() is a
Fort Worth ,
Texas -based
Retailer specializing in imported home furnishings and decor, particularly
Furniture , table-top items, decorative accessories and seasonal decor. The chain operates over 1,200 stores under the name '''Pier 1 Imports''' in the
United States ,
Canada ,
Mexico and
Puerto Rico . The company also has a children's furniture and accessories retail concept in the United States called Pier 1 Kids. It was a member of the S&P MidCap 400 list through the end of 2006, when it was bumped off the list.
The company was founded in 1962 in
San Mateo, California .
Former spokespeople for the company, seen largely in broadcast commercials, include ''
Cheers '' alumna
Kirstie Alley and
Thom Filicia of ''
Queer Eye For The Straight Guy ''.
The first store opened in San Mateo, California in 1962.
Company Website According to
the Company's official history , the original store catered to
Hippy baby boomers and featured love beads and incense.
By 1966 had grown to 16 store locations, and established its corporate headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.
went public on the
American Stock Exchange in 1970 and later joined the
New York Stock Exchange in 1972. At this time, the company had grown to 123 stores, posted 100 percent sales gains for four consecutive years, and opened stores internationally in
Australia and
Europe .
A store in Royal Oak, Michigan reached annual sales of $1 million in 1979. By 1985, the chain grew to 265 stores, with the management goal of doubling that number by 1990.
On
December 29 ,
2006 Standard & Poor's bumped Pier 1 Imports Inc. down one spot and off of the bottom of the S&P MidCap 400 Index when it added
Parametric Technology Corp. (), a software company, to the list instead.
S&P changes makeup of indexes, Spectra set to become index component , By Ana Campoy, MarketWatch, Dec 20, 2006
