Victoria's Secret is not hush-hush, but it is unmentionable(s). The largest subsidiary of Limited Brands (based on sales) is also North America's #1 specialty retailer of women's intimate apparel, operating about 1,040 mostly mall-based Victoria's Secret and 250-plus La Senza lingerie stores throughout the US and Canada. Bras, panties, hosiery, swimwear, shoes, and more are sold under the Victoria's Secret brand and grouped in collections such as Dream Angels and Very Sexy. Many Victoria's Secret lingerie stores also sell beauty products. Its sister company Victoria's Secret Direct mails about 400 million of its sexy catalogs per year, offering intimate apparel, women's clothing, and footwear.

Old Time Pottery a chain of about 30 stores in about 10 states in the South and Midwest selling discounted closeout and overstock housewares, silk flowers, framed art, linens, rugs, craft supplies, seasonal merchandise, and more. The company gets its inventory, which it displays in a warehouse-type setting, from the canceled orders and excess stock of manufacturers. And it needs lots of inventory, as stores average about 2 acres in size. Founded in 1986, Old Time Pottery is controlled by the Peterson family. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2009 and exited it in August 2010.

Since its founding in 1889, the firm has developed the boysenberry along with varieties of peaches, oranges, roses, and the patented Hotbiscus Hibiscus and Wadda Tomato. In addition to its 100-acre nursery, the company has about 30 retail garden centers that operate under the Armstrong banner in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as about 15 Pike Nurseries locations in Atlanta and North Carolina. Its stores carry shrubs, flowering plants, fruit trees, and vegetables, as well as an assortment of dirt, planters, and garden tools. Company employees own 100% of Armstrong Garden Centers. It's strange to think that any company "invented" a fruit, but Armstrong Garden Centers does just that.

Antiques on East State operates one of the largest antiques malls in the Midwest, offering finds from the Civil War era, 19th century Europe, and other places and times past. Spanning about 20,000 sq. ft., the mall houses more than 90 antiques dealer booths and consignment showcases that feature fine china, art and photographs, books, jewelry and watches, furniture, and coins, among other collectibles. Antiques on East State hosts events throughout the year, including end-of-season markets and appraisal fairs. The company was founded in 2007.

Color Spot gives a green thumbs up to more than 2,000 retail and commercial customers in the Western and Southwestern United States. The wholesale nursery distributes high quality bedding plants, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, premium blooming plants, ground cover, and ornamentals. Color Spot also provides in-store merchandising, product displays, promotional planning, and product reordering services to customers such as Home Depot, Lowes, K-Mart, Rite-Aid, Wal Mart, Kroger, Longs and many more.The Color Spot family is committed to excellence and the success of its customers and the consumers of their products. Success is built upon exceptional quality products, superior customer service and merchandising, and excellent distribution systems. Color Spot Nurseries has the largest and most experienced sales and marketing team in the industry. Our commitment to quality runs throughout every facet of our business, from planting, to insect and disease control, to customer service and order entry, to trucking and delivering. Color Spot is truly "growing for its customers," operating 10 production facilities throughout California and Texas.

Founded in 1952 as Holmes Door & Lumber Co., the business was acquired by family-owned Carter Lumber of Kent, Ohio in 2004, adding Holmes' operations to its 200-plus stores in 10 states. Try building a home -- or any other structure -- without the products that Holmes Lumber supplies. The building materials retailer sells lumber, blocks, bricks, cabinets, doors, paneling, ceiling tiles, hardware, and other building materials to professional contractors and consumers at three Holmes Lumber and Building Centers in Hartville, Millersburg, and Sugarcreek Ohio.

TAKKT AG wants office decor to have some tact. The mail-order company sells office furniture, equipment, fixtures, and supplies. TAKKT also peddles retail display cases and warehouse equipment, such as shelving, carts, containers, ladders, and conveyor belts. The company primarily operates through three divisions: KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA, K + K America, and TopdeQ. (K + K America owns C&H Distributors, Hubert, and National Business Furniture). TAKKT companies sell more than 130,000 products via online or printed catalogs. The company distributes more than 70 million catalogs in North America, Europe, and Asia each year. Franz Haniel & Cie. owns more than 70% of the company.

Variety is not only the spice of life -- it's also a major purveyor of deeply discounted merchandise. With some 425 stores in about 15 Southeastern states, Variety Wholesalers has survived even Wal-Mart's march through rural America. The company, which has aggressively bought other chains while closing poorly performing stores, tends to set up shop in small towns where the retail giants fear to tread. Its retail outlets sell beauty products, housewares, snacks, toys and more, under banners including Bargain Town, Maxway, Roses, and Super 10. Variety Wholesalers was founded in 1949 by James Pope; the Pope family, including chairman and CEO Art Pope, still runs the company.

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates department stores in the mid-size and metropolitan markets of the United States. Its stores offer brand-name apparel and accessories for women, men, and children, as well as provide cosmetics, home furnishings, footwear, intimate apparel, and juniors' apparel. As of January 30, 2010, the company operated 278 stores under various nameplates, including the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, and Younkers in 23 northeastern, midwestern, and upper Great Plains states; and under the Parisian nameplate in Detroit, Michigan.

The Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of men’s suits in the United States and Canada. The company operates its retail apparel stores under Men’s Wearhouse, Men’s Wearhouse and Tux, and K&G brand names in 47 states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia. It operates its stores in Canada under the brand name Moores Clothing for Men. The company’s Men’s Wearhouse, Men’s Wearhouse and Tux, and Moores Clothing for Men apparel stores offer designer, brand name, and private label merchandise, including suits, sport coats, slacks, formal wear, business casual, sportswear, outerwear, dress shirts, shoes, accessories, and tuxedo rentals. The company’s K&G stores offer men's and ladies’ apparel, including tailored clothing, casual sportswear, dress furnishings, children’s clothing, footwear, and accessories. As of January 30, 2010, the company operated 1259 retail stores, which include 1142 stores in the United States and 117 stores in Canada. In addition, it operates a corporate apparel and uniform program in the Houston, Texas; and a retail dry cleaning and laundry business. The Men’s Wearhouse was founded in 1974 and is based in Houston, Texas.

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