Founded in 1971 with a modest 800-sq.-ft. home furnishings showroom, City Furniture sells furniture, mattresses, rugs, and accessories through about 15 showrooms across the state of Florida (in Broward, Martin, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties). Half of the company's products are made in the US. Alongside countless others in its industry, City Furniture obtains 75% of its imported furniture from China; the balance comes from Vietnam and Indonesia. Its marketing in South Florida has the company exporting its products to the Caribbean and Latin America, as well.

Residents of the Sun Belt have been known to leave their homes with Beall's on. The retail holding company operates through subsidiaries Beall's Department Stores, Beall's Outlet, and Burke's Outlet Stores in a dozen states. It has more than 560 department and outlet stores (about 200 are in Florida) located throughout states in the southern and western US, including Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Products range from off-price clothing and footwear for men and women to cosmetics, gifts, and housewares. Each chain has its own online shopping destination. The family-owned company was founded in 1915 by the grandfather of Chairman Bob Beall (pronounced "bell").

Sears, Roebuck and Co. hasn't outgrown the mall scene, but it's spending more time in other places. Beyond its 850 US mall-based stores, Sears has more than 1,300 other locations nationwide. The company operates more than 900 independently owned Sears Hometown Stores (formerly known as dealer stores) in small towns and about 105 Sears hardware stores and some 85 Orchard Supply Hardware shops. Sears' stores sell apparel, tools, and appliances, and provide home services (remodeling, appliance repairs) under the Sears Parts & Repair Services and A&E Factory brands. It also sells appliances and tools online. Sears was acquired by Kmart Holding Corp. in 2005. The deal formed Sears Holdings, which owns both chains.

Paul Stuart, Inc. was founded in 1938 by Ralph Ostrove and was named after his then 7-year-old son, Paul Stuart Ostrove. Where would the Mad Men of Madison Avenue be without the classic menswear of Paul Stuart? The traditional upscale clothier on Madison Avenue in New York City sells high-end men's and women's specialty apparel to the office crowd. The company also has a store in Chicago, about 70 in-store shops and three freestanding stores in Japan, and a store in Korea. As part of its upscale services, Paul Stuart offers custom suit making. Paul Stuart launched its awaited Phineas Cole collection, a "curated" line, in fall 2007.

King Soopers customers can also shop online (kingsoopers.com) with home delivery service. Its supermarkets offer online prescription refills. King Soopers is a division of Dillon Companies, which is owned by The Kroger Co., the #1 pure grocery chain in the US.King Soopers operates about 140 combination food and drug stores mostly in Colorado but also in Wyoming. About half of the stores are in the Denver area. In addition to traditional supermarket fare, the regional grocery chain offers bulk and natural and organic foods to compete with Whole Foods, which acquired King Soopers' local rival Wild Oats Markets in 2007. It also sells private-label goods under the King Soopers and other Kroger brand names.

Leon's Furniture Ltd. sells home furnishings, bedding, appliances, and electronics through about 65 company-owned and franchised stores throughout Canada and online. Its store banners include Shop for Furniture, Shop for Appliances, and Shop for Electronics. Its stores carry such brands as Frigidaire, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sealy, Simmons, and Whirlpool, among others. Leon's also wholesales appliances to builders, landlords, and retailers through its Canada Appliances division. Ablan Leon founded the company in 1909; more than a century later, it is still owned and operated by the Leon family.

E. W. James & Sons also operates a Calla Lily gift store, pharmacy, and catering business. Established in 1934, E. W. James & Sons is run by the third generation of the James family.E. W. James & Sons operates about two dozen supermarkets mostly in Tennessee, but also in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Serving smaller communities with its namesake stores and several Save-A-Lot locations, the regional player is battling both supercenters and super-regional grocers. Its stores feature large fresh produce, meat, and bakery departments. In 2004, the supermarket operator purchased 10 supermarkets in Kentucky from Winn-Dixie, when the ailing grocery chain exited the Kentucky market.

Walter E. Smithe Furniture, more commonly referred to as Smithe Furniture, sells mid-priced to high-end home furnishings through about a dozen locations in Illinois and Indiana. The company also offers leather and fabric upholstery customization options, as well as furniture reupholstering. Brothers Walt (president and general manager), Tim (VP of sales), and Mark (general counsel) Smithe took the reins of the family-run company from their father, and today (thanks to their TV ad campaigns), the three are the faces of the furniture retailer. Smithe Furniture traces its founding back to 1945.

Toupargel Groupe comprises two main businesses: frozen foods, which account for most of sales, and fresh foods and groceries under the Place du March name. CEO Roland Tchenio controls 56% of the company, which changed its name from Toupargel-Agrigel to Toupargel Groupe in 2007.Out of escargots? Short on soufflo? Not to worry, there is a solution! Toupargel Groupe (formerly Toupargel-Agrigel) delivers fresh and frozen foods, produce, dry goods, and groceries to more than 1 million customers in France. Customers place orders by telephone or online through the company's e-business Web site and are guaranteed delivery within 48 to 72 hours.

Food Lion brand products accounts for about 20% of sales. Founded in 1957 as Food Town, Food Lion is the largest US subsidiary of Delhaize America, a subsidiary of Brussels-based grocer Delhaize.Food Lion is a king among grocery chains in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions where it operates about 1,330 supermarkets under the Food Lion, Bloom, Bottom Dollar, and Harveys banners. About half of the company's stores are in the Carolinas, but it also has outlets in nine other states, including Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee. Food Lion, which prides itself on extra low prices, has taken a beating from low-cost competitors, most notably Wal-Mart Supercenters, and a weak economy.

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