H.B. Claflin & Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dry goods wholesaler |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Founder | Horace Brigham Claflin |
| Defunct | June 1914 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | Manhattan , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Lace goods, white goods, flannels, blankets, hosiery, shirts, underwear, shawls, hoods, scarves, gloves, books (via publishing division) |
Number of employees | 700–1,000 |
H.B. Claflin & Company operated as a dry goods wholesaler headquartered in Manhattan, officially incorporated in 1890. It functioned as a link connecting manufacturers with retail merchants. The enterprise declared bankruptcy in June 1914, facing liabilities amounting to $34 million. On June 25, 1914, Judge Learned Hand of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York appointed receivers to manage the company's affairs. The downfall of the firm was partly due to the dry goods sector's shift toward uptown Manhattan and the company's failure to adjust to changing commercial landscapes.
Background and early years
Although formally incorporated later, H.B. Claflin & Company commenced business activities in 1843. By 1868, its leadership team consisted of founder Horace Brigham Claflin, along with E.E. Eames and E.W. Bancroft. The main establishment occupied roughly across Church Street, Worth Street, and West Broadway (Manhattan). Employment numbered around 700 year-round employees, increasing to approximately 1,000 during busy periods. The company’s merchandise included lace goods, white goods, flannels, blankets, hosiery, shirts, underwear, shawls, hoods, scarves, and gloves. Moreover, it operated a publishing division known as The International Book and Publishing Company, through which it sold books.
Later years
By the year 1914, H.B. Claflin & Company’s New York retail holdings encompassed C.G. Gunther's Sons; Lord & Taylor; James McCreery & Company; O'Neill Adams Company; H. Batterman Company located in Brooklyn; and the Bedford Company also based in Brooklyn. Beyond these, the corporation managed approximately thirty additional retail outlets across the United States.