Retail

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.

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Corporate Office

Tom and Judy Love spent $5,000 to lease an abandoned gas station in Watonga, Oklahoma in 1964 under the name Musket Corporation. Over the next 8 years Musket opened a further 40 gas stations.

During the 1973 oil crisis Tom Love diversified the gas stations to include convenience stores. The move was a success and he quickly converted all of his locations to include Mini Stop stores.

The company changed its name to Love’s Country Stores in 1973.

In 1978 the company had 60 locations, and in 1981, 100 locations.

In 1993 Love’s teamed up with Taco Bell. The move was a success and in 1995 Love’s opened its first triple-branded location with Subway, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. In subsequent years Love’s teamed up with Arby’s, Godfather’s Pizza, Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., Chester’s Chicken, and Baskin-Robbins.

Today Love’s has 300 travel stops and 160 truck tire care centers in 39 states. Each travel stop contains a convenience store, fast-food restaurant, and gas outlets. The travel stops also offer services for truckers such as shower rooms, laundry facilities, game rooms, and mail drops.

Love’s is owned and operated by CEO and founder Tom Love. The company has 8,000 employees and had $24.40 billion in revenue in 2011.

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores

Tom and Judy Love spent $5,000 to lease an abandoned gas station in Watonga, Oklahoma in 1964 under the name Musket Corporation. Over the next 8 years Musket opened a further 40 gas stations.

During the 1973 oil crisis Tom Love diversified the gas stations to include convenience stores. The move was a success and he quickly converted all of his locations to include Mini Stop stores.

The company changed its name to Love’s Country Stores in 1973.

History

In 1978 the company had 60 locations, and in 1981, 100 locations.

Love’s is owned and operated by CEO and founder Tom Love. The company has 8,000 employees and had $24.40 billion in revenue in 2011.

Nordstrom Corporate Office

John W. Nordstrom was a Swedish emigrant who arrived in the United States in 1887. He struck gold while prospecting and used this money to open a shoe store, Wallin & Nordstrom with co-founder Carl F. Wallin in 1901.

When the company opened its second store in 1923 Nordstrom’s son, Elmer J. Nordstrom, was put in charge of it. Elmer’s brother Everett, joined the business in 1928 when he and Elmer bought the co-founders shares when they reached retirement. A third brother, Lloyd, joined the business in 1933. The three brothers ran the business together for 40 years.

In 1958 Nordstrom’s had eight shoe stores.

In 1971 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ. The shares were changed to the NYSE in 1999.

From 1978 to 1995 Nordstrom opened 46 full-line department stores.

Today Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale fashion retailer that has 252 stores in 34 states, 52,000 employees, and had $8.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

Nordstrom, Inc.

In 1958 Nordstrom’s had eight shoe stores.

History

In 1971 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ. The shares were changed to the NYSE in 1999.

From 1978 to 1995 Nordstrom opened 46 full-line department stores.

Today Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale fashion retailer that has 252 stores in 34 states, 52,000 employees, and had $8.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

Casey’s General Stores Corporate Office

Casey’s General Stores began in 1959 when Donald Lamberti leased a service station from his father in Des Moines, Iowa. After operating it for nine years, he purchased a service station in nearby Boone, Iowa and named it Casey’s after the friend that gave him the tip on the sale.

This location was a success, and Lamberti began to buy more stores in small towns of less than 5,000 people.

In 1970 Casey’s had 118 stores and opened its first warehouse.

In 1982 the company opened a distribution center, and in 1983 began publicly trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol: CASY

In 1996 Casey’s opened it’s one-thousandth store and exceeded $1 billion in sales.

In 2010 the company expanded to Oklahoma, in 2011 to Arkansas, in 2012 in Kentucky, and to North Dakota in 2013.

In January 2020, Casey’s announced plans to build about 350 new locations over the next three years.

The company also had the honor of ringing the bell to start off the offical trading on the NASDAQ.

In September 2023, the company hit record sales with its ready-to-cook pizza.

Today Casey’s General Store is a chain of 2,500 convenience stores in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Arkansas. Casey’s has 36,000 employees and had $9.35 billion in revenue in 2019.

Casey's General Store

This location was a success, and Lamberti began to buy more stores in small towns of less than 5,000 people.

History

In 1970 Casey’s had 118 stores and opened its first warehouse.

In 1982 the company opened a distribution center, and in 1983 began publicly trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol: CASY

In 1996 Casey’s opened it’s one-thousandth store and exceeded $1 billion in sales.

In 2010 the company expanded to Oklahoma, in 2011 to Arkansas, in 2012 in Kentucky, and to North Dakota in 2013.

In January 2020, Casey’s announced plans to build about 350 new locations over the next three years.

The company also had the honor of ringing the bell to start off the offical trading on the NASDAQ.

In September 2023, the company hit record sales with its ready-to-cook pizza.

A&P Corporate Office

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. was founded by George Gilman in 1850 as Gilman & Company as a leather tanning business. After Gilman’s father died he entered the coffee and tea business, turning the tanning business over to his brother.

Originally Gilman & Company was a wholesaler, but in 1863 the company entered retail, changing the name to the Great American Tea Company. By acting as both wholesaler and retailer, the company was able to offer low prices and quickly expanded.

In 1878 the company had 70 stores, in 1915 1,600 stores, and in 1925 13,961 stores.

A&P suffered greatly during a backlash against chain stores during the Great Depression, but ultimately survived.

In the 1950’s A&P began a dramatic downward spiral, which began a 50-year fall from the world’s largest retailer to bankruptcy.

In 2000 the company was down to 500 stores. In 2010 with its stock trading at less than $1, A&P filed for bankruptcy. The company emerged from bankruptcy a privately-held company with 300 stores.

Today A&P is a supermarket and liquor store chain. Its liquor stores operate under the name Best Cellars. Its supermarkets operate under the names A&P, Food Basics, The Food Emporium, PathMark, superfresh, and Waldbaums. A&P has 28,500 employees and had $6.7 billion in profit in 2012.

The company filed for bankruptcy in July of 2015 and closed all locations by November 2015, going out of business permanently.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.

In 1878 the company had 70 stores, in 1915 1,600 stores, and in 1925 13,961 stores.

History

A&P suffered greatly during a backlash against chain stores during the Great Depression, but ultimately survived.

In the 1950’s A&P began a dramatic downward spiral, which began a 50-year fall from the world’s largest retailer to bankruptcy.

In 2000 the company was down to 500 stores. In 2010 with its stock trading at less than $1, A&P filed for bankruptcy. The company emerged from bankruptcy a privately-held company with 300 stores.

The company filed for bankruptcy in July of 2015 and closed all locations by November 2015, going out of business permanently.