What Happened to Egghead Software
5 days ago
- #retail-history
- #software-industry
- #business-failure
- Egghead Software was a US retail store selling computer software from 1984 to 2001, declaring bankruptcy in 2001 after a failed transition to online sales.
- Founded in 1984 by Victor D. Alhadeff in Bellevue, Washington, Egghead aimed to be a consumer-friendly software retailer with steep discounts.
- Egghead's IPO in 1988 raised $24 million, and at its peak, it had around 200 stores across the US.
- The company struggled in the 1990s as consumer electronics superstores like Best Buy and Circuit City offered better selection and pricing.
- Egghead attempted to pivot to online sales in 1998 and merged with Onsale in 1999, but continued financial losses led to bankruptcy in 2001.
- Today, Egghead's legacy lives on through occasional finds of branded floppy disks and receipts, but the retail software model is largely obsolete due to digital distribution.