Mark Smith
This article showcases our top picks for the best Illinois based Retail companies. These startups and companies are taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Retail industry, but are all exceptional companies well worth a follow.
We tried to pick companies across the size spectrum from cutting edge startups to established brands.
We selected these startups and companies for exceptional performance in one of these categories:
- Innovation
- Innovative ideas
- Innovative route to market
- Innovative product
- Growth
- Exceptional growth
- Exceptional growth strategy
- Management
- Societal impact
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Top Illinois Retail Startups
Data sourced from Crunchbase and SemRush.
Groupon
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Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that offers discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies.
IRI
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IRI is a Market research company specialized in development of big data and predictive analytics solutions.
KMart
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KMart is a large retail store that sells discounted merchandise.
Sears Holdings Corporation
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Sears Holdings Corporation is a leading integrated retailer focused on seamlessly connecting the digital and physical shopping experiences
Cooler Screens
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Cooler Screens is a developer of interactive digital displays to replace glass doors in store aisles.
PowerReviews
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PowerReviews is a leading provider of ratings, reviews and question and answer technology for brands and retailers.
ShoppingGives
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ShoppingGives encourages consumers to make an impact through its change commerce technology.
Logiwa
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Logiwa is the industry-leading WMS serving retail, e-commerce, wholesale, and 3PL businesses worldwide for over a decade.
XSELL Technologies
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XSELL Technologies is a cloud-based platform, maximizing performance and customer experience on emerging digital contact media.
InContext Solutions
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InContext Solutions is the global leader in scalable, web-based virtual reality shopper and retail solutions.
Leap Services
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Retail-as-a-Service platform for consumer brands
The Small Exchange
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The Small Exchange conducts more participants to financial markets with simpler and smaller futures products.
Mystery Tackle Box
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Mystery Tackle Box is a retail company that deals with fishing products at affordable prices.
Swap.com
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Swap.com leads the low-priced online pre-owned clothing consignment segment in the U.S. due to its unique deep neural network AI.
TrunkClub
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Trunk Club is a men’s clothing service where a personal stylist handpicks high-end clothes and ships it for free.
Grunt Style
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Grunt Style is an apparel & fashion company that provides military clothing and uniforms.
Revieve
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Market-leading beauty customer-experience personalization solution for beauty brands and retailers
LotLinx
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LotLinx’ is a SaaS provider of Digital Retailing and Marketing technologies and for the Automotive Industry.
Venzee Technologies, Inc.
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Venzee is a smart tech platform that provides solutions for brands to send product content to an unlimited number of selling channels.
Restaurant.com
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Restaurant.com is a dining deals site and a marketing platform where users can read restaurant reviews, find deals, and browse menus.
NewLake Capital Partners
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NewLake Capital Partners is internally managed, Maryland corporation focused on acquiring specialized industrial and retail properties.
MUSH Foods
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MUSH Foods is a manufacturer and distributor of ready-to-eat oats.
Innovative Tap Solutions LLC
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World leader in self pouring beverage technology solutions for beer, wine , coffee, cocktails, cider and anything else you can put in a keg
ampCNG
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ampCNG is engaged in the transition to compressed natural gas (CNG) as a transportation fuel in the commercial trucking industry.
Impossible Objects
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Impossible Objects is a developer of a 3D printing technology used to make objects from sheets of kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass.
Ulta Beauty
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Ulta Beauty is a beauty retailer in the United States and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance.
Channel IQ
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Channel IQ is a provider of online retail intelligence, channel management and brand protection solutions to manufacturers and retailers.
Stock+Field
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Stock+Field is a retail company offering general merchandise and DIY products.
Fusioner
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Online marketplace for music instruments and accessories
Garmentier
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SaaS platform helping retailers deliver holistic customer experiences via scalable selling, cx & clienteling technology.
ItemMaster
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ItemMaster’s cloud platform creates, manages, expands, & delivers structured product content for the $800B U.S. Food & Bev marketplace.
Honey-Can-Do International
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Honey-Can-Do International is a consumer goods company that offers storage and organization products.
Eligo Energy
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Eligo Energy helps provide consumers and businesses with low cost energy solutions.
LTD Commodities
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LTD Commodities is one of the premier catalog and online merchandisers, featuring home, personal care and apparel, products.
World’s Finest Chocolate
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World’s Finest Chocolate has crafted premium chocolate directly from the cocoa bean.
Ecentria group
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Ecentria group is an e-business platform that operates in the retailing industry.
Tangiblee
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Tangiblee is an eCommerce visualization service that transforms retailers’ online catalogs into powerful, interactive shopping experiences.
LYFE Kitchen
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LYFE Kitchen, Inc. operates and franchises restaurants. Its restaurants provide grocery products, such as meals, soups, and bakery
Cottage Door Press
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Cottage Door Press is publishes high-quality children’s books and believes that reading is learning! Beautiful books and gifts for babies.
Vroom Delivery
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Vroom Delivery is the first eCommerce platform specifically designed for the $233B convenience store industry
Giftbar
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Giftbar is an online marketplace that allows its users to purchase and personalize gift cards from high end, independent retailers.
Ballbox
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BallBox is the only kiosk in the world for package management and product rentals/distribution
Ace Hardware
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Throughout its 85-year history, Ace has been known as the helpful hardware place by both customers and communities.
CountBOX
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CountBOX is a cloud-based retail analytics solutions that helps clients measure foot traffic in public spaces.
Proper Cookie Dough
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Plant-based, superfood packed, edible/bakeable cookie dough.
