COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 45112

Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores

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

17companies1884–2001founding years15still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBRIO AB
1884
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
FoundedColes Myer Ltd.
1921
FoundedKB Toys
1922
FoundedRose's Stores, Inc.
1927
FoundedNoodle Kidoodle
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.
FoundedSanrio Company, Ltd.
1960
FoundedMichaels Stores, Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedToys "R" Us, Inc.
1978
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedA.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc.FoundedRag Shops, Inc.FoundedThe Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedThe Score Board, Inc.
1986
FoundedFunco, Inc.
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedZany Brainy, Inc.
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.
FoundedBuild-A-Bear Workshop Inc.FoundedEToys, Inc.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedGameStop Corp.
2001
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

BRIO AB →
Active · founded 1884 · Sweden
BRIO AB is a century-old toy company based in Osby, Sweden, with subsidiaries in North America and Europe.
Coles Myer Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1921 · Australia
Coles Myer Ltd.
KB Toys →
Active · founded 1922
KB Toys is the second-largest retailer of toys behind Toys `R' Us and the largest mall retailer of toys in the United…
Rose's Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1927
Rose's Stores, Inc., operates a chain of more than a hundred discount stores in a region extending from Delaware to…
Noodle Kidoodle →
Active · founded 1931
Noodle Kidoodle operates a chain of education-oriented toy stores with outlets in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.
Sanrio Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1960 · Japan
Japan's Sanrio Company, Ltd.
Michaels Stores, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Michaels Stores, Inc.
Toys "R" Us, Inc. →
Renamed · founded 1978
Toys "R" Us, Inc.
A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
A.C.
Rag Shops, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Rag Shops, Inc.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.
The Score Board, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
The largest distributor of sports memorabilia in the United States, The Score Board, Inc.
Funco, Inc. →
Active · founded 1988
Funco, Inc.
Zany Brainy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Zany Brainy, Inc., is the first educational multimedia superstore for children.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
Located in upscale, family-oriented shopping malls, Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc.
EToys, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
eToys Inc.
GameStop Corp. →
Active · founded 2001
GameStop Corp.
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