Family-owned and -operated Von Maur runs about 25 upscale department stores in 10 midwestern states, offering its customers amenities such as an interest-free credit card, free gift wrapping, and free shipping within the US. The stores range in size from 42,000 to 203,000 sq. ft. and offer clothing from brands such as Burberry, Kenneth Cole, and Tommy Bahama. Distinguishing itself from the rest of the pack, the Von Maur chain has avoided advertising and big blowout sales; it even closes up shop on traditional retailer high-dollar days such as the Fourth of July. The von Maur family opened its first store in Davenport, Iowa, in 1872.

Borders Group runs more than 500 Borders superstores in about 45 states and Puerto Rico, as well as about 175 small-format shops under the Waldenbooks, Borders Express, and Borders Outlet banners. Its bookstores offer up to 170,000 book, music, and movie titles and regularly host live literary events and musician showcases to attract customers. The chain also peddles products via its website. Faced with declining sales due to the ailing book business, Borders sold its Paperchase stationery and gift business in the UK in 2010.

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings is a marriage made in retail heaven. Isetan brings advanced information technology while Mitsukoshi knows how to attract moneyed customers from Japan's elite. The merged company, one of Japan's leading department store operators, boasts a dozen Mitsukoshi stores and about a half a dozen Isetan locations throughout Japan with Mitsukoshi focusing on the older crowd while Isetan's Tokyo-area shops offer apparel alongside food, housewares, and sundries to appeal to younger generations. Overseas, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings has stores in Asia, Europe, and the US. Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings was formed in 2008 when Isetan bought out its older rival.

Roth's Food Center caterine and floral departments as well. It also sells its groceries online through a partnership with MyWebGrocer.com. In addition the company operates one gasoline station at its store in Silverton, Oregon. The company was founded in 1962 by chairman Orville Roth, father of president Michael Roth.Roth's Food Center helps you bring home the bacon; frying it up in a pan is your responsibility. The regional grocery store chain operates about 10 Roth's Fresh Market stores in Oregon's mid-Willamette Valley. The stores sell traditional grocery fare, beer and wine, organic produce, and more.

The company, a subsidiary of CUTCO, manages the marketing and direct sales functions of sister company Cutco Cutlery, which is the largest kitchen cutlery manufacturer in North America. The firm and its Canadian counterpart, Vector Marketing Canada, enlist a legion of some 40,000 college students as representatives who make home visits to demonstrate and sell Cutco products. Cutco's product portfolio includes butcher knives, pizza cutters, paring knives, carving forks, ice cream scoops, and other kitchen utensils. Vector Marketing operates more than 200 offices throughout North America.

King Soopers customers can also shop online (kingsoopers.com) with home delivery service. Its supermarkets offer online prescription refills. King Soopers is a division of Dillon Companies, which is owned by The Kroger Co., the #1 pure grocery chain in the US.King Soopers operates about 140 combination food and drug stores mostly in Colorado but also in Wyoming. About half of the stores are in the Denver area. In addition to traditional supermarket fare, the regional grocery chain offers bulk and natural and organic foods to compete with Whole Foods, which acquired King Soopers' local rival Wild Oats Markets in 2007. It also sells private-label goods under the King Soopers and other Kroger brand names.

Established in 1953, Damartex opened its first store in Paris four years later. Today it operates about 140 stores (under the name Damart), primarily in France and Belgium. France accounts for nearly two-thirds of Damartex company's sales. Damartex also sells its products via mail order and its Web site. Damartex may not be tres chic with the youngsters, but it is hip to the older generation. Damartex uses thermolactyl fiber to make undergarments, men's and women's apparel, sleepwear, socks and hosiery, and accessories (scarves and footwear), which it sells to the growing senior-citizen market. Its thermal pieces are also marketed to snow skiers.

As one of only two national grocery retailers in Canada, Sobeys Inc. serves the food shopping needs of Canadians with more than 1,300 stores in 10 provinces with retail banners that include Sobeys, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Price Chopper and Thrifty Foods. The company also operates Lawtons Drug stores in Atlantic Canada. Our five core retail food formats are designed to ensure that we have the right offering in the right-sized stores for each individual market we serve from our full service format to the convenience format, each tailored to satisfy the unique occasion-based food shopping needs of our customers.A proudly Canadian company with more than 100 years in the food business, Sobeys Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited, headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Our 85,000 employees and franchise affiliates are committed to building sustainable worth for each of our customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders through our focus on food, innovation and superior customer service.

Founded as an auto supply store in 1938 by chairman Dave Lack, Lack's Stores branched out into furniture during WWII, in an effort to maintain company sales. Its diversification paid off, and Lack's automotive and hardware offerings were phased out in the 1970s. Today, the family-owned and -operated company sells home furnishings, bedding, major appliances, and home electronics through some 35 retail stores, operating under the Lacks and Lacks Home Furnishings banners. Most of the company's stores are located throughout the state of Texas. Lack's operates one retail location in Duncan, Oklahoma.

Great Harvest Franchising acquired Montana Mills from doughnut-maker Krispy Kreme in 2005. The six-store bakery chain in upstate New York was converted to Great Harvest locations in early 2006. Founded by Pete and Laura Wakeman in 1978, Great Harvest was sold in 2001 to a group of North Carolina investors, including Mike Ferretti, who became CEO.Great Harvest Franchising (dba Great Harvest Bread Company) helps entrepreneurs not only bake bread but earn it. The company franchises its name and baking techniques to more than 210 bakeries in some 40 US states. In exchange for sending 7% of their sales to Great Harvest, owners receive bread recipes, baking techniques, and advice about accounting and store design.

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