H&M opened its first women's clothing store in 1947 as Hennes (Swedish for "hers"); it later bought the hunting and men's clothing store Mauritz Widforss. H&M is controlled by the family of chairman Stefan Persson (the billionaire son of founder Erling Persson). H&M Hennes & Mauritz targets the Hip & Modish. The firm designs cheap yet chic clothing, mainly for men and women ages 18 to 45, children's apparel, and its own brands of cosmetics. Fast-growing H&M operates about 2,000 stores in some 35 countries and has direct sales operations in selected areas. Germany is H&M's #1 market, accounting for about 25% of sales. About 60% of its clothing is made in Asia, the rest is manufactured primarily in Europe.

Dreams Plc sells mattresses, divan sets, children's beds, bed frames, and bedding through more than 200 stores across the UK as well as online. Mattresses are manufactured at Dreams' own production facilities. The company also offers recycling service for used bedding. In 1985 Mike Clare began building on his own dreams with his first specialty bed and bedding store in Uxbridge. He sold Dreams to London-based Exponent Private Equity in 2008.

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States. Its stores offer new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, including alternators, starters, fuel pumps, water pumps, brake system components, batteries, belts, hoses, chassis parts, and engine parts; maintenance items comprising oil, antifreeze, fluids, filters, wiper blades, lighting, engine additives, and appearance products; accessories consisting of floor mats, seat covers, and truck accessories; and a line of auto body paint and related materials, automotive tools, and professional service equipment. The company’s stores sell a selection of brand name and private label products for domestic and imported automobiles, vans, and trucks to do-it-yourself customers and professional installers. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 3,421 stores. O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.

IGA grocers are independent, but not alone. The world's largest voluntary supermarket network, IGA has 6,200 stores in more than 40 countries worldwide, including about 1,350 in the US. Collectively, its members are among North America's leaders in terms of supermarket sales. IGA (which stands for either International or Independent Grocers Alliance, the company says) is owned by about 35 worldwide distribution companies, including SUPERVALU. Members can sell IGA-brand private-label products (over 2,300 items) and take advantage of joint operations and services, such as advertising and volume buying. Some stores in the IGA alliance, which primarily caters to smaller towns, also sell gas.

Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furnishings offers high-end furnishings in a variety of styles -- ranging from traditional to contemporary and from casual to refined -- for your living room, dining room, family room, bedroom, and home office. Gabberts' 63,000-square-foot store in Edina, Minnesota employs in-house interior designers, which it considers a competitive advantage. Founded in 1946 by Don Gabbert as a tire and appliance store, the company was owned and run by the Gabbert family until it was acquired by HOM Furniture in 2008. Gabberts' new owner continues to operate the business under the Gabberts banner.

Founded in 1963, Leslie's is majority owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners. Leslie's Poolmart is the big fish of pool product retailers. The company sells pool and spa chemicals, cleaning and testing equipment, pumps, covers, and recreational items through some 620 stores in some 35 states, mostly in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. The company also sells its products through catalogs and its website. Leslie's makes chlorine tablets and repackages other chemicals to be sold under the Leslie name as well. Pool chemicals, major equipment, and parts account for a majority of the company's sales.

Bradfords Building Supplies Ltd. was founded in 1770 by William Bradford, and today is run by his great, great, great grandson chairman Peter Bradford. From pressboard to brads, and everything in between, Bradfords Building Supplies offers builders things to swing hammers at, with, and on. Operating through about 25 branches in England, Bradfords Building Supplies provides contractors with appliances, bricks, decking, doors, electrical items, insulation, lumber, nails and screws, paint, plumbing and heating fixtures and equipment, roofing, safety wear, tools, and other construction or related materials. Bradfords also offers tool hire at about 10 branches. It also operates a company retail Web site.

Ritz Interactive was founded by Chairman David Ritz and CEO Fred Lerner in 1999. It's separate from Ritz Camera Centers, which filed for bankruptcy in 2009. Ritz Interactive is all over the Web. The company, a network of e-commerce Web sites, sells digital cameras and photographic products, as well as marine, boating, and fishing gear, through e-retailers, including RitzCamera.com, WolfCamera.com, and BoatersWorld.com. The company also owns and operates a handful of content-based community portals, such as Photography.com and BoatingOnly.com. Its Ritz Interactive Big Print Gallery allows users to upload digital images, view images posted by other community members, and rate photos or post commentary.

Lawtons Drugs' core values reflect the commitment and convictions of our parent company, Sobeys Inc., which have helped shape our company over the past 100 years. Lawtons Drugs is an integral part of the Sobeys business. Since our 1907 beginning as a small pharmacy in Halifax, Lawtons Drugs has portrayed integrity, commitment to its employees, and a desire to consistently exceed customer expectations in service, value and product selection. Lawtons Drugs has since grown to over 65 locations in Atlantic Canada with plans to expand even further. We have services though our PROfile programs to complement customers’ prescriptions and help them manage their family’s medication and health care needs. Lawtons Drugs has a full line of health care, beauty, convenience, and giftware products to suit everyone’s needs.MHCSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawtons Drugs. They are a leading benefit pharmacy provider to both small and large businesses. They offer savings on prescription drugs and health care products for plan sponsors and members. MHCSI programs include cost-effective plan administration, and pay-direct claims using preferred network solutions featuring mail order with Sobeys Pharmacy by Mail. They cover individualized health risk assessments, disease state management programs, nutrition consultation, medication management, and other pharmacy services to support member health outcomes. Visit MHCSI's website to discover the difference.

Sapp Bros Travel Centers (formerly Sapp Bros Truck Stops) has the usual air, gas, food, but also offers human conveniences such such as laundry rooms, mailbox rentals, private showers, and TV lounges. The company operates a chain of some 15 truck stops -- readily identifiable by the giant red-and-white coffeepot logo -- along interstate highways from Utah to Pennsylvania; with a concentration in Nebraska. Half of the locations also operate service centers, offering oil changes, new tires, and safety checks. Its sister company, Sapp Bros Petroleum, distributes petroleum products in Nebraska and western Iowa. The firm is run by CEO Bill Sapp, one of the four founding Sapp brothers.

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