JLP has several manufacturing subsidiaries that make wooden furniture, and bedding; its 4,000-acre Leckford Estate in Hampshire grows apples, pears, mushrooms, and produces milk, poultry, and eggs for sale in Waitrose supermarkets. JLP has an online shopping service, John Lewis Direct, and its employee pension plan owns about 24% of Internet grocer Ocado, which delivers Waitrose products.What began as a London drapery shop is today one of the UK's largest retailers -- and arguably its most oddly organized. John Lewis Partnership (JLP) runs about 30 John Lewis department stores and some 235 Waitrose supermarkets, primarily in London and southern England, but also in Scotland and Wales.

PPR has transformed itself from a conglomerate to the world's third-largest luxury group (behind LVMH and Richemont). PPR's stable of global luxury brands includes a 99% stake in Italian luxury goods company Gucci Group, and luxury brands Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Boucheron, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others. The group's other activities include the multichannel merchant Redcats, Fnac music and book stores, the Conforama chain of household furniture and appliance stores, and the German athletic shoemaker PUMA. More than half of PPR's sales are generated outside of its home country. PPR is run by Francois-Henri Pinault, the son of its founder Francois Pinault.

Old Time Pottery a chain of about 30 stores in about 10 states in the South and Midwest selling discounted closeout and overstock housewares, silk flowers, framed art, linens, rugs, craft supplies, seasonal merchandise, and more. The company gets its inventory, which it displays in a warehouse-type setting, from the canceled orders and excess stock of manufacturers. And it needs lots of inventory, as stores average about 2 acres in size. Founded in 1986, Old Time Pottery is controlled by the Peterson family. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2009 and exited it in August 2010.

Lowe's Food Stores operates a chain of about 110 supermarkets in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The stores offer traditional supermarket fare, including fresh meat, seafood, deli, and bakery departments, in addition to natural foods and supplements. The company's Lowes Foods to Go program lets customers shop online and either pick up their groceries at their local Lowe's Food store or have them delivered. It also operates more than half a dozen fuel stations in the Carolinas. The regional chain is upgrading selected stores and customer service as Wal-Mart Supercenters expands in its market. Founded in 1954, Lowe's Food Stores is owned by food distributor Alex Lee.

In the UK and Ireland, some of the best known and respected companies are part of Saint-Gobain. Together these businesses offer an unrivalled range of products and innovative material solutions that give architects and designers the ability to respond to the latest trends, whilst meeting the most exacting performance and legislative standards. Saint-Gobain’s businesses form a robust, integrated supply chain partner that has the strength and flexibility to support the most diverse range of customer requirements. This adds up to a unique capability that can support everything from the biggest landmark projects, such as the Emirates Stadium and Fort Dunlop, to ongoing repair and maintenance programmes. As well as fast, efficient access to a comprehensive range of products, we can provide specialist technical expertise and resources. From product specification and design, to fabrication and delivery to site or production line, we are committed to working closely with our customers to help them get the most out of our products and services.

Bob's Discount Furniture operates about 40 furniture stores (featuring mini-golf courses and complimentary refreshments) in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and four other eastern states. Bob's also offers several in-store "outlets" where customers can buy discounted furniture that has been discontinued, returned, or slightly damaged. Following a 1976 motorcycle accident, company founder and president Bob Kaufman (who's something of a celebrity in the Northeast, thanks to his quirky television commercials) spent months recuperating in a waterbed. Fully recovered and inspired by his experience, Kaufman partnered with cousin Gene Rosenberg and opened up the first Bob's Discount Furniture shop in 1991.

Established in 1940, USG is a subsidiary of Colonial Commercial. Though Universal Supply Group (USG) doesn't supply the entire universe, it does have HVAC in the tri-state area covered. Through about 10 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Universal Supply Group, Inc. distributes air conditioning, heating, and ventilation equipment and supplies. Its Universal Energy Products division designs and sells systems and control panels for energy conservation along with indoor air quality equipment while its Goldman Universal division distributes appliances to retail stores in the region. USG also offers training and climate control consulting for contractors and building engineers.

Lumber Products is a wholesale distributor of some of the finest hardwood lumber, hardwood plywood, and door and millwork products to the Northwest, Intermountain, and Southwest states since 1938. Lumber Products is committed as a company to providing quality hardwood products and building materials at a fair price while providing excellent service. Products found on the Lumber Products website are available to consumers through retail building materials outlets and home centers. If you are a consumer looking through this site, we will be glad to provide information on dealers in your area upon request. Please include general geographic location when inquiring about products or dealers.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of home products. It offers culinary and serving equipment, including cookware, cookbooks, cutlery, informal dinnerware, glassware, table linens, specialty foods, and cooking ingredients; and bridal and gift items under the Williams-Sonoma brand name. The company also provides home furnishing categories, including furniture, textiles, decorative accessories, lighting, and tabletop items under West Elm brand; bed and bath products under Pottery Barn brand; and children’s furnishings and accessories under Pottery Barn Kids brand name. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. sells its home products through five retail store concepts, which include Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, and Williams-Sonoma Home; seven direct-mail catalogs that comprise Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Bed and Bath, PBteen, West Elm, and Williams-Sonoma Home; and six e-commerce Websites, which consist of williams-sonoma.com, potterybarn.com, potterybarnkids.com, pbteen.com, westelm.com, and wshome.com. As of January 31, 2010, it operated 610 retail stores, including 259 Williams-Sonoma, 199 Pottery Barn, 87 Pottery Barn Kids, 36 West Elm, 11 Williams-Sonoma Home, and 18 Outlet stores located in 44 states of the United States; Washington, D.C.; Canada; and Puerto Rico. The company was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Acting as a holding company for subsidiaries The Brick Warehouse LP (dba The Brick) and United Furniture Warehouse, The Brick Group was founded to take Canada's biggest furniture business public. Other retail banners include The Brick Superstore, Urban Brick, and the unfortunately-named The Brick Mattress Store. Together the five chains offer furniture, mattresses, appliances, and consumer electronics through about 235 retail furniture stores (about 50 are franchise locations) across Canada and the company's Web site, catering to low-, middle-, and high-end consumers. The Brick Group began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2004.

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