Maxeda, formerly Vendex KBB, is owned by investment firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Cinven, Permira, and AlpInvest Partners. If Hans Brinker went shopping at Maxeda's stores today, he'd find a lot more than silver skates. The Dutch retail group operates stores in a dozen countries across Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. The retailer is selling off its department store and specialty apparel chains to focus on its home improvement stores, which trade under the Brico, Formido, and Praxis banners. Its shrinking stable of retail operations include lingerie chain Hunkemeller and M&S Mode. In 2010 it sold its De Bijenkorf and Vroon & Dressman department store chains.

Small Island Trader sells ceramics and crystal objects online to private buyers globally. Its web site contains more than 50,000 items, ranging from Wedgwood china to collectible paperweights and Versace ashtrays and other collectibles. The company secures its merchandise from about 20 leading ceramics manufacturers. Founded in 1997 by husband-and-wife team Alexandra and Jim Murray (managing director and creative director, respectively), the company is still owned by the couple.

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).

The company, a subsidiary of CUTCO, manages the marketing and direct sales functions of sister company Cutco Cutlery, which is the largest kitchen cutlery manufacturer in North America. The firm and its Canadian counterpart, Vector Marketing Canada, enlist a legion of some 40,000 college students as representatives who make home visits to demonstrate and sell Cutco products. Cutco's product portfolio includes butcher knives, pizza cutters, paring knives, carving forks, ice cream scoops, and other kitchen utensils. Vector Marketing operates more than 200 offices throughout North America.

GULFEAGLE is a full line distributor of residential and commercial roofing and building products that offers jobsite delivery to our customers. The company was originally founded as Gulfside Supply, Inc. in 1973 by Mr. Jim Resch. Mr. Resch remains as the current owner and CEO. The company started in Tampa, Florida with one branch and has grown to over 50 locations nationwide. This growth has come from acquisitions, start-up locations, and diversity of products. The first acquisition was Service Lumber in Jacksonville in 1975. Others include Southern Diversified in Miami, Sun Supply in Melbourne, United Wholesale in Pompano, Ft. Myers and Sarasota and Stringfellow Supply in Gainesville. In 1995 a major step was taken by acquiring American Wholesale which included locations in Huntsville, Montgomery, Dothan, Mobile, Pensacola and Panama City. The Standard/ Bieler acquisition further expanded into South Florida. In 1997 the company acquired Roofline Supply in Macon, Georgia. New start-ups over the years include Orlando, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Daytona, Tallahassee, Decatur, Alabama, St. Petersburg, Ft. Pierce, Palm Coast and Buda, TX.

Kole Imports keeps America's dollar stores well stocked with trinkets and treasures. The firm wholesales everything from automobile accessories to zippers, which is attractively packaged by in-house artists to ensure a similar look for all of the merchandise. Products are sold primarily to other wholesalers and dollar and discount stores. Kole Imports' warehouse includes a 6,000-sq.-ft. showroom designed to look like a dollar store, allowing potential customers to browse the merchandise. The company was founded by brothers (and co-presidents) Rob and Danny Kole in 1982.

Offenbacher Aquatics (also known simply as Offenbacher's) is a casual furniture retailer with about a half a dozen stores in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The company sells outdoor patio furniture, indoor wicker furniture, barbeque grills, hot tubs, pool tables, fireplace mantels, and Christmas decorations. It carries such brands as Tommy Bahama, American Hearth, Jensen Jarrah, Vermont Castings, and Dynasty Spas. Offenbacher's was founded in 1973.

Stage Stores, Inc. operates as a specialty department store retailer in the United States. It offers brand name and private label apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and footwear, as well as sportswear, dresses, intimates, home and gift products, outerwear, swimwear, and other products for women, men, and children. It primarily focuses on consumers in small and mid-sized markets. As of January 30, 2010, the company operated 758 stores in 39 states under the names of Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles, and Stage. Stage Stores, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company, founded in 1901, is a successful, family-owned and operated company that conducts business based on a commitment to honesty, hard work, service, quality, and strong values. Our company values have not swayed in over 100 years. We continue to be guided by our core principles of honesty and integrity by thinking “clients first”, being a leading provider of integrated construction solutions, and living a culture of performance excellence. We are one of the nation’s largest professional dealers, earning the distinction of premier vendor partnerships with some of the nation’s leading builders. We invite you to discover the Foxworth-Galbraith difference.

Grupo Salinas is the group of companies owned by Ricardo B. Salinas, one of Mexico's wealthiest citizens. While not a holding company, Grupo Salinas has interests in financial services, media, retail, and telecommunications -- a few of which are listed on Mexico's stock exchange. It has controlling interests in the nation's #2 network, TV Azteca, cellular service provider Iusacell, and electronics retaler Grupo Elektra. Motorcycle manufacturer Italika launched production in 2005 and is Mexico's top seller, producing 300,000 bikes per year. Grupo Elektra's financial service firms, Banco Azteca, Seguros Azteca, and Afore Azteca, serve low-income families in Mexico, Brazil, and Peru.

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