Tastebud
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Tastebud creates mobile apps that drive sales at brick-and-mortar shopping centers.
Crate & Barrel
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Live the Crate and Barrel lifestyle with our exclusive collection of home furnishings and housewares.
PowerOne Corporation
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PowerOne is a electic power retailer and energy consulting firm providing cost-effective power solutions to residential and business needs.
ShopperTrak
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ShopperTrak is a provider of people counter technology and foot traffic analysis that improve retail profitability.
Ingredion Incorporated
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Ingredion Incorporated is a leading global ingredient solutions provider to the food, beverage, brewing and pharmaceutical industries
KeHE Distributors
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KeHE Distributors is a fresh and natural, organic wholesale foods distributor.
Rural King
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Rural King is America’s farm and home store that provides essentials to the communities they serve.
WishYourPrice
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An e-commerce Saas technology that lets e-retailers offer personalized price to each shopper by tapping into their willingness to pay
Brad’s Deals
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Proud consumer advocates scouring the internet every day for the best deals online, no matter where they are.
Ecostar Collaborative
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EcoStargroup, LLC is focused in the areas of Marine, Industrial and Commercial energy efficiency.
True Value
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The True Value Company is an American retailer-owned hardware cooperative with over 5,000 independent retail locations worldwide.
Voyant Beauty
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Voyant Beauty is a cosmetics company specializes in the development and manufacturing of high-performance personal care and beauty products.
AKIRA
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AKIRA opened the doors of its first ever women’s clothing boutique.
FTD Group
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FTD is an Internet and telephone marketer of flowers and specialty gifts.
PersonalizationMall.com
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PersonalizationMall.com was founded in 1998 with headquarters located in Burr Ridge, Illinois.
Rapid Displays
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Rapid Displays is a marketing and advertising company providing retail displays, store fixtures, and kiosk merchandising products.
Cureeo
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Cureeo is an online marketplace that offers original and limited edition artwork to collectors and novice art enthusiasts.
vAuto
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VAuto provides web-based inventory management solutions for retail automotive dealerships in the United States.
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ShareASale is retail focused performance marketing network, enabling users to tap into a wider consumer base without additional costs.
GoRelax
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GoRelax is an innovative lightweight mat that fosters deep relaxation by naturally increasing blood circulation and reducing tension
Great Kitchens Food Company
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Great Kitchens Food Company is a U.S. manufacturer of private label take-and-bake pizzas and flatbreads.
Bluepay
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Bluepay provides technology-enabled credit card payment processing services for businesses in the U.S. and Canada.
Appoet
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Appoet is a mobile developer and publisher focused on augmented reality and hyper-local discoverability technologies.
MAX Digital
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MAX Digital is a cloud-based digital retailing software company that provides software and sales enablement.
Gladson
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Gladson provides product images, product content, and other related services for the U.S. consumer packaged goods industry.
Edward Don & Company
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A Woodridge, Ill.-based distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies.
City Grange
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City Grange is selling the right organic and local products, rethinking the supply chain, creating jobs.
REV UP BRANDS
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REV UP BRANDS is a manufacturer and wholesaler of dance apparel, costumes and accessories from Chicago.
CB2
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CB2 is an online platform that offers a wide selection of furniture and decor products for modern homes.
The Game Collection
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The Game Collection is a retailer of digital games for multiple gaming platforms.
The Tie Bar
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The Tie Bar is a Chicago-based, direct fashion brand that is disrupting the menswear space.
Authentify
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Authentify provides automated authentication services for online business enterprises.
ThinkTime
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ThinkTime is a retail technology company that offers retail task management and retail help ticketing.
Peapod Digital Labs
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Peapod Digital Labs is an Ahold Delhaize USA company that will serve as the engine that powers U.S. eCommerce and digital strategies.
Opperman Plants
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Opperman Plants is an nursery supplying wholesale plants to retailers.
Topco Associates
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Topco Associates is a provider of an innovative business solutions for its food industry member-owners and customers.
Dunn Solutions Group
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Dunn Solutions Group is a company that specializes in ecommerce products.
Paris Presents
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A global company that creates and distributes beauty products and personal care accessories that elevate the beauty experience for women
Reynolds Consumer Products
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Reynolds Consumer Products provides quality household essentials and world-class brands.
Claire’s
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Claire’s is an online store that offers a collection of fashion jewelry and accessories for young women and teens.
iCanvas
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iCanvas is driven by a love for art and commitment company located in Morton Grove.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants
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Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants features wineries and tasting rooms in the United States.
Berner Food & Beverage
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Berner is a leading manufacturer of high quality shelf-stable food products and beverages
PowerCoco
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PowerCoco is a natural low-calorie, low-sugar sports drink that combines coconut water with electrolytes.
FTD Companies, Inc.
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FTD (Nasdaq: FTD) knows that beautiful flowers are a special way to celebrate & honor life’s most memorable moments.
KapStone
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KapStone Paper and Packaging manufactures unbleached craft paper and bags.
Blick Art Materials
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Blick Art Materials is the largest and oldest provider of art supplies in the United States with more than 65 retail stores nationwide.
World Book
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World Book is an online retailer for a variety of different books and encyclopedias.
Retale
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Retale is an online platform and mobile application for shoppers, incorporating retail circulars into an interactive format.
Vita Food Products
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A company, engaged in the sale of specialty food products under the VITA brand name for over 65 years.
Integrated Merchandising Systems
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IMS is a leading merchandising service agency with a proprietary, fully-integrated retail management system proven to deliver strategic
