PCC (stands for Puget Consumers Co-op) today is the largest consumer-owned natural food cooperative in the US, with about 40,000 members. Lifetime membership in the regional cooperative costs $60.PCC Natural Markets operates about 10 organic and natural food stores in Washington. More than 90% of the produce sold by the coop is certified organic, according to USDA rules. It also offers cooking classes featuring guest chefs, natural foods, exotic dishes, and lessons for children. PCC Natural Markets watches out for its customers' health, removing all products from its shelves that contain trans-fats and the like.

Zumiez Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of action sports related apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories in the United States. It offers apparel, including tops, bottoms, and outerwear, as well as accessories, such as caps, belts, and sunglasses; footwear consisting of athletic shoes and sandals; equipment, such as skateboards, snowboards, and ancillary gear, such as boots and bindings; and other items, such as miscellaneous novelties and DVDs. The company’s stores serve young men and women between the ages of 12 and 24, focusing on skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, bicycle motocross, and motocross activities. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 377 stores under the Zumiez brand name primarily located in shopping malls in 35 states. In addition, the company sells its products directly through its Web site, zumiez.com. Zumiez Inc. was founded in 1978 and is based in Everett, Washington.

ASDA is the UK's second-largest food seller (behind Tesco).It operates about 370 stores (including about 25 ASDA Living stores) that primarily sell groceries and apparel.The stores also sell CDs, books, videos, and housewares. It offers American, Chinese, and Mexican take-away meals.Since being bought by Wal-Mart in 1999, ASDA has set off a price war in the UK by initiating Wal-Mart's aggressive "price-rollback" program and converting stores to Wal-Mart's supercenter format under the ASDA-Wal-Mart banner.ASDA.com sells goods online.

Allied Building Products Corp. was founded in 1950 as a family-operated roofing and custom sheet metal fabrication business. Allied Building Products counts home builders and contractors as part of its circle of friends. Serving the commercial and residential construction markets, the company distributes exterior and interior building materials, including roofing, siding, drywall, and acoustical tile, from major manufacturers. Allied also markets products under its own Cutting Edge and Tri-Bilt brands. The firm operates about 180 branches in 30 states, and it maintains a fleet of more than 2,700 vehicles, including cranes and delivery trucks. Allied is a subsidiary of Oldcastle (itself a subsidiary of CRH).

SchoolWorld wants its customers to get with the program. Formerly Logisoft Corporation, SchoolWorld resells educational software to schools and other institutional users through its Web site. SchoolWorld's software offerings -- from the likes of publishers Adobe, Microsoft, and Autodesk -- range from e-mail and utility programs to instructional software and desktop publishing and multimedia applications. SchoolWorld also sells networking hardware, furniture, and other equipment. SchoolWorld has offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Rochester, New York.

Ritz Camera & Image (RCI) is updating its image to adapt to changing times. The company, whose chain of about 300 stores has roots reaching back to 1918 as a one-man portrait studio, has expanded beyond cameras to appeal to the digital generation. Operating under the Ritz, Wolf, Kits, Inkley's, and Camera Shop banners, it offers TVs, laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, and other electronic gadgets, as well as cameras and optical supplies and services. RCI acquired the assets of Ritz Camera Centers, which had collapsed into bankruptcy in February 2009 amid the shift to digital cameras. The business emerged later that year, under the leadership of CEO David Ritz, with a smaller footprint and new retail strategy.

Bernecker's Nursery, Inc. was founded in the 1960s by Leo Bernecker. Bernecker's Nursery has it made in the shade. Bernecker's Nursery raises and distributes shade-acclimated Chamaedorea Seifrizii palms and other tropical indoor plants. The company nurtures the Chamaedorea Seifrizii, which has reed-like stems and feathery fronds, to thrive in either artificial or natural light. Other indoor tropical plants available from Bernecker's are aglaonemas, dracaenas, ficus, rhapis, and spathiphyllums. Customers include interiorscapers and nurseries in the US, Canada, Latin America, and other areas.

Founded in 1908 by William Aubuchon, a French-Canadian immigrant, the company is still owned by the Aubuchon family, including CEO William Aubuchon III and president M. Marcus Moran, Jr. Old houses in New England get refurbished with assistance from W.E. Aubuchon. W.E. Aubuchon operates about 130 hardware stores throughout New England and New York, as well as a Web site. More than just nuts and bolts, the store stocks about 50,000 products, including appliances, camping gear, hardware, housewares, paint, and tools. It carries such name brands as Delta Faucet, Honeywell, Stanley, and Weber. The store also offers rug cleaner rentals, propane tank filling, and key cutting, among other services.

Doc's Drugs was founded by Dave Sartoris, who runs the company with his son Tony. After visiting the doc, customers in northeastern Illinois can fill their prescriptions at Doc's Drugs. The regional drugstore chain operates more than15 pharmacies under the Doc's Discount Drugs banner. In addition to dispensing prescription medications, Doc's Drugs sells medical equipment, collectibles, electronics, and toys, as well as offering in-store photo processing. Doc's Drugs also sells more than 100 products online. Doc's Drugs, Ltd. company is remodeling many of its stores to focus on its pharmacy operation, which accounts for 80% of sales. To that end, it is eliminating hardware, liquor, and groceries from its shelves.

Orgill, Inc. is the nation’s largest independently owned hardlines distributor providing retailers across the United States and in more than 60 countries throughout the world access to more than 60,000 products and industry-leading retail services. Over the past decade Orgill, a privately held company based in Memphis, TN., has emerged as the fastest growing hardlines distributor in the United States. Orgill’s market-focused approach to distribution has earned the company a reputation of unsurpassed customer service. Through its mix of sophisticated marketing programs, low-cost distribution services, highly flexible programs and a corporate dedication to support the uniqueness of individual retailers, Orgill has emerged as a viable alternative to the industry’s co-operatives. With five domestic distribution centers and three export consolidation facilities, Orgill, Inc. distributes hardware and home improvement products to hardware, home improvement and building material retailers of all types and sizes.

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