Retail

Dillards Corporate Office

Dillards was founded in 1938 by William T. Dillard in Nashville, Arkansas.

In 1956, Dilliard led a group of investors that purchased a department store in Tyler, Texas. The store became Dillard’s Mayer & Schmidt.

In 1960, a failing store was acquired in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In 1969, the company went public as Dillard Department Stores, Inc.

The chain expanded rapidly in the 1970s mainly through locations in shopping malls. In 1971, 5 Fedway stores were acquired.

The chain continued to expand through acquisitions in the 80s and 90s including Joske’s, Cain-Sloan and Higbee’s.

Today, Dilliard’s is a mid to upscale department store chain with over 300 locations in 29 US states.

Dillard's

Dillards was founded in 1938 by William T. Dillard in Nashville, Arkansas.

In 1956, Dilliard led a group of investors that purchased a department store in Tyler, Texas. The store became Dillard’s Mayer & Schmidt.

In 1960, a failing store was acquired in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

History

In 1969, the company went public as Dillard Department Stores, Inc.

The chain expanded rapidly in the 1970s mainly through locations in shopping malls. In 1971, 5 Fedway stores were acquired.

The chain continued to expand through acquisitions in the 80s and 90s including Joske’s, Cain-Sloan and Higbee’s.

Today, Dilliard’s is a mid to upscale department store chain with over 300 locations in 29 US states.

OfficeMax Corporate Office

OfficeMax was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988 by Bob Hurwitz and Michael Feuer.

In 1990, the company acquired competitors Office World and Office Square.

In 1993, the company acquired BizMart. Hurwitz left the company this same year and Feuer became CEO.

In 1995, the company went public.

In 2008, the company was acquired by Boise Cascade Office Products Corporation. The company headquarters was moved from Shaker Heights to Naperville, IL.

In 2013, the company announced they will merge with Office Depot to become the largest office supply chain in the world.

Currently, there are 990 OfficeMax locations in the US.

OfficeMax

OfficeMax was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988 by Bob Hurwitz and Michael Feuer.

In 1990, the company acquired competitors Office World and Office Square.

In 1993, the company acquired BizMart. Hurwitz left the company this same year and Feuer became CEO.

History

In 1995, the company went public.

In 2008, the company was acquired by Boise Cascade Office Products Corporation. The company headquarters was moved from Shaker Heights to Naperville, IL.

In 2013, the company announced they will merge with Office Depot to become the largest office supply chain in the world.

Currently, there are 990 OfficeMax locations in the US.

Staples was founded in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts by Leo Kahn and Thomas Stemberg. The company sells a wide variety of office supplies, including paper, pens, computers, office furniture, and more.

In 1991, the company expanded to Canada under the name “The Business Depot”. These stores were all later renamed to Staples.

In 1996, Staples became a Fortune 500 company and announced plans to merge with Office Depot. The merger was stopped by the FTC.

In 1998, the company acquired the naming rights to the Staples Center, the NBA stadium of the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 2004, the company expanded to Austria and Denmark.

Staples accepts all used ink and toner cartridges for recycling. Since 2009, ink recycling has been a part of the Staples Reward Program.

Today, there are over 1200 Staples locations in 26 countries and is one of the world’s largest office supply chains.

The company was acquired by Sycamore Partners in 2017.

Reports state that the company made large cuts to the corporate office staff, eliminating approximately 200 jobs in September 2019.

Headquarters remain in Framington, Massachusetts.

Staples

In 1991, the company expanded to Canada under the name “The Business Depot”. These stores were all later renamed to Staples.

History

In 1996, Staples became a Fortune 500 company and announced plans to merge with Office Depot. The merger was stopped by the FTC.

In 1998, the company acquired the naming rights to the Staples Center, the NBA stadium of the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 2004, the company expanded to Austria and Denmark.

Staples accepts all used ink and toner cartridges for recycling. Since 2009, ink recycling has been a part of the Staples Reward Program.

Today, there are over 1200 Staples locations in 26 countries and is one of the world’s largest office supply chains.

The company was acquired by Sycamore Partners in 2017.

Reports state that the company made large cuts to the corporate office staff, eliminating approximately 200 jobs in September 2019.

Headquarters remain in Framington, Massachusetts.

Aldi Corporate Office

Aldi can trace its roots back to Karl and Theo Albrecht’s mother who opened a small store near Essen. The Albrecht brothers took over the business in 1946. By 1950, they had 13 stores.

In 1960, the brothers split the chain over an argument on whether they should sell cigarettes at the checkout. They owned 300 stores at the time.

In 1962, the name Aldi was adopted which is short for Albrecht-Diskount.

