Claire's Accessories UK, like its US parent company Claire's Stores, sells costume jewelry, handbags, and hair accessories largely to the 7- to 14-year-old set through about 430 stores throughout England and Ireland. It also markets accessories to late teens and twenty-somethings through its Icing stores. The company's stores are primarily located in shopping malls and on high streets. Claire's Stores opened its first shop in the UK in 1996 and has since extended its reach to other European countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.

The firm was founded by Bill Crutchfield in 1974 and was one of the first electronics retailers to launch an e-commerce site. In 2009 it launched a mobile version of its site. Crutchfield's catalog is mailed to about 6 million households. Crutchfield wants you to lean on it when choosing consumer electronics. The company sells high-tech wares via its website, catalog, and two retail stores in Virginia. Its products include TVs, DVD players, stereos, gaming systems, digital cameras and camcorders, and MP3 players. Crutchfield also sells automotive audio and video products, such as speakers, amplifiers, overhead screens, and navigation systems. It carries major brands, including Sony, Bose, Pioneer, and Kenwood.

Kowalski's Markets is struggling to expand while it straps on its leather boxing mitts. The company, which operates about 10 supermarkets in the St. Paul and Minneapolis area of Minnesota, wants to be a heavyweight contender among high-end grocery stores there. However, stiff competition from other grocery chains and discounters have limited Kowalski's share of the Twin Cities market to just under 2%: an eighth-place ranking in the market. Indeed competition led the grocer to close a one-year-old store several years ago. Founded by husband and wife team James and Mary Anne Kowalski as a single supermarket in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1983, the regional grocery chain is still owned and run by the Kowalski family.

Howden Joinery Group Plc makes its kitchen cabinets, doors, and complete kitchens at a pair of factories in the UK. At Howden Joinery, kitchens and joinery hold the keys to the castle. The company in September 2010 renamed itself to reflect its fast-growing Howden Joinery subsidiary (founded in 1995). The firm operates some 450 outlets in the UK and France that cater to the local building trade. Operating under the Howdens banner, the retailer debuted stores in France in 2008 and today operates about a dozen outlets there. Ultimately, Howden Joinery expects the two countries to support at least 600 Howdens locations.

What do adventurers Ted Baker and J. Peterman have in common? They're both charming, slick, stylish (of course), and sheer fabrications of marketing. British clothier Ted Baker is the official outfitter of trendy lads in the UK. For men on the go, Ted makes a wrinkle-proof suit, an anti-bacterial shirt, and a bed-in-a-box linen set whose pillows contain a special condom pocket. For the birds and the nippers, there are Ted Baker Woman, Teddy Boy, and Teddy Girl. Accessories include skinwear, fragrances, eyewear, and watches. Ted has about 70 retail shops located in the UK and internationally; "his" clothes can also be found in about 125 other stores. CEO Raymond Kelvin owns about 40% of Ted Baker.

Replacement Parts works Bumper to Bumper. Replacement Parts company's subsidiary Crow-Burlingame operates about 160 stores under the Bumper To Bumper banner in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Replacement Parts also distributes auto parts through three Parts Warehouses in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The company was founded in 1919 by grocer J.G. Burlingame and candy salesman William Robert Crow, grandfather of president Fletcher Lord Jr. The duo first entered the auto business by purchasing new cars in St. Louis and driving them around Little Rock to attract buyers. Employees own about 15% of Replacement Parts through its stock ownership program.

Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer in the action sports, fashion, and music influences of the California lifestyle. The company sells casual apparel; and a selection of accessories and footwear to teens and young adults. It operates mall-based chain of retail stores under the Pacific Sunwear and PacSun names. Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. also operates an e-commerce Website at pacsun.com, which sells PacSun merchandise online. As of January 30, 2010, it leased and operated 894 stores in 50 states and Puerto Rico. Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is based in Anaheim, California.

Agri-Starts was founded in 1984 by owners Randall Strode and Gerri Abner. Agri-Starts produces and wholesales tissue culture liners and micro cuttings. Put more simply, the company clones plants. The cloning process begins with a single growing tip cut from a plant. From this cut thousands of small plants are grown on a gelled nutrient-rich medium with growth regulators in a temperature- and light-controlled environment. Once the plants are large enough to harvest, Agri-Starts sells them as liners in cell packs to nurseries worldwide. The company maintains about 1,300 plant varieties, and its specialties include elephant ears, bananas, blueberries, and coleus plants.

Established in 1999, the privately-owned company is headed by Dan Williams. Internet retailer Toolbarn.com has the power to supply tools and tool accessories anywhere they're needed. Toolbarn.com, (which is the main operating company of Tighton Tools & Fasteners, Inc.) sells a variety of power and hand tools and accessories to home owners, contractors, and construction companies. The company provides everything from nails to jackhammers made by major tool and specialty tool manufactures the likes of DeWalt and Makita. Toolbarn.com also offers repair services and operates Toolpartsdirect.com, a separate Web site dedicated to selling parts for tools.

Established in 1985, Northern Reflections has become a trusted brand known for our fashionable, unique clothing designed to comfortably fit and flatter a woman’s body. We began with one store in Guelph, Ontario, and today have over 160 stores coast to coast. Our exclusively-designed collections, flare for colour and our comfort-tailored garments have built a very loyal following. Our friendly and knowledgeable Store Associates, and the overall brand experience, turn customers into long time friends. The Northern Reflections team is passionate about creating one-of-a-kind items and beautiful collections that reflect current fashion trends. We are devoted to developing superb quality fabrics, finishes and details in every style we produce. When entering a Northern Reflections store, that season’s latest fashions and colour pallets are instantly visible, and our Store Associates are there to help our customers put together great fitting, figure flattering, versatile looks that will enhance every wardrobe.

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