You can learn more about our selection of companies, including how they started and where they are today.
QVC began as a live television shopping business in 1986 and expanded across ecommerce, mobile, streaming, and social platforms. Its history also includes major ownership changes, HSN integration, operational setbacks, and a 2026 financial restructuring.
DeLorean began as John Z. DeLorean’s sports-car startup, reached production in Northern Ireland, collapsed in the early 1980s, and gained a long afterlife through the DMC-12, specialist businesses and later brand ventures.
Chevrolet began as an independent automaker in 1911 and joined General Motors in 1918. Its history spans mass-market growth, Corvette and V8 performance, global expansion, setbacks, and electrification.
Audi began with August Horch’s second automobile venture. Its later history runs through Auto Union, wartime rupture, a 1949 restart in Ingolstadt, and the revival of the Audi name under Volkswagen control.
BMW did not emerge from one simple founding event. Its modern lineage took shape through BFW, Rapp Motorenwerke and a 1922 transfer that joined the BMW name with the company line recognized today.
Ace Hardware began as a buying group for independent Chicago hardware dealers. Its history shows how shared purchasing grew into a retailer-owned cooperative with a much broader operating network.
Shelby American began with Carroll Shelby’s Cobra operation in 1962, expanded through Mustang and Ford racing programs, and later emerged from a major corporate restructuring into today’s performance-vehicle business.
Massey Ferguson’s history spans Canadian implement roots, the Massey-Harris era, the 1953 Ferguson combination, global expansion, financial restructuring, and its later place within AGCO as a major agricultural-equipment brand.
Canadian Tire began in Toronto in 1922 and grew through its Associate Dealer model, national expansion, loyalty programs and new retail businesses. Its history also includes U.S. setbacks, store reinvention and later portfolio changes.
Tractor Supply Company began as a mail-order tractor-parts business in 1938. Its history includes store expansion, private and public ownership changes, digital retail, loyalty, and a broader pet and animal-care business.