Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921. Gucci generated about € 4.2 billion in revenue worldwide in 2008 according to BusinessWeek magazine and climbed to 41st position in the magazine's annual 2009 "Top Global 100 Brands" chart created byInterbrand.
Gucci is also the biggest-selling Italian brand. Gucci operates about 278 directly operated stores worldwide (as of September 2009) and it wholesales its products through franchisees and upscale department stores.
In 1953, Gucci watches were sold in its new store in New York. By the late '60s, Gucci watches were being sold in stores in London, Paris, and Tokyo. Gucci remained to be one of the leading luxury brands by the late '70s.
