<P> The two Woolworth brothers pioneered and developed merchandising , direct purchasing , sales , and customer service practices commonly used today . Despite its growing to be one of the largest retail chains in the world through most of the 20th century , increased competition led to its decline beginning in the 1980s , while its sporting goods division grew . The chain went out of business in July 1997 , when the company decided to focus primarily on sporting goods and renamed itself Venator Group . By 2001 , the company focused exclusively on the sporting goods market , changing its name to the present Foot Locker , Inc. , changing its ticker symbol from its familiar Z in 2003 to its present ticker ( NYSE : FL ) . </P>
<P> The two Woolworth brothers pioneered and developed merchandising , direct purchasing , sales , and customer service practices commonly used today . Despite its growing to be one of the largest retail chains in the world through most of the 20th century , increased competition led to its decline beginning in the 1980s , while its sporting goods division grew . The chain went out of business in July 1997 , when the company decided to focus primarily on sporting goods and renamed itself Venator Group . By 2001 , the company focused exclusively on the sporting goods market , changing its name to the present Foot Locker , Inc. , changing its ticker symbol from its familiar Z in 2003 to its present ticker ( NYSE : FL ) . </P>
when did f w woolworth go out of business
when did f w woolworth go out of business
July 1997
July 1997