The Nature Company
Encyclopedia
The Nature Company was a Berkeley, California
based chain of retail
stores that sold scientific toys, telescopes, artwork and music CDs.
The Nature Company was founded in 1972 by Priscilla and Tom Wrubel. Starting from its flagship store on Berkeley's 4th Street, it expanded throughout the United States
, and had stores in Canada
and the United Kingdom
. In 1996, it was purchased by Discovery Channel
, at a price of $40 million. At the time, it had 114 stores in malls, airports, and on shopping streets. Prior to the sale it was owned by CML Group, the holding company for NordicTrack
(fitness equipment), Boston Whaler
and Smith & Hawken
(gardening equipment).
Nature Company Stores were recognizable by their stone entranceway arch and water feature, customized to each location. All stores had extravagantly built custom cabinetry to showcase the maps, fossils, minerals and gems that were sold. The original store concept was designed by the San Francisco office of the award winning retail architect Richard Altuna. Later stores in the chain were designed and rolled-out by the San Francisco office of the firm NBBJ
.
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
based chain of retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
stores that sold scientific toys, telescopes, artwork and music CDs.
The Nature Company was founded in 1972 by Priscilla and Tom Wrubel. Starting from its flagship store on Berkeley's 4th Street, it expanded throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and had stores in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1996, it was purchased by Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, at a price of $40 million. At the time, it had 114 stores in malls, airports, and on shopping streets. Prior to the sale it was owned by CML Group, the holding company for NordicTrack
NordicTrack
NordicTrack is a manufacturer of exercise equipment, and is known for its ski machines. It was founded by Edward Pauls in 1975, and acquired by CML corporation in 1986. In 1990, they began to open retail outlets. Around 1995, sales began to decline, leading to bankruptcy and closure of its 300...
(fitness equipment), Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler is a boat company that builds foam filled fiberglass boats. Boston whaler was founded in 1958 by Richard T Fisher, and is still in business today.-History of the Design:...
and Smith & Hawken
Smith & Hawken
Smith & Hawken was garden lifestyle brand that operated retail stores, direct mail and e-commerce in the United States. On July 10, 2009, it was announced that all Smith & Hawken stores would cease operation. Smith & Hawken stores were located in upscale retail locations in 22 states.Smith & Hawken...
(gardening equipment).
Nature Company Stores were recognizable by their stone entranceway arch and water feature, customized to each location. All stores had extravagantly built custom cabinetry to showcase the maps, fossils, minerals and gems that were sold. The original store concept was designed by the San Francisco office of the award winning retail architect Richard Altuna. Later stores in the chain were designed and rolled-out by the San Francisco office of the firm NBBJ
NBBJ
NBBJ is a global architecture, planning and design firm with offices in Beijing, Boston, Columbus, Dubai, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Shanghai....
.