auto dealerships in the San Diego, California, area.

AutoNation maintains a corporate office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.