At Carphone Warehouse, "upward mobility" means calling someone while driving uphill. The firm has more than 2,400 stores in Europe that sell mobile phones, contracts, and services. It operates stores under the Carphone Warehouse banner in the UK and The Phone House in eight other European markets, including France and Spain. Carphone Warehouse also sells Internet access to homes in England and Europe and has begun selling laptops, touch phones, and other mobile devices at a new, larger store format called Wireless World. Founded in 1989 by CEO Charles Dunstone and former director David Ross, Carphone Warehouse sold 50% of its retail business in 2008 and spun off its TalkTalk telecom unit in 2010.

We at Westborn Market take great pride in having served the people of Southeastern Michigan for almost half a century. What was originally a corner fruit stand has grown into an International Marketplace. Today, our stores reflect a unique combination of the freshest produce, choice meats, gourmet groceries, beautiful flowers and fine wines. We provide an extensive list of services, including party trays, catering, fruit baskets, full floral design, and delivery services. We are dedicated to being the best in every category of service we provide. Westborn is a business rooted in proud family tradition, striving to offer nothing but the best quality products for you and your family.

Kirkland's, Inc. operates about 280 stores (down from 350 in 2007) in some 30 states, which stock decorative home accessories and gifts, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, artificial flowers, rugs, garden accessories, and coffee-table books. Kirkland's also offers holiday items during Christmas and Easter. Stores operate under the names Kirkland's and Kirkland's Home. It phased out several Briar Patch by Kirkland's locations in 2008. Kirkland's was founded in 1966 by Carl Kirkland.

Foot Locker, Inc. operates as a retailer of athletic footwear and apparel. Foot Locker, Inc. operates in two segments, Athletic Stores and Direct-to-Customers. The Athletic Stores segment offers athletic footwear and apparel under various formats, including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Footaction, and CCS. This segment offers footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories, as well as casual wear for various activities, including basketball, running, training, walking, toning, and fitness for young males, women, and children. The Direct-to-Customers segment, through its affiliates, sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, team licensed, and private-label merchandise through catalogs and Internet Websites. As of March 9, 2010, Foot Locker, Inc. operated 3,500 stores in North America, Europe, and Australia. It also franchises its Foot Locker stores in the Middle East and the Republic of Korea. As of January 30, 2010, the company had a total of 22 franchised stores. Foot Locker, Inc. was founded in 1879 and is based in New York, New York.

Here's a company that's traveled a fur piece from its 17th- century roots. Founded in 1670 as a fur trading enterprise, Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) is Canada's largest department store chain and oldest corporation. Its Zellers chain is the country's #2 discount department store (behind Wal-Mart Canada), with some 280 stores. HBC also runs about 90 the Bay department stores that focus on more upscale merchandise, 190-plus Fields general merchandise and apparel stores in Western Canada, more than 65 Home Outfitters superstores, and Hbc.com. The company also has its own credit card and financial services companies. HBC is owned by NRDC Equity Partners, which is looking to take the company public as early as 2011.

Groupe Lapeyre is one of France's largest manufacturers and distributors of joinery (doors, windows, and cabinetry). Its business-to-consumer unit includes Lapeyre, which distributes kitchen and bathroom products, as well as exterior and interior doors, windows, staircases, and flooring, through about 130 sales outlets. The division also includes some 180 K par K stores that sell and install windows and verandas, and Gimm, which produces PVC and wooden windows and doors. Its business-to-business unit includes Oxxo and Les Zelles, which produce and sell PVC windows and shutters. Groupe Lapeyre is a part of Saint-Gobain's building distribution division. In France, the doors and windows are always open for Lapeyre.

Zumiez Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of action sports related apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories in the United States. It offers apparel, including tops, bottoms, and outerwear, as well as accessories, such as caps, belts, and sunglasses; footwear consisting of athletic shoes and sandals; equipment, such as skateboards, snowboards, and ancillary gear, such as boots and bindings; and other items, such as miscellaneous novelties and DVDs. The company’s stores serve young men and women between the ages of 12 and 24, focusing on skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, bicycle motocross, and motocross activities. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 377 stores under the Zumiez brand name primarily located in shopping malls in 35 states. In addition, the company sells its products directly through its Web site, zumiez.com. Zumiez Inc. was founded in 1978 and is based in Everett, Washington.

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.

Cash Converters International makes cash advances in return for used merchandise, including electronics, jewelry, musical instruments, tools, and more, which it resells to the public. The second-hand goods retailer and pawnbroker operates about 500 franchised and company-owned stores in its home country of Australia and another 20 countries worldwide, including Canada, the US, and the UK. The company also offers customers cash advances on their paychecks. Stores operate under the Cash Converters banner. Texas-based EZCORP acquired a 30% stake in the firm in 2009.

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.

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