The Athlete's Foot® is the world's first franchisor of athletic footwear stores and is recognized today as the world leader in athletic footwear franchising. Robert and David Lando opened the first The Athlete's Foot® store in 1971 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was the first athletic footwear specialty store of its kind in the United States. Soon thereafter, The Athlete's Foot® began franchising domestically, with the first franchise store opening in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The first international franchise store opened in 1978 in Adelaide, Australia, the beginning of The Athlete's Foot® expansion into over 40 countries.

T.K. Maxx takes bargain-hunting to the max. A subsidiary of US-based TJX Companies, T.K. Maxx is a leading off-price retailer in Europe. Launched in 1994, T.J. Maxx operates about 225 stores in the UK and Ireland and another 10 in Germany. The stores, which measure about 32,000 square feet, sell steeply discounted designer and brand-name apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children; toys; sporting goods; furniture and assorted housewares, among other things. The deep-discount retailer has been expanding its footwear and accessories departments, which now number about 25. Ultimately, T.K. Maxx plans to grow to about 275 stores the UK and Ireland and as many as 300 stores in Germany.

Bhs was founded in 1928, and at the time the highest price for any item found inside was a mere shilling. Over the years it has expanded its merchandise line, and has opened more than a dozen stores specializing in exclusively homewares. Bhs Limited company is owned by billionaire UK retail investor, managing director Philip Green. Bhs wants to prevent its customers from throwing open their closet doors and letting out big heavy sighs. Formerly British Home Stores, Bhs operates more than 100 stores throughout the UK. One of the high street's best-known names, it sells clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children, as well as a variety of furnishings, appliances, gifts, and accessories for the home.

UP&S was founded in 1953 by Taylor Ramsey and is now owned by vice-chair Patti Ramsey, his daughter-in-law. United Pipe & Supply (UP&S) is trying to unite plumbing and HVAC specialists all over the Pacific Northwest. Operating through about 35 locations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, the company distributes equipment and supplies for irrigation, pumping and drilling, and heating and air conditioning. UP&S also provides specification and design consulting for architects, contractors, and designers.

Pharmasave is a group of independently owned pharmacies across Canada. We are proud to both live and work in the communities we serve. With more than 400 stores in nine provinces, Pharmasave is one of Canada’s leading independent pharmacy and drugstore retailers. Since being founded in 1981, Pharmasave has focused on building a national platform of community based retail outlets designed to provide customers with exceptional service, products and advice. Each Pharmasave store operates independently to serve its individual community, which ensures both programs and services tailored to the needs of customers and a commitment to helping all customers.

Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, FleetPride is the nation’s largest independent distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer replacement parts, with over 190 branches spanning the country. FleetPride also sponsors a nationwide network of over 200 repair and maintenance facilities known as FleetCare Truck Service Centers. We employ over 2,300 experienced parts and service professionals across all of our business disciplines.Formed in 1999, FleetPride has earned a solid and loyal customer base across several markets by providing outstanding customer service and real value. Our customers include fleets and operators from large corporations, local businesses and municipalities. We serve many industries such as freight, shipping, leasing services, agricultural, food and beverage, construction, waste management and many others.

Waitrose Limited operates about 230 Waitrose supermarkets in London, southern England, the Midlands, East Anglia, Wales, and Scotland. Founded in 1904 by Wallace Wait and Arthur Rose, it was acquired in 1937 by John Lewis Partnership, one of the UK's largest retailers. The grocer plans to dramatically increase its retail presence in the UK, and beyond, through a move into the convenience store market and the development of new store formats and partnerships with other retailers. Outside the food aisle, Waitrose plans to strengthen its non-food offering of clothing and housewares in its Food & Home store. A partnership with Internet grocer Ocado delivers Waitrose groceries to homes in London and Hertfordshire.

General Hardware and Builder's Supply tells you right up front what they do. The company sells architectural and residential hardware and aluminum, steel, and wood doors and frames. Products include hollow metal doors and frames, seven-ply and five-ply architectural wood doors (manufactured by Algoma Hardwoods, Buell Door, Haley Lynden, Pacific Architetural, V.T. Industries, Western Oregon Door), Schlage locks, and Hager hinges.

Spinx Company has turned itself into a small convenience retailing powerhouse. It operates more than 75 convenience stores under the SPINX banner in North and South Carolina. SPINX locations offer gasoline and alternative fuels (including biodiesel and E85), packaged snacks, foodservice outlets, car washes, and DVD rental kiosks. The company also supplies gasoline to more than 60 area convenience stores. CEO Stewart Spinks founded The Spinx Company, which is still family owned and operated.

Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates two chains of off-price retail apparel and home accessories stores in the United States. Its stores offer branded and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions, as well as gift items, linens, and other home-related merchandise. The company’s merchandise offerings also comprise product categories, such as small furniture and furniture accents, educational toys and games, luggage, gourmet food and cookware, watches, and sporting goods, as well as fine jewelry in selected Ross stores. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 1,005 stores, including 953 Ross Dress for Less (Ross) locations in 27 states and Guam, and 52 dd’s DISCOUNTS stores in 4 states. Ross Stores, Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

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