Retail

Gymboree Corporate Office

Gymboree was founded in 1976 by Joan Barnes. The company was originally a workout facility for children called Gymboree Play & Music.

By 1984, there were 125 franchise locations operating in 20 states.

In 1986, Barnes opens the first Gymboree retail store. The store was a success and 15 more were opened the following year.

By 1989, there were 32 retail stores.

In 1993, the company goes public. Nancy Pedot is promoted to CEO.

In 1997, Pedot is replaced by Gary White.

In 2001, the company sells its Zutopia brand to Wet Seal.

In 2003, the company headquarters moves from Burlingame, CA to San Francisco, where it remains today.

In 2010, the company is acquired and taken private by Bain Capital.

Today, Gymboree operates over 1200 children’s apparel stores in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. There are an additional 500 Play & Music centers worldwide.

Gymboree

Gymboree was founded in 1976 by Joan Barnes. The company was originally a workout facility for children called Gymboree Play & Music.

By 1984, there were 125 franchise locations operating in 20 states.

In 1986, Barnes opens the first Gymboree retail store. The store was a success and 15 more were opened the following year.

History

By 1989, there were 32 retail stores.

In 1993, the company goes public. Nancy Pedot is promoted to CEO.

In 1997, Pedot is replaced by Gary White.

In 2001, the company sells its Zutopia brand to Wet Seal.

In 2003, the company headquarters moves from Burlingame, CA to San Francisco, where it remains today.

In 2010, the company is acquired and taken private by Bain Capital.

Today, Gymboree operates over 1200 children’s apparel stores in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. There are an additional 500 Play & Music centers worldwide.

American Apparel Corporate Office

American Apparel was founded in 1989 by Dov Charney while he was a freshman at Tufts University.

In 1997, the company headquarters moved to Los Angeles. Charney sub-contracted his sewing to Sam Lim. Charney and Lim became partners two months later.

In 2000, the company moved to a warehouse in downtown LA. The company was primarily a wholesaler of t-shirts at this time.

The company eventually moved into retail and was an Inc 500 company in 2005.

In 2006, the company went through a reverse merger and was listed on the ASE.

In 2010, Deloitte and Touche resigned as auditors for the company after the companies 2009 financial statements were determined to be unreliable. The SEC filed an investigation.

Today, American Apparel operates over 300 retail locations. The company is still a major wholesaler of basic sold color garments.

American Apparel

American Apparel was founded in 1989 by Dov Charney while he was a freshman at Tufts University.

In 1997, the company headquarters moved to Los Angeles. Charney sub-contracted his sewing to Sam Lim. Charney and Lim became partners two months later.

In 2000, the company moved to a warehouse in downtown LA. The company was primarily a wholesaler of t-shirts at this time.

History

The company eventually moved into retail and was an Inc 500 company in 2005.

In 2006, the company went through a reverse merger and was listed on the ASE.

In 2010, Deloitte and Touche resigned as auditors for the company after the companies 2009 financial statements were determined to be unreliable. The SEC filed an investigation.

Today, American Apparel operates over 300 retail locations. The company is still a major wholesaler of basic sold color garments.

Mattress Firm Corporate Office

Mattress Firm was founded in 1986 by Steve Fendrich, Harry Roberts and Paul Stork in Houston, Texas. The first store was a success and the company grew quickly through both corporately owned and franchise locations.

Fendrich left Mattress Firm in 2001. He rejoined the company in 2010.

By 2002, there were 250 corporately owned locations.

In 2010, co-founder Harry Roberts and his brother Charlie rejoined Mattress Firm. They are helping expand the franchise department.

In 2011, the company went public.

In 2012, the company acquired competitors Mattress Giant and Mattress Xpress.

Today, Mattress Firm is the largest bedding retailer in the US. The company currently operates over 1100 locations in 28 states.

The company filed for bankruptcy in October 2018. Longtime CEO Steve Stagner resigned in March 2018 and he was replaced by John Eck, former head of Univision, in May 2019.

The company successfully emerged from bankruptcy in late November 2018.

Mattress Firm

Fendrich left Mattress Firm in 2001. He rejoined the company in 2010.

History

By 2002, there were 250 corporately owned locations.

