Business & Marketing Blog
The Fall of a Retail Giant: How Sears Lost Its Way
In the late 19th century, an ambitious watchmaker named Richard Sears had a vision that would revolutionize the way Americans shopped. Along with his partner, Alvah Roebuck, he founded Sears, Roebuck & Co., a mail-order catalog company that brought an unparalleled variety of products directly to consumers’ homes. At a time when most people had to travel to local stores to purchase goods, the Sears catalog was a marvel that offered everything from clothing and tools to entire houses and even automobiles. Read more.
The High Stakes Gamble That Saved FedEx
FedEx was on the brink of bankruptcy in July of 1973, with founder Fred Smith facing the possibility of losing everything. Deciding that he had no other options, Smith flew to Las Vegas to make the ultimate gamble to save his company. This is the wild story. Read more.
Shopping Malls: A Journey Through Time
Shopping malls were once the epitome of American consumerism and social life. Their rise began in the post-World War II era, fueled by the suburban boom. With families moving to the suburbs, coupled with the increasing use of automobiles, the stage was set for the birth of the modern shopping mall. Read more.
Atari: A Legacy of Innovation and Critical Missteps
The story of Atari is one of groundbreaking success and subsequent decline, a cautionary tale in the ultra-competitive history of gaming. Founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, Atari quickly became synonymous with the burgeoning video game industry, setting trends and creating icons that still resonate today. Read more.
From Dominance to Decline: The Story of Compaq Computers
When you look back on tech history, few companies have experienced the type of meteoric rise and dramatic fall that happened to Compaq. Founded in 1982, Compaq quickly became a powerhouse in the computer industry, challenging giants like IBM and ultimately transforming the personal computing landscape. Read more.
The Rise and Fall of Yahoo: A Tale of Missed Opportunities
In the mid-1990s, the internet was still an uncharted territory, functioning as a wild west of digital information that was waiting to be organized. Enter Yahoo. Read more.
Blockbuster vs. Netflix: A Battle of Innovation and Disruption
When you look over recent chapters in business history, few stories are as emblematic of technological disruption and strategic missteps as the rise of Netflix and the fall of Blockbuster. Once a titan of the home entertainment industry, Blockbuster’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when a company fails to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and technological advancements. Read more.
PizzaNet and the Birth of Online Food Ordering
Pizza Hut made history in 1994 when it became the first company to offer online food ordering. This pioneering move came at a time when the internet was still in its infancy, and the idea of e-commerce was novel and largely unexplored. Read more.