Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermarkte serves do-it-yourselfers and other practical types. Praktiker (practitioner or enthusiast in English) is Germany's #2 do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement retailer with about 340 Praktiker, Max Bahr, and extra BAU + HOBBY stores in Germany and another 90 Praktiker shops in eight mostly Eastern European countries (it goes by batiself in Luxembourg). Germany accounts for two-thirds of Praktiker's sales but growth comes from international locations. The discount stores sell name brand and private label items and host DIY classes. Praktiker offers bathroom fixtures, building materials, electrical and gardening items, hardware, paint, tools, wallpaper, and wood products.

Waxman Industries takes plumbing repairs out of the toilet. Faucets and showers are just a few of the thousands of specialty plumbing and floor- and surface-protection products the company makes and distributes. Customers include do-it-yourself warehouse stores, home improvement centers, and mass merchandisers. Its WAMI Sales division distributes a wide portfolio of products, such as pipes and values, to industrial supply and wholesale operators in the US. Beyond American borders, Waxman operates internationally through its TWI International subsidiary, and its Waxman Consumer Products Group runs more than 10 manufacturing centers in Asia.

Founded in 1945, the company is owned by the family of president Steve Cook. Northeastern Supply keeps its little corner of the world cozy. Through about 30 locations in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, the company distributes air conditioning, heating, plumbing, ventilation, and water system equipment along with fixtures and hardware to contractors and other building professionals. Major suppliers include American Standard, Bradford White, Delta, Elkay, Jacuzzi, and Moen. Northeastern also offers online credit applications, electronic funds transfers, and e-mail invoicing to its customers.

GLENTEL (TSX: GLN) is a leading provider of innovative and reliable telecommunications services and solutions in Canada and the United States. Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Burnaby, BC, GLENTEL comprises three operating divisions – Retail Canada, Retail US and Business – that service thousands of consumers and commercial communications customers. The company operates more than 280 stores across Canada as well as 138 mall stores in the United States. GLENTEL's Retail Division consists of three consumer brands in Canada: WIRELESSWAVE/WAVE SANS FIL, Tbooth wireless/la cabine T sans fil, and WIRELESS etc./SANS-FIL etc. providing wireless and wired communications products and services as well as a choice of cellular brands to consumers through retail malls and Costco Wholesale stores. With locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, GLENTEL is now one of the largest multi-carrier retailers in Canada. Through its Diamond Wireless locations, it offers Verizon Premium Retailer service in the US. GLENTEL’s Business Division, with branches across Canada, provides integrated wireless solutions for public safety, government and business customers. These solutions include designing and commissioning wireless networks for commercial applications in three core areas: terrestrial radio systems, satellite network services, and advanced mobile solutions. With more than four decades of experience in wireless communications, GLENTEL has the largest technical staff of its kind in Canada to develop, install and support a broad range of end-to-end solutions. GLENTEL has been publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange since June 1, 1983, and is headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia.

The Dress Barn, Inc. operates a chain of women's apparel and tween girls’ specialty stores. Its stores primarily offer casual clothing products, career wear products, suit separates, outerwear and footwear products, intimates, and accessories, as well as lifestyle products, such as bedroom furnishings and electronics. The company operates stores under the dressbarn, maurices, and Justice brand names. As of July 31, 2010, it operated 2,477 stores in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, including 887 Justice stores, 757 maurices stores, and 833 dressbarn stores. The Dress Barn, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Suffern, New York.

SmartLabs brings high-tech comforts home with the push of a button. Its SmartLabs Technology unit creates electronic automation and remote control products for lighting, security systems, theater equipment, and other home management systems. The SmartLabs Design division designs and produces its INSTEON wireless technology line, as well as offers original equipment manufacturing services. Reaching consumers in some 130 countries, SmartLabs' Smarthome business markets more than 5,000 electronic home improvement products online, by phone, and through catalogs. President and CEO Joe Dada founded the company in 1992.

Founded in 1977, Speedy has grown to become the UK's largest operator of tool rental locations. If work slows down because tools are lacking, construction workers can go to Speedy Hire. The company rents tools and building equipment to companies, contractors, DIY consumers, the government, and utilities through some 400 outlets in the UK and Ireland. The company hires out access towers, drills, generators, heaters, pumps, and woodworking tools, among other items. Its some 60 lifting depots rent joists, jacks, and below-the-hook material-handling equipment. In 2007 Speedy Hire acquired the tool rental business of Hewden Stuart Plc, adding more than 180 locations to its network of depots across the UK.

Japanese take the family to FamilyMart, the country's #3 convenience store chain behind market leader Seven-Eleven Japan and LAWSON. About half of the fast-growing company's 15,000 stores are in Japan. FamilyMart also operates shops in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US. The chain opened its first store in Shanghai in 2004 and has grown to number about 220 stores in China. FamilyMart entered the US market in 2005 and now operates about 15 upscale convenience stores in the Los Angeles area under the Famima banner. Many more are planned. To further strengthen its retail network, FamilyMart in December 2009 acquired smaller rival am/pm Japan Co. from owner REX Holdings.

Shoppers in Western Canada in search of everything from cough syrup to computers shop London Drugs. London Drugs Limited company is one of Canada's leading pharmacy chains with 70-plus shops in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. London Drugs sells a mix of traditional drugstore products, as well as general merchandise, and computer and home entertainment equipment from large stores (average size 34,000 sq. ft.). Bucking the trend among Canadian pharmacy operators to grow by acquisition, London Drugs is expanding by building new stores and adding new services, such as in-store postal outlets. Chairman Brandt Louie owns London Drugs through family-owned H.Y. Louie Co.

Shoe Carnival, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a footwear retailer. Its stores offer dress and casual shoes, sandals, and boots, as well as a range of athletic shoes, such as running, basketball, and fitness shoes for men, women, children, and athletics. The company also provides accessory items, including handbags, shoe care items, and socks. It owns various registered trademarks and servicemarks, consisting of Shoe Carnival, The Carnival, Donna Lawrence, Oak Meadow, Victoria Spenser, Via Nova, Innocence, Carnival Lites, Y-NOT, UNR8ED, Solanz, and 93 Octane. As of January 30, 2010, the company operated 311 stores in 30 states primarily in the midwest, south, and southeast regions of the United States. Shoe Carnival, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is based in Evansville, Indiana.

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