COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 45322

Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Shops

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

13companies1868–1987founding years13still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedTiffany & Co.
1868
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSanborn Hermanos, S.A.
1907
FoundedGeneral Host Corporation
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedThe Seagram Company Ltd.
1928
FoundedCole National Corporation
1930
FoundedStanhome Inc.
1931
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedEuromarket Designs Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedClinton Cards plc
1968
FoundedCML Group, Inc.
1969
FoundedCBRL Group, Inc.
1970
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedNatural Wonders Inc.FoundedThe Score Board, Inc.
1986
FoundedBAA plc
1987
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

Tiffany & Co. →
Active · founded 1868
Tiffany & Co.
Sanborn Hermanos, S.A. →
Active · founded 1907 · Mexico
Best known in the United States as the American tourist's home away from home in Mexico, Sanborn Hermanos, S.A.
General Host Corporation →
Active · founded 1911
General Host Corporation owns and operates Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc., a chain of specialty retail stores that sell…
The Seagram Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1928 · Canada
The Seagram Company Ltd., which is 32-percent owned by the Bronfman family, is a major international liquor giant…
Cole National Corporation →
Active · founded 1930
Over the course of its more than 50 years in business, Cole National Corporation (CNC) has dabbled in specialty retail…
Stanhome Inc. →
Active · founded 1931
A pioneer in the direct-sales industry, Stanhome Inc.
Euromarket Designs Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Euromarket Designs Inc.
Clinton Cards plc →
Active · founded 1968 · United Kingdom
Clinton Cards plc operates the United Kingdom's largest chain of retail greeting card specialty shops.
CML Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
The CML Group, Inc.
CBRL Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
CBRL Group, Inc., was formed in 1998 as a holding company for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants, a chain of…
Natural Wonders Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Natural Wonders Inc.
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
BAA plc →
Active · founded 1987 · United Kingdom
BAA plc is a holding company for the world's largest organization of airports.
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