COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 44413

Hardware Stores

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

21companies1883–1997founding years21still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Boots Company PLC
1883
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSears, Roebuck and Co.
1906
FoundedKingfisher plc
1909
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
FoundedLeroy Merlin SA
1923
FoundedScotty's, Inc.
1925
FoundedAce Hardware Corporation
1928
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedLowe's Companies, Inc.
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedHechinger Company
1959
FoundedPay 'N Pak Stores, Inc.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedMr. Bricolage S.A.
1968
FoundedGroupe Castorama-Dubois Investissements
1969
FoundedGIB Group
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedThe Home Depot, Inc.
1978
FoundedRestoration Hardware, Inc.
1980
FoundedTrend-Lines, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedHomeBase, Inc.
1985
FoundedOrchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation
1986
FoundedEagle Hardware & Garden, Inc.
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.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
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

The Boots Company PLC →
Active · founded 1883 · United Kingdom
The Boots Company PLC is one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, in addition to being a major manufacturer…
Sears, Roebuck and Co. →
Active · founded 1906
With a network of more than 870 full-line department stores and 1,300 freestanding specialty stores in the United…
Kingfisher plc →
Active · founded 1909 · United Kingdom
Based in London, Kingfisher plc is a major European retailing and property group.
Leroy Merlin SA →
Active · founded 1923 · France
Leroy Merlin SA has built one of Europe's top Do it yourself (DIY) and home improvement retail groups.
Scotty's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Scotty's, Inc.
Ace Hardware Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
Ace Hardware Corporation is the second largest dealer-owned cooperative in the United States.
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Pendleton Grain Growers Inc.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
Lowe's Companies, Inc., is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the United States (trailing Home Depot…
Hechinger Company →
Active · founded 1959
One of the leading retailers in the do-it-yourself industry, Hechinger Company is also one of the industry pioneers.
Pay 'N Pak Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1961
Before its 1992 dissolution, do-it-yourself retailer Pay 'N Pak Stores, Inc.
Mr. Bricolage S.A. →
Active · founded 1968 · France
Mr.
Groupe Castorama-Dubois Investissements →
Active · founded 1969 · France
Groupe Castorama-Dubois Investissements operates the leading chain of DIY (do-it-yourself) and home improvement…
GIB Group →
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
Bricorama S.A. →
Active · founded 1975 · France
Bricorama S.A.
The Home Depot, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
The Home Depot, Inc.
Restoration Hardware, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Restoration Hardware, Inc.
Trend-Lines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Trend-Lines, Inc.
HomeBase, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
HomeBase, Inc.
Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation →
Active · founded 1986
A leading home improvement retailer in California, Orchard Supply Stores Corporation operates a chain of hardware…
Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
A leading competitor in the home improvement industry, Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc.
TruServ Corporation →
Active · founded 1997
TruServ Corporation is the largest 100 percent member-owned cooperative in the $145 billion do-it-yourself industry,…
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