The Athlete's Foot® is the world's first franchisor of athletic footwear stores and is recognized today as the world leader in athletic footwear franchising. Robert and David Lando opened the first The Athlete's Foot® store in 1971 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was the first athletic footwear specialty store of its kind in the United States. Soon thereafter, The Athlete's Foot® began franchising domestically, with the first franchise store opening in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The first international franchise store opened in 1978 in Adelaide, Australia, the beginning of The Athlete's Foot® expansion into over 40 countries.

Aerogroup International wants ladies to feel like they're walking on air or, at least, feel like buying a pair of its Aerosoles. The company designs women's footwear under the Aerosoles, What's What, A2, Aerology, Sole A, and Flexation brands. Its shoes are sold in more than 250 Aerosoles stores in the US and abroad, as well as by catalog, Web site, and through thousands of department and specialty stores (such as Kohl's, Macy's, and Boscov's). Originally a division of Kenneth Cole, CEO Jules Schneider got together a group of investors and took the business private in 1987.

Molbak's, LLC company was founded by Danish immigrants Egon and Laina Molbak and is now owned by their son, Jens Molbak, who founded Coinstar in 1988. While Molbak might sound like something you'd want to get out of your garden, Molbak's is all about being in the garden. The company operates a nursery and gift shop in Washington that retails bulbs, garden and nursery plants, indoor plants, seeds, and other gardening-related products like statuary, outdoor furniture, floral arrangements, and gift items. It grows about 80% of its products on 36 acres near its headquarters and retail store. Molbak's also hosts horticultural classes and seminars and offers custom design services for parties or outdoor landscaping.

Fresh Encounter was founded in 1995 by Mike Needler when he purchased CWC Companies from his father-in-law. Today, the business is owned and run by the Needler family.They aren't offering encounters of the third kind, but they can help you out with a carton of milk and a loaf of bread. Fresh Encounter operates 30-plus supermarkets in Ohio and eastern Indiana under the Community Markets, Fulmer Community Markets, Great Scot Community Markets, and Sack 'N Save Supermarket banners. To better compete with larger national chains, such as Kroger and Wal-Mart, Fresh Encounter's stores emphasize personalized service, 10 for $10 items specials, fresh-cut meat, community involvement, and private label products.

Groupe Samse (formerly Society Samse SA) is helping build France. Samse is one of the country's top wholesale distributors of building and do-it-yourself materials, with about 250 outlets, serving some 260,000 customers across two dozen French provinces. It operates two commercial business segments: multi-specialists (supplying technical solutions to building professionals) and specialists (targeting building and public works professionals). Its third segment, do-it-yourself, caters to individual rather than commercial clients. Through La Boite a Outils and and Entrepot du Bricolage retail stores, Samse sells a variety of home building and improvement products similar to The Home Depot and Lowe's in the US.

Connor Co. was founded as Kinsey & Mahler, a brass valve manufacturer, in 1850. It became Connor Co. in 1936. Goldilocks would like Connor Co. If it's too hot or too cold, the heating and A/C company can make it just right. Through about 20 locations in Illinois and one in St. Louis, the company distributes heating and air conditioning equipment along with boilers, fittings, furnaces, pipes, pumps, valves, wells, and other industrial equipment. Connor company also conducts its business online. Connor Co. boasts sheet metal fabrication and valve automation facilities and peddles Kohler products within its showrooms in many locations.

Founded in 1929, Fisher Auto Parts is owned by the Fisher family and run by CEO Bo Fisher. Though it hooks a lot of do-it-yourselfers, Fisher Auto Parts is primarily trying to lure the professional installer. The company operates through about 300 stores in some 15 states (mostly on the East Coast and in the Midwest). It is also the founding member of Federated Auto Parts, an automotive supply distribution network that serves more than 3,800 retail locations. Fisher Auto Parts provides for do-it-yourselfers, but its business focus is on professional installers. To enhance service for them, company workers are Automotive Service Excellence certified.

Debenhams has 153 stores across the UK and Ireland and a fully transactional website, reflecting Debenhams' commitment to offering our customers greater value, a wider choice and excellent service across every area in which we trade.Debenhams has sat front-row to fashion for nearly two centuries. The stalwart retailer runs about 155 mid-market department stores in the UK and Ireland that sell women's, men's, and children's apparel; cosmetics; and housewares under the Debenhams and Desire by Debenhams banners.

Co-op is Britain's largest funeral service provider. Established in 1863, Co-operative Group boasts 5.5 million members.Co-operative Group cares for its customers from the cradle to the grave. The hodgepodge of businesses run by the world's largest cooperative society includes farming, food and drug stores, travel agencies, banking, insurance, financial and legal services, and funerals. It's the UK's largest commercial farming operation and its fifth-largest grocery retailer with some 3,000 food stores. Overall, it operates about 4,800 outlets on high streets throughout the UK. Financial services include insurance, investment and retirement planning, as well as traditional and online banking.

DSW Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a footwear specialty retailer in the United States. It offers dress, casual, and athletic footwear for women and men, as well as accessories, handbags, and hosiery. DSW Inc. also sells shoes and accessories through dsw.com. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 305 DSW shoe stores; and 356 leased shoe departments for other retailers. DSW Inc. was formerly known as Shonac Corporation and changed its name to DSW Inc. in February 2005. DSW Inc. was incorporated in 1969 and is based in Columbus, Ohio. As of January 31, 2009, DSW Inc. operated as a subsidiary of Retail Ventures, Inc.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.