Grafton Merchanting GB believes in building a solid store base for its customers. A subsidiary of the Grafton Group, the company is the umbrella organization of its parent's building supply retail operations in the UK, which include Buildbase, Jackson Building Centres, Hirebase, Civils & Lintels, Plumbase, PDM, L&G Forest Products, Hendricks Lovell, Acorn Insulation, and Keelsupply. Its network consists of more than 400 locations, which sell lumber, hardware, tools, plumbing and electrical supplies, gardening items, and other building materials, as well as offer hiring services. Grafton Merchanting also sells online. Formed in 2008, the firm brought together Buildbase with Grafton Group's other retail banners.

Founded in 1997, Buy.com initially made a splash by selling products below cost. It has since raised its prices but maintains an edge by offering to match any qualified competitor's price. In all, the company offers millions of products to more than 14 million customers. It sells half its products directly, and the other half are sold by other e-commerce businesses that use its online store, such as Sixth Avenue Electronics. Buy.com ships to customers in Europe, North America, and the Pacific Rim. The firm was acquired by Japan's Rakuten in 2010. Buy what.com you ask? E-tailer Buy.com sells books, cell phones and services, computer hardware and software, electronics, DVDs, jewelry, music, toys, and much more.

Paragon Pharmacies was formed by a reverse merger with Rinoa Enterprises in 2008. Paragon Pharmacies harkens back to the ideal of an old-fashioned community drugstore -- albeit one with electronic refills that has its own Facebook page. The company operates about 18 retail pharmacies, three central fill pharmacies, and one home healthcare operation in Western Canada. The stores -- operating under the Paragon Community Pharmacy and Super Drug Mart brands -- are located in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. Paragon also offers prescription services to assisted living and long-term care facilities through its Paragon Home Health brand.

James Halstead was founded in 1915. The Halstead family still retains control of more than half of James Halstead plc company's ownership, while company employees account for more than 10% of ownership. James Halstead wants to give the floor over to its customers. James Halstead manufactures, markets, and distributes products that include commercial flooring, industrial trailers and trailer tents, and motorcycle accessories. Customers include hospitals, pubs, prisons and schools. James Halstead plc operates mainly in the UK and Germany, but also in Australia and New Zealand.

American Furniture Warehouse sells furniture and electronics at discounted prices through about a dozen retail locations in Colorado and via its website, which also features bridal and gift registries. The company has built a reputation as a home-spun, local furniture retailer. Jabs bought the company in 1975.

Harvey is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality building products. Founded in 1961, Harvey is a privately held, growth-oriented corporation headquartered in Waltham, MA. Harvey manufactures superior quality, attractive windows, doors and patio rooms right here in the Northeast. We recently constructed a state-of-the art manufacturing facility featuring additional automation, an in-house testing lab, and a dedicated recycling area to help preserve our natural resources. Harvey is one of the few US manufacturers who design all of its own window products.

The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. operates as a children's specialty apparel retailer in North America. The company provides apparel and related accessories for children from newborn to 10 years of age. It designs, contracts to manufacture, and sells apparel and accessories and other children's-oriented merchandise under The Children's Place brand name. The company has differentiated departments to serve the needs of girls and boys, baby girls and boys, and new born. As of January 30, 2010, it owned and operated 947 The Children's Place stores and an online store at childrensplace.com. The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is based in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Victoria's Secret is not hush-hush, but it is unmentionable(s). The largest subsidiary of Limited Brands (based on sales) is also North America's #1 specialty retailer of women's intimate apparel, operating about 1,040 mostly mall-based Victoria's Secret and 250-plus La Senza lingerie stores throughout the US and Canada. Bras, panties, hosiery, swimwear, shoes, and more are sold under the Victoria's Secret brand and grouped in collections such as Dream Angels and Very Sexy. Many Victoria's Secret lingerie stores also sell beauty products. Its sister company Victoria's Secret Direct mails about 400 million of its sexy catalogs per year, offering intimate apparel, women's clothing, and footwear.

Woolworths' 160-odd general merchandise discount stores operate under the Big W name. It also runs about 415 consumer electronics shops under the Dick Smith Electronics and Tandy brand names. The retailer's Taverner Hotel Group operates some 285 hotels.Chow Down Under with Australia's #1 food retailer (ahead of Coles) -- Woolworths (aka "Woolies"). The diversified retailer operates about 3,200 stores in Australia and New Zealand, including 975 supermarkets under the Woolworths, Safeway, Foodtown, and Countdown banners. It also operates BWS and Dan Murphy's liquor stores. In addition, Woolworths sells gasoline and leverages its distribution network to provide wholesale merchandise for third-party supermarkets.

E-Z Mart Stores founder Jim Yates kept his first convenience store in Ashdown, Arkansas, open until 11. The company now boasts 300 outlets across five southern states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas). Rather than build its own stores, the company usually expands through acquisitions. In addition to the standard hot dogs, chips, sodas, and cigarettes, most E-Z Mart locations also offer Shell, Conoco, Phillips 66, or CITGO gasoline. Yates died in late 1998 when the plane he was piloting crashed, leaving his daughter Sonja Hubbard at the company's helm as CEO.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.