Right Start

For the song of the same name by Talking Heads, see Remain in Light.

Right Start is a retailer of children's products. They began in 1985 as a catalog company, based out of Los Angeles.[1] The company was founded by Stan Fridstein, Lenny Targon, and Harry Rosenthal[2] who identified a growing market in young first time parents who were looking for expertise and guidance in choosing high quality baby products. The company opened its first retail store in 1991 in Westlake Village, CA. In 1992, they began expanding, opening up their first location in a Rich's department store in Atlanta, Georgia.[3]

The Right Start was majority owned by bowling center operator American Recreation Centers, Inc., before it was sold to Kayne Anderson, a Los Angeles-based investment firm, in 1995.

In 2000, they withdrew from a proposed initial public offering and began exploring merger possibilities.[4] In 2001, they purchased FAO Schwarz from Royal Vendex KBB[5] and Zany Brainy.[6] They changed their name in 2002 to FAO Inc.[1]

In 2003, they twice filed for bankruptcy[7][8] and sold the FAO Schwarz stores in Manhattan and Las Vegas, along with their related internet and catalog businesses in December.[9]

In 2009 Right Start was purchased by Liberty Interactive Media and reopened 9 stores nationwide.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Right Start completes FAO purchase; changes name". 2002-01-08. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  2. ↑ "Right Start".
  3. ↑ "Right Start to Open Test Outlet in Atlanta". Los Angeles Times. 1992-06-23. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  4. ↑ "RightStart.com Hires Morgan Stanley Dean Witter to Evaluate Potential Mergers.". Business Wire. 2000-06-27. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  5. ↑ Wilcox, Gregory J. (2001-11-20). "Calabasas, Calif.-Based Toy Retailer to Buy FAO Schwarz.". Los Angeles, California: Daily News. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  6. ↑ Von Bergen, Jane M. (2001-08-17). "California Education Toy Maker to Buy King of Prussia, Pa., Toy Company.". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  7. ↑ Odell, Patricia (2003-01-15). "FAO to Continue Catalog Operations". Direct. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  8. ↑ "FAO Files for Chapter 11 Again". 2003-12-02. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  9. ↑ Treaster, Joseph B. (2003-12-27). "Deal Will Preserve Flagship Store of F.A.O. Schwarz Chain". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  10. ↑ "Right Start Restart: Liberty Media Gets Into The Baby Business".

External links