Eternit was formed in 1905 by Alphonse Emsens after Ludwig Hatschek invented fiber enhanced cement and called it Eternit due to its long life. It is owned by Belgian construction materials company Etex. From the roof to the sides to the water flowing in, Eternit has your house covered. The company makes roofing material (fiber cement, natