In 1915, M.B. Skaggs, an ambitious young man in the small Idaho town of American Falls, purchased a tiny grocery store from his father. M.B.'s business strategy, to give his customers value and to expand by keeping a narrow profit margin, proved spectaculary successful. By 1926 he was opening 428 Skaggs stores in 10 states. M.B. almost doubled the size of his business that year when he merged his company with 322 Safeway (formerly Selig) stores. Two years later M.B. listed Safeway on the New York Stock Exchange. M.B. did not let the difficulties of the Great Depression dilute his pioneering focus on value for customers. In the 1930s Safeway introduced produce pricing by the pound, opening dating on perishables to assure freshness, nutritional labeling, even some of the first parking lots.

The Pampered Chef, a direct seller of more than 300 gourmet kitchen gadgets, cookware, cookbooks, and foodstuffs. It boasts about 60,000 independent sales reps who hawk their wares at in-home kitchen parties (à la Tupperware) throughout North America, Germany, and the UK. It's the largest of its kind in the US. Reps demonstrate product use and care and share recipes. As incentive (à la Mary Kay), reps can ultimately "earn" jewelry and trips. Founded in 1980 by home economist and educator Doris Christopher, The Pampered Chef was acquired by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 2002.

The regional home improvement center chain was founded in 1962. A management group led by chairman and former CEO Charles Bender acquired the company in 1988 and now owns about one-quarter of Busy Beaver, which is facing heavyweight competition from big-box chains, such as Home Depot and Lowe's. They're busy as, well, you know what kind of animals at Busy Beaver Building Centers. The company has 15 stores in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia selling ceilings, flooring, lumber, plumbing fixtures, and other building materials, along with garden supplies, hardware, power equipment, and tools. Busy Beaver serves the professional contractor as well as the do-it-yourselfer.

Craving Italian fashions? La Rinascente operates more than a dozen upscale la Rinascente department stores in cities across Italy. The company's flagship store near the Duomo in Milan -- Italy's fashion capital -- accounts for about 50% of sales. The retailer also operates the UPIM chain of some 340 company-owned and franchised stores throughout Italy and a single concept store in Rome called Jam. La Rinascente tempts shoppers with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Gucci. Aldo and Senatore Borletti founded La Rinascente in 1917. Today the company is owned by its chairman, the Italian entrepreneur Maurizio Borletti (Aldo's grandson)

Cronin's Porch & Patio is a casual furniture retailer, selling high-end outdoor patio furniture and related accessories, as well as tableware items. Through a pair of stores in the state of Florida, the family-run company offers tables, chairs, rockers, recliners, cushions, and accessories. It peddles products under several name brands, including Homecrest and Summer Classics.

Founded in 1988 by two fanatical skiers (Tim Slade and Jules Leaver) who sold clothing from their backpacks to support their skiing habits, Fat Face opened its first shop in London's Fulham Road in 1993. Its name is derived from an Olympic ski trail in the Alps. Fat Face was acquired by the London-based private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital in 2007 for about $707 million. Fat Face draws more than just name from a ski theme. Fat Face Limited company sells ski-and-surf-style activewear and outdoor clothing from more than 140 shops in the UK, Ireland, and France, as well as by catalog and online. Products include extreme sports apparel, footwear, jewelry, and accessories.

The Foschini Group (TFG) is an investment holding company operating in the retail and financial services segments within southern Africa. The Group trades primarily in South Africa with retail turnover emanating from Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia accounting for 3,8% of the Group turnover. Comprising 14 trading brands in over 1 500 stores, the Group brings a lifestyle range of brands that are prominent household fashion brands into the retail market. TFG Apparel Supply Company manages the supply of locally made apparel and co-ordinates the merchandise sourcing, shipping and quality assurance activities. A further two trading divisions offer financial services. All the trading divisions are supported by numerous service divisions which provide centralised support services. Foschini Limited, which commenced trading in 1924, has been listed on the JSE Limited since 1 January 1941 and is regarded as one of the foremost independent chain store groups in the country. It is listed on the main board in the Consumer Services – Retail sector.

Founded in 1945, Diamond Hill Plywood is owned by the Ramsey family, including executives John Ramsey and Jim Ramsey. The building Elvis left may have been constructed of material from Diamond Hill Plywood. The company wholesales building materials through about 10 sales and distribution offices spanning Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Its products include adhesives, hardware, insulation, lumber, millwork, siding, structural panels (such as strand boards and sanded plywood), roofing, and wall paneling. Among the company's customers are building-material dealers, furniture and fixture makers, and manufactured-housing companies.

B&R Stores operates about 20 supermarkets in six cities across Nebraska and Iowa that operate under the Super Saver,Russ's Market,and ALPS(an acronym for Always Low Price Store) banners.The stores offer the usual grocery selections as well as carpet cleaner and video rentals.Other specialties include smoked meat products produced by in-store smokehouses at all Super Saver stores.The regional grocery chain was founded in 1962 by Russ Raybould (father of company president Pat Raybould) and Clayton Burnett.The Raybould family owns a majority stake in B&R Stores;employees own the rest.

WILCOHESS owns and operates more than 360 convenience stores and travel plazas, as well as about 50 restaurants mostly in North Carolina and Virginia, but also in Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Many locations house quick-serve restaurants (Arby's, Dairy Queen, Wendy's). The company's travel plazas cater to truckers with fuel programs and rewards programs. The joint venture company was formed in 2001 by partners A.T. Williams Oil Company and Hess Corporation (formerly Amerada Hess), a leading independent oil company along the East Coast. President Steve Williams is the son of the founder of A.T. Williams Oil Co., A. Tab Williams. Jr.

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