The company expanded internationally in the 1970s and 80s. The first US location was opened in 1976.

In 1993, the Albrecht brothers retired and donated most of their wealth to charitable foundations.

Today, Aldi is one of the largest discount supermarket chains in the world. There are currently over 9,200 locations worldwide. 1200 of those are US locations. The company operates as two divisions: Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. Aldi Sud (South) includes the US.

In June 2017, the company stated that it would invest $3.4 billion to expand its U.S. store base to 2,500 locations by 2022. Currently, the company has about 1,600 locations. Aldis has also stated that they intend to spend another $1.3 billion remodeling most of their current stores.

In June 2023, Aldi’s stated that it was facing a $10 million lawsuit about deceptive marketing and labels.

Due to the relatively low staffing of Aldi locations compared to other supermarket chains, the company has a reputation of starting employees out at a significantly higher rate than, which is unusual among American supermarkets.

If you wish to contact the German corporate office

Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG Worldwide Headquarters

Eckenbergstrasse 16
Essen, 45307 DEU
Phone: +49-201-8593-0
Fax: +49-201-8593-319

The US corporate office for Aldis is based in Batavia, Illinois. That information is listed below.

Aldi

Aldi can trace its roots back to Karl and Theo Albrecht’s mother who opened a small store near Essen. The Albrecht brothers took over the business in 1946. By 1950, they had 13 stores.

In 1960, the brothers split the chain over an argument on whether they should sell cigarettes at the checkout. They owned 300 stores at the time.

History

In 1962, the name Aldi was adopted which is short for Albrecht-Diskount.

The company expanded internationally in the 1970s and 80s. The first US location was opened in 1976.

In 1993, the Albrecht brothers retired and donated most of their wealth to charitable foundations.

In June 2023, Aldi’s stated that it was facing a $10 million lawsuit about deceptive marketing and labels.

If you wish to contact the German corporate office

Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG Worldwide Headquarters

Eckenbergstrasse 16
Essen, 45307 DEU
Phone: +49-201-8593-0
Fax: +49-201-8593-319

The US corporate office for Aldis is based in Batavia, Illinois. That information is listed below.

GNC Corporate Office

GNC, which stands for General Nutrition Center, can trace its roots back to 1935 when David Shakarian opened a small health food store called Lackzoom in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Making a mere $35 during his first day of business, Shakarian’s business improved so much that he was able to open a second store just 6 months after the first.

Unfortunately, both stores were wiped out in the Ohio River flood on St. Patrick’s day in 1937. Not to be deterred, Shakarian reopened both stores and by 1941, had a total of 7 locations.

During WWII, the company operated mainly as a mail-order business since most customers tried to save their gas rationing cards. Shakarian allowed customers to send him checks and he mailed their purchases with no shipping charges.

During the 1960s health boom, Shakarian expanded outside of Pittsburgh for the first time and changed the company name to General Nutrition Centers.

David Shakarian died in 1984. The family of Shakarian hired Jerry Horn to keep the business solvent until it was sold.

GNC was acquired by Numico in 1999. It sold the chain to Apollo Management in 2003. The chain was sold again in 2007 to Ontario Teachers Pension Plan and Ares Management.

GNC went public on the NYSE in 2011 under the ticker symbol: GNC.

Most stores typically stock a wide range of bodybuilding, weight loss, vitamins, and nutritional supplements, as well as natural remedies, and health and beauty products, in both its owned brands as well as third-party brands. The company also sell health and fitness books and magazines.

Company retail stores are a combination of corporate-owned, as well as franchised stores. At least 950 of the 5,000 domestic stores are franchises, commonly located within urban shopping malls or inside grocery store chains.

Today, GNC is one of the largest retail health and nutrition chains in the US. There are over 4800 GNC location in the US and abroad. In 2016, the company had annual revenue of $2.54 billion.

GNC

History

Unfortunately, both stores were wiped out in the Ohio River flood on St. Patrick’s day in 1937. Not to be deterred, Shakarian reopened both stores and by 1941, had a total of 7 locations.

During the 1960s health boom, Shakarian expanded outside of Pittsburgh for the first time and changed the company name to General Nutrition Centers.

David Shakarian died in 1984. The family of Shakarian hired Jerry Horn to keep the business solvent until it was sold.

GNC was acquired by Numico in 1999. It sold the chain to Apollo Management in 2003. The chain was sold again in 2007 to Ontario Teachers Pension Plan and Ares Management.

GNC went public on the NYSE in 2011 under the ticker symbol: GNC.

Today, GNC is one of the largest retail health and nutrition chains in the US. There are over 4800 GNC location in the US and abroad. In 2016, the company had annual revenue of $2.54 billion.