Specialty Store

Lululemon Athletica Corporate Office

Lululemon Athletica was founded in 1998 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, by Chip Wilson. The company specializes in yoga and running apparel, including shorts, shirts, pants, and yoga accessories, such as mats, water bottles, underwear, and tote bags.

The company currently has 354 locations as of late 2015 and also sells items online. Lululemon Athletica is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: LULU. The company had annual revenue in 2013 of $1.37 billion and employs more than 13,000 persons full time.

Lululemon Athletica has been plagued by problems in the past few years, including recalled items made in China that contained toxic chemicals, a murder occurring between employees in 2011 at the Bethesda, Maryland, store, and comments from the founder regarding plus-sized women being inappropriate customers. These problems hurt the company’s bottom line in recent years, but with a new CEO taking the place of founder Chip Wilson, Lululemon Athletica appears to be back in the black.

In early January 2019, company shares climbed 6% after raising their 4th quarter outlook.

In March 2022, the company announced that it was releasing its own brand of running shoes.

In June 2023, Lululemon’s CEO stood by the company’s decision to fire two employees who tried to stop a theft from occurring at one of its store locations in Georgia.

The US headquarters for Lululemon is located in Sumner, Washington.

Lululemon Athletica

History

In early January 2019, company shares climbed 6% after raising their 4th quarter outlook.

In March 2022, the company announced that it was releasing its own brand of running shoes.

In June 2023, Lululemon’s CEO stood by the company’s decision to fire two employees who tried to stop a theft from occurring at one of its store locations in Georgia.

The US headquarters for Lululemon is located in Sumner, Washington.

Camping World Corporate Office

Camping World began as an amusement park outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1966. Originally nothing more than a campground without RV hookups, the visitor’s to the amusement park used to inquire where they could obtain camping supplies. The son of the amusement park’s owner, Dave Garvin, took out a small loan and opened his store.

Today, Camping World is one of the largest RV and camping supply stores in the U.S., with more than 100 locations and 2,000 employees. The company had annual revenue of $3.527 billion in 2016. Garvin sold the company to Good Sams Enterprises in 1997, whose CEO is Marcus Lemonis. The company still offers online sales and catalog orders by phone.

In October 2016, Camping World had an IPO (Initial Public Offering) which raised $251 million. The company is publicly traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol: CWH.

Salesforce has stated that it will no longer sell products to companies that offer gun-related items, including Camping World.

In June 2019, the CEO of the company says that local ordinances prohibiting the size of an American flag is unconstitutional.

In September 2022, Camping World stock crashed after an analyst lowered the company’s price target.

Camping World is one of the largest supporters of NASCAR racing and the Indy Racing League.

Camping World

History

In October 2016, Camping World had an IPO (Initial Public Offering) which raised $251 million. The company is publicly traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol: CWH.

Salesforce has stated that it will no longer sell products to companies that offer gun-related items, including Camping World.

In June 2019, the CEO of the company says that local ordinances prohibiting the size of an American flag is unconstitutional.

In September 2022, Camping World stock crashed after an analyst lowered the company’s price target.

Camping World is one of the largest supporters of NASCAR racing and the Indy Racing League.

Eastern Mountain Sports Corporate Office

Eastern Mountain Sports was founded in 1967 by two climbers, Alan McDonough and Roger Furst. This pair decided to target the outdoor and camping market in the Boston, Massachusetts area and opened their first store in Wellesley. Today, the company has more than 70 locations and employs approximately 1,300 full time employees. The company had annual revenue in 2014 of $330 million.

Eastern Mountain Sports specializes in outdoor sports and camping equipment, clothing, and footwear. Most locations offer classes in everything from mountain climbing to downhill skiing, kayaking to stand up paddle boarding.

The company was purchased in 2012 by Versa Capital Management. The company filed for bankruptcy in April of 2016 and announced that while they would reorganize and retain Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores, it would be closing all of its Sport Chalet locations.

Eastern Mountain Sports

History

Shirokiya Corporate Office

Shirokiya was founded in what is now Tokyo, Japan, in 1662 by Hikotaro Omura. This is one of Japan’s oldest retail stores. The original name, Shirokiya Gofukuten, would last for several hundred years. The company started off as a dry goods store, but over time, it expanded and added clothing and other popular items. By 1903, the company had several locations.

The earthquake of 1923 destroyed the original store and a fire in 1932 engulfed another location. Word War II took most of the owners’ assets, however, the company began to use common Western marketing techniques to obtain more sales and this enabled the company to rebuild.

To avoid a hostile takeover, the company was sold to the seven executives of the store in Hawaii. Today, this is the only remaining store, however, this store has been extremely successful, with more than $40 million in revenue in 2007.

Shirokiya offers almost all things Japanese including beer, meals, snacks, gifts, cosmetics, jewelry, books, DVDs, cakes, fashion eyewear, and massage items.

Shirokiya

History

Shirokiya offers almost all things Japanese including beer, meals, snacks, gifts, cosmetics, jewelry, books, DVDs, cakes, fashion eyewear, and massage items.

Party City Corporate Office

The first Party City store opened by Steve Mandell in East Hanover, NJ, in 1986. The company expanded through franchising, with the first franchised store opening in Hazlet, NJ in 1988.

During the 1990’s Party City expanded to become a nationwide chain. Sales reached $1 billion in 2004.

Amscan Holdings bought Party City in 2005. Amscan bought Factory Card & Party Outlet in 2007. Subsequently, both retail chains began to operate under the Party City name, which made the chain the largest party supplies retailer in the United States.

Today Party City has more than 850 company-owned and franchised locations and 400 Halloween-themed stores.

In early 2014 Party City filed an IPO, hoping to raise $500 million.

The company went public on the NYSE in 2014 and can be found under the ticker symbol: PRTY

Party City plans on operating pop-up stores called Toy City and Halloween City, trying to pick up sales after the closing of Toys R Us stores.

Company stock fell more than 15 percent after a worse than expected 3rd quarter earnings report in February 2019.

Headquarters for Party City are located in Elmsford, New York. As of 2015, the company reported more than 900 locations and annual revenue of $2.27 billion.

Party City

The first Party City store opened by Steve Mandell in East Hanover, NJ, in 1986. The company expanded through franchising, with the first franchised store opening in Hazlet, NJ in 1988.

History

During the 1990’s Party City expanded to become a nationwide chain. Sales reached $1 billion in 2004.

Today Party City has more than 850 company-owned and franchised locations and 400 Halloween-themed stores.

In early 2014 Party City filed an IPO, hoping to raise $500 million.

The company went public on the NYSE in 2014 and can be found under the ticker symbol: PRTY

Party City plans on operating pop-up stores called Toy City and Halloween City, trying to pick up sales after the closing of Toys R Us stores.

Company stock fell more than 15 percent after a worse than expected 3rd quarter earnings report in February 2019.

Headquarters for Party City are located in Elmsford, New York. As of 2015, the company reported more than 900 locations and annual revenue of $2.27 billion.