COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 42139

Construction Materials (Wholesale)

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

4companies1901–1957founding years4still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedPoliet S.A.
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGroupe Lapeyre S.A.
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedDo it Best Corporation
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedR.B. Pamplin Corp.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
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

Poliet S.A. →
Active · founded 1901 · France
Long-time leader in the French construction materials distribution market, Poliet S.A.
Groupe Lapeyre S.A. →
Active · founded 1931 · France
Groupe Lapeyre S.A.
Do it Best Corporation →
Active · founded 1945
Founded in 1945 as Hardware Wholesalers, Inc.
R.B. Pamplin Corp. →
Active · founded 1957
R.B.
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