COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 44312

Computer and Software Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

20companies1924–1998founding years17still active3no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedSam Ash Music Corporation
1924
FoundedCourts Plc
1933
FoundedDixons Group plc
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1946
TechnologyENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCircuit City Stores, Inc.
1949
FoundedFNAC
1954
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedRadioShack Corporation
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedBest Buy Co., Inc.
1966
FoundedHastings Entertainment, Inc.
1968
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
FoundedWherehouse Entertainment Incorporated
1970
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedCablevision Electronic Instruments, Inc.FoundedComputerland Corp.FoundedDeLorme Publishing Company, Inc.
1976
FoundedEl Camino Resources International, Inc.
1979
FoundedMicrosoft Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedNavarre Corporation
1983
FoundedCompUSA, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedOfficeMax Inc.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
FoundedPomeroy Computer Resources, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Sam Ash Music Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Sam Ash Music Corporation is the second largest musical instrument retailer in the United States.
Courts Plc →
Active · founded 1933 · United Kingdom
Courts Plc is one of the United Kingdom's leading retail furniture and home appliance companies.
Dixons Group plc →
Defunct · founded 1937 · United Kingdom
Dixons Group plc is the largest specialized retailer of consumer electronics in Europe and controls more than 1,250…
Circuit City Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Circuit City Stores, Inc., is the nation's second largest retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, and…
FNAC →
Active · founded 1954 · France
The FNAC chain of retail stores is France's leading purveyor of what the company refers to as "cultural goods." The…
RadioShack Corporation →
Active · founded 1960
RadioShack Corporation--known as Tandy Corporation from its founding in 1960 until mid-2000--is one of the largest…
Best Buy Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., Inc.
Hastings Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Operator of a fast-growing chain of multimedia superstores, Hastings Entertainment, Inc.
Wherehouse Entertainment Incorporated →
Active · founded 1970
Wherehouse Entertainment Incorporated oversees one of the country's largest chains of retail outlets engaged in selling…
J&R Electronics Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
J&R Electronics Inc.
Cablevision Electronic Instruments, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
Cablevision Electronic Instruments, Inc.
Computerland Corp. →
Active · founded 1976
ComputerLand Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merisel, Inc.
DeLorme Publishing Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1976
DeLorme Publishing Company, Inc.
El Camino Resources International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
El Camino Resources International Inc., through its primary operating company, El Camino Resources, Ltd., is a leading…
Microsoft Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
With annual revenues of more than $32 billion, Microsoft Corporation is more than the largest software company in the…
Navarre Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Navarre Corporation is one of the largest independent distributors of compact discs, cassettes, and computer software…
CompUSA, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1984
CompUSA, Inc.
OfficeMax Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
OfficeMax, Inc.
Pomeroy Computer Resources, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Pomeroy Computer Resources, Inc.
Electronics Boutique Holdings Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1998
Electronics Boutique Holdings Corporation is the holding company for a chain of video-game stores operating under the…
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