Specialty Store

Penzeys Spices Corporate Office

Penzeys Spices was founded in 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by William and Ruth Penzey as a coffee and spice store. Over time, the couple found that spices were their biggest selling items, so coffee was dropped from their inventory.

William Penzey, Jr. worked at his parents’ store while growing up. In 1986, Penzey Jr. convinced his parents to start a catalog business. This proved to be successful and the company began to grow slowly.

Today, Penzeys Spices has 69 locations in 7 states. The company still offers catalog sales, as well as an active eCommerce site. Penzy Jr. became involved in a controversy when he sent an email to customers expressing his disappointment in the election of Donald Trump as President of the US in November of 2016. This led to Trump supporters calling for a boycott.

Penzeys Spices

History

Shoe Show Corporate Office

Shoe Show was founded in North Carolina in 1960 by Robert Tucker. The company operates a chain of shoe stores across the US under various names including Shoe Show Mega, The Shoe Department, Encore, Shoebilee!, Burlington Shoes, and Shoe Show.

Today, Shoe Show has more than 1,150 locations in 36 states and had annual revenue in 2015 of $6.2 billion. It has made numerous acquisitions over the years, including Burlington Shoes in 1986, as well as Shoebilee! in 2002.

Shoe Show stores are well known for their play areas, which keep childen busy while parents shop for shoes. The company carries a wide range of name brand shoes, including Nine West, Skechers, Rockport, and Converse.

In March 2023, the company acquired Half-Moon Outfitters for an undisclosed amount.

Shoe Show maintains a corporate office in Concord, North Carolina.

Shoe Show

History

In March 2023, the company acquired Half-Moon Outfitters for an undisclosed amount.

Shoe Show maintains a corporate office in Concord, North Carolina.

Ray Ban Corporate Office

Ray-Ban was founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb, an American eyeglass company. The company designed and created aviation sunglasses that would reduce the glare caused by sunlight and white clouds. These sunglasses were remodeled in 1939 and offered for sale to the public as Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses.

The company was sold to Luxottica Group in 1999 for $640 million. Today, Ray-Ban continues to be one of the most popular selling sunglass brands in the world. The popular Wayfarer model was released in 1952. In the late 1950s, the company released a more squared off style called Caravans, which were popular in the 1970s after Robert DeNiro wore this style in the movie Taxi Driver.

The black market is full of fake Ray-Ban items, with the Better Business Bureau stating that Instagram was the latest source of an advertising scam operating in October 2018.

The company has approximately 55,000 employees and has US headquarters based in Mason, Ohio.

Ray-Ban

History

The black market is full of fake Ray-Ban items, with the Better Business Bureau stating that Instagram was the latest source of an advertising scam operating in October 2018.

The company has approximately 55,000 employees and has US headquarters based in Mason, Ohio.

Maui Jim Corporate Office

Maui Jim was founded in 1980 by Jim Richards, the original “Maui Jim”, who sold his sunglasses at hotel pools and from his car. Richards invented the first polarized lens, the copyright for which he sold to Walter Hester, who remains the CEO of the Hawaii division.

Today, Maui Jim is the third largest sunglass and prescription sunglass manufacturer in the world. The company offers more than 100 styles of glasses, with more being introduced every year, in 100 countries, with an average price of $240 a pair. All Maui Jim sunglasses block 99% of the sun’s glare and 100% of the harmful UV rays. Forbes Magazine listed Maui Jim sunglasses on their list of “100 Things Worth Every Single Penny.”

The company has its main headquarters in Peoria, Illinois, but maintains its “home base” in Hawaii. Sunglasses are manufactured in Illinois for shipment around the world. All repairs are done at the Illinois plant as well. Maui Jim glasses are marketed to those who want the best in life and care about their vision.

In August 2022, a federal grand jury indicted a former employee with mail and wire fraud involving the theft of sunglass parts.

Maui Jim maintains a corporate office in Peoria, Illinois.

Maui Jim

History

In August 2022, a federal grand jury indicted a former employee with mail and wire fraud involving the theft of sunglass parts.

Maui Jim maintains a corporate office in Peoria, Illinois.

Burt’s Bees Corporate Office

Burt’s Bees was founded in 1984 in Maine by two business persons, Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby. Originally, the company began as a candle making shop, using the wax from Burt’s bee farm and Quimby, who made the candles and maintained the store. By the end of the first year, the company already cleared $200,000.

Today, Burt’s Bees largest earth-friendly personal care product makers in the US. The company was acquired by Clorox in 2007 for $925 million. Burt’s Bees products are sold in more than 30,000 retail locations, as well as their eCommerce site, and in more than 7 countries. The product line is vast, with more than 197 different products for lips, hair, skin, and hand balm. All products have a natural base and are made with a minimum of processing.

The company had annual revenue in 2006 of $250 million and has 420 full time employees.

Burt's Bees

The company had annual revenue in 2006 of $250 million and has 420 full time employees.