Founded in 1939, RONA generates about 40% of its sales from distribution. RONA has employed an aggressive acquisition strategy to expand throughout Canada. RONA believes a tool belt befits both genders. The company is Canada's top home improvement retailer (ahead of Home Depot of Canada) with about 685 franchised, affiliated, and corporate stores. Looking beyond traditional male customers, RONA stores court women shoppers (more than half of its customers) with features such as decorator boutiques and product displays set for the average woman's eye level. The stores range in format from small RONA L'express shops to RONA L'entrepot big-box outlets and the retailer carries some 2,000 RONA-branded products.

Bosselman, Inc. operates some 40 Pump & Pantry convenience stores and 25 Boss Truck Shops, which sell tires and offer truck repair services, in Nebraska and more than 15 other states. Family-operated Bosselman also runs about half a dozen eating establishments (mostly Grandma Max's) and five motels. Other operations include Bosselman Energy (wholesale oil, fuel, and propane delivery) and Bosselman Tank & Trailer (truck, tank and trailer sales, repairs, and inspections). A handful of Bosselman travel centers fly the Pilot banner. Founder Frederick H. Bosselman -- a farmer and part-time truck driver -- opened his first truck stop in 1948.

Ocado investors include the company's directors. The average Ocado order tops about £100, a rich price, but the firm's ability to turn a profit is still erratic. The Internet grocer went public in 2010.Upscale Internet grocer Ocado serves more than 13.5 million tech-savvy, time-pressed households in Greater London, Hertfordshire, Kent, the Midlands, Surrey, North West, and now the South Coast. Launched by three former Goldman Sachs bankers in 2002, Ocado delivers groceries in Mercedes vans from its supermarket partner John Lewis Partnership-owned Waitrose Limited, which owns a stake in the company, to the customer's doorstep

Founded by Rowland Schaefer and later run by his daughters, Bonnie and Marla Schaefer, Claire's Stores was sold to an affiliate of the New York-based private equity firm Apollo Management for about $3 billion in 2007. If the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys, for young women and girls, it may be the price of their accessories. For thrifty, fashion-conscious females ages 3 to 27, Claire's Stores is the queen of costume jewelry, handbags, and hair bows. The company operates nearly 3,000 boutiques, primarily in malls, under the Claire's and Icing banners. The chain is present in all 50 US states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Canada, as well as about 10 European countries.

EDION, which was established in 2002, also generates sales online and through a catalog. Gadget lovers in Japan look to EDION Corporation for a technology and A/C fix. EDION Corporation is one of the country's leading electronics retailers, but it also sells air conditioners, microwave ovens, rice cookers, and washing machines. EDION is a holding company that operates primarily through its handful of subsidiaries. During the past few years, EDION has been expanding its operations in western Japan. EDION Corporation serves customers throughout Japan from more than 1,000 stores that are mostly franchised.

Great Harvest Franchising acquired Montana Mills from doughnut-maker Krispy Kreme in 2005. The six-store bakery chain in upstate New York was converted to Great Harvest locations in early 2006. Founded by Pete and Laura Wakeman in 1978, Great Harvest was sold in 2001 to a group of North Carolina investors, including Mike Ferretti, who became CEO.Great Harvest Franchising (dba Great Harvest Bread Company) helps entrepreneurs not only bake bread but earn it. The company franchises its name and baking techniques to more than 210 bakeries in some 40 US states. In exchange for sending 7% of their sales to Great Harvest, owners receive bread recipes, baking techniques, and advice about accounting and store design.

Founded in 1989, K&G is owned by The Men's Wearhouse and accounts for nearly 20% of its parent company's sales. After purchasing K&G, Men's Wearhouse converted most of its outlets to the K&G Fashion Superstores banner, and began adding women's and children's apparel to the racks. The feminization of K&G Men's Company is well underway. The retailer operates about 105 deep-discount career apparel superstores in more than 25 states. Its stores feature brand-name and private-label tailored and casual clothing, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children. The bargain warehouse-type stores average about 23,000 sq. ft. and offer first-run merchandise at prices 30%-60% lower than department stores.

Locke Supply Co. was founded in 1955 by Don and Wanda Locke. After Don's death in 2000, the company's employees purchased Locke Supply from the family. Locke Supply has a lock on the HVAC business in Oklahoma City. Through about 160 locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, the company distributes air-conditioning, heating, plumbing, electrical supplies, and tools. It also sells whirlpool baths and refrigeration equipment. Locke Supply's 300,000-square-foot distribution center holds brands like DeWalt, Bradford White, Eljer, and Armstrong Air.

Metro as a brand was founded in 1957 by its chairman, Mr Ong Tjoe Kim.Retail business under the stewardship of the late Mr Ong flourished and grew to become one of Singapore’s major department store chains. Metro Holdings Limited was formed in 1973 and listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore that same year. Metro continued to grow its retail business over the years and later diversified into property development, leisure, construction sectors.

Peirce-Phelps has developed unique solutions to meet the needs of a variety of markets including consumer electronics, home appliances, heating, ventilating and air conditioning products, computers, and solid surface counter top products. Our business and has grown to one of the 50 largest HVAC distributors in the country. Peirce-Phelps continues to gain product lines, open HVAC Sales Centers at strategic locations throughout the region and aggressively expand its residential and commercial customer base.The company remains true to the values of our founders and has formed business relationships with our customers that span decades and generations. Peirce-Phelps has remained successful by being flexible and responsive to the ever changing needs of the market, through deep knowledge of our industries, and by listening to our customers. Now starting our eightieth year, we remain more committed than ever to this philosophy. We thank you for your business and look forward to succeeding together in the future!

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