In 2010, co-founder Harry Roberts and his brother Charlie rejoined Mattress Firm. They are helping expand the franchise department.

In 2011, the company went public.

In 2012, the company acquired competitors Mattress Giant and Mattress Xpress.

Today, Mattress Firm is the largest bedding retailer in the US. The company currently operates over 1100 locations in 28 states.

The company filed for bankruptcy in October 2018. Longtime CEO Steve Stagner resigned in March 2018 and he was replaced by John Eck, former head of Univision, in May 2019.

The company successfully emerged from bankruptcy in late November 2018.

RadioShack Corporate Office

Radio Shack was founded in 1921 by Theodore and Milton Deutschmann. The brothers opened a ham radio shop in downtown Boston.

In 1939, the company issued their first catalog and entered the hi-fi audio market.

In 1954, the company began selling its own products under the Realist brand.

In 1962, after nearly going bankrupt, Radio Shack was purchased by the Tandy Corporation. The company was renamed to Tandy Radio Shack & Leather.

In 1977, the company introduced the TRS-80 personal computer. The product was a huge success.

In 1994, the company introduced a repair shop into their stores.

In 2000, the company dropped Tandy from its name and became just RadioShack.

Today, the company operates over 7000 retails locations worldwide.

RadioShack

Radio Shack was founded in 1921 by Theodore and Milton Deutschmann. The brothers opened a ham radio shop in downtown Boston.

In 1939, the company issued their first catalog and entered the hi-fi audio market.

In 1954, the company began selling its own products under the Realist brand.

History

In 1962, after nearly going bankrupt, Radio Shack was purchased by the Tandy Corporation. The company was renamed to Tandy Radio Shack & Leather.

In 1977, the company introduced the TRS-80 personal computer. The product was a huge success.

In 1994, the company introduced a repair shop into their stores.

In 2000, the company dropped Tandy from its name and became just RadioShack.

Today, the company operates over 7000 retails locations worldwide.

Jamba Juice Corporate Office

Jamba Juice was founded in 1990 as Juice Club, Inc. by Kirk Perron. The first location was in San Luis Obispo, California. Three of Perron’s friends, Joe Vergara, Kevin Peters, and Linda Ozawa Olds, soon joined the venture.

In 1995, the company name was changed to Jamba Juice.

By 1996, there are 30 stores operating in California. These are both company-owned and franchised.

In 1997, the company partnered with Whole Foods and opens Jamba Juice locations inside Whole Foods stores.

In 1998, the company introduces Jambola bread.

In 1999, the company acquired Zuka Juice.

In 2006, Services Acquisition Corporation International purchases Jamba Juice and changes the company name to Jamba, Inc. Jamba is now a publicly traded company.

In 2008, the company begins to introduce wraps, sandwiches, and salads to its menu.

Today, Jamba Juice operates over 860 stores in 26 US states, Canada, the Philippines, and South Korea. About half the stores are corporately owned.

The company is known for introducing new flavors that become quite popular. The trendy new flavors of 2022 are Strawberry Bursting Boba and Sweet Tapioca Boba Pearls.

Jamba Juice, like many other restaurant chains, is having trouble with staffing…or are they? Jamba Juice says that price increases are necessary in order to hire talent but people say that their applications are routinely rejected.

Jamba Juice maintains a corporate office in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jamba Juice

In 1995, the company name was changed to Jamba Juice.

History

By 1996, there are 30 stores operating in California. These are both company-owned and franchised.

In 1997, the company partnered with Whole Foods and opens Jamba Juice locations inside Whole Foods stores.

In 1998, the company introduces Jambola bread.

In 1999, the company acquired Zuka Juice.

In 2006, Services Acquisition Corporation International purchases Jamba Juice and changes the company name to Jamba, Inc. Jamba is now a publicly traded company.

In 2008, the company begins to introduce wraps, sandwiches, and salads to its menu.

Today, Jamba Juice operates over 860 stores in 26 US states, Canada, the Philippines, and South Korea. About half the stores are corporately owned.

The company is known for introducing new flavors that become quite popular. The trendy new flavors of 2022 are Strawberry Bursting Boba and Sweet Tapioca Boba Pearls.

Jamba Juice maintains a corporate office in Atlanta, Georgia.