Grupo Elektra is plugged into cities throughout Mexico and seven other countries in Central and South American, including Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The stores (three-quarters are located in Mexico) sell a mix of consumer electronics, appliances, computers, and furniture under several banners. Elektra and MegaElektra sell value-priced products, Salinas y Rocha appeals to more upscale shoppers. Grupo Elektra also offers financial services in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Panama and Brazil through its Banco Azteca, Seguros Azteca, and Afore Azteca locations. The family of late founder Hugo Salinas Rocha controls both Grupo Elektra and broadcaster TV Azteca.

GOME serves China's growing appetite for techno toys, digital doodads, and modern household conveniences. One of China's leading electronics retailers by sales, GOME (formerly China Eagle Group) sells consumer electronics and household appliances from about 860 stores in more than 200 large and medium sized cities. Most locations offer rental and repairs and a handful are completely dedicated to digital electronics. Audio visual products (TVs, DVD and CD players, VCRs, stereos) make up about a third of GOME's sales. The company plans to expand into smaller cities and continue opening its all-digital stores. Kwong Yu Wong and his wife Juan Du, own more than a third of GOME's shares.

Formed by the 1997 merger of Cotter & Company (which supplied the True Value chain) and ServiStar Coast to Coast, the retailer-owned hardware cooperative serves more than 5,000 retail outlets in some 55 countries. Stores offer home improvement and garden supplies, as well as appliances, housewares, sporting goods, and toys. In addition to the flagship True Value banner, members operate under the names of Taylor Rental, Grand Rental Station, Home & Garden Showplace, and Induserve Supply, among others. True Value also manufactures its own brand of paints. To survive against home improvement giants such as The Home Depot and Lowe's, True Value (formerly TruServ) is relying on the true value of service.

Spahn & Rose Lumber Co. is a retail lumber company with about 25 locations throughout Iowa and, to a lesser extent, in Illinois and Wisconsin. The company, which was organized in 1904, produces roof and floor truss systems and sells a variety of building supply products from such suppliers as Andersen (windows), Georgia-Pacific (lumber), CertainTeed (building materials), DuPont (plastics and flooring), MidContinent Cabinetry, (cabinets), Stanley Black & Decker (hand tools) and more. Spahn & Rose is promoting a range of green products, including recycled goods, solar reflective windows, and arsenic-free lumber.

Dealers Supply Company (DSC) strives to keep cool during those long Southern summers. Through about 15 locations in Georgia and North Carolina, the company distributes air conditioning and heating products to residential customers, contractors, and small businesses. Products include air conditioners, heaters, motors, insulation, lifts, sealants, and other items from such brands as Airgas, Honeywell, RUUD, Trion, and WeatherKing. DSC sells the tools needed to install and maintain all the heating and cooling equipment it sells, and it offers classes and reference guides. The company's Web site includes an online catalog and searchable database of licensed conditioned air contractors.

Siam FamilyMart may be the second-largest convenience store chain in Thailand, but it still has a long way to go to catch up with #1: Seven-Eleven Japan. The fast-growing company operates more than 550 convenience stores throughout Thailand, about a tenth the number of its larger rival. The stores offer hot and cold snacks and beverages, sandwiches, rice balls, cigarettes, and other convenience items. Established in 1993, FamilyMart is a subsidiary of Japan's FamilyMart chain of convenience stores. The company franchises its individual stores and provides support in the form of managerial advice, training, advertising, promotions, store equipment, and the preparation of annual tax documents.

IAC/InterActiveCorp (IAC) satisfies inquisitive minds who want to use the Web to explore local hot spots, meet the right partner, find a contractor, and maybe even host a party or two. The Internet conglomerate owns more than 50 brands, including search engine Ask.com, local guide Citysearch (part of advertising network CityGrid Media), dating site Match.com, and home service provider network ServiceMagic. Other IAC holdings include shoe site Shoebuy.com and a majority stake in Connected Ventures, the parent company of racy college entertainment site CollegeHumor.com. Its current affairs Web magazine Daily Beast is merging with Newsweek.

SmartLabs brings high-tech comforts home with the push of a button. Its SmartLabs Technology unit creates electronic automation and remote control products for lighting, security systems, theater equipment, and other home management systems. The SmartLabs Design division designs and produces its INSTEON wireless technology line, as well as offers original equipment manufacturing services. Reaching consumers in some 130 countries, SmartLabs' Smarthome business markets more than 5,000 electronic home improvement products online, by phone, and through catalogs. President and CEO Joe Dada founded the company in 1992.

Ports International was founded in 1961 by Luke Tanabe and sold to the family of current chief executive Alfred Chan in 1989. Ports Design has carved out a place in China's collective fashion consciousness. Ports Design Limited company designs, manufactures, and sells upscale clothing and accessories under the Ports International and BMW Lifestyle brands. Primarily serving China and Hong Kong, the company's Ports International retail chain sell menswear and womenswear through 300 stores in 55 Chinese cities. Ports Design Limited company also sells sporty casual wear through almost 30 BMW Lifestyle stores (BMW licensed Ports Design Limited company to make and sell branded products in China).

USG organized L&W Supply in 1971. At the construction job site A&W can supply the root beer, while L&W can deliver the gypsum wallboard and other building materials. L&W Supply distributes more than 40,000 building products made by its parent company, USG, and other manufacturers through nearly 200 locations in about 35 states. Besides wallboard (which accounts for about 30% of sales), L&W Supply's products include ceilings, insulation, joint treatment and texture products, metal framing, and roofing supplies. It also offers such services as delivery of less-than-truckload quantities, stocking, and lending. The company's customers are primarily builders and contractors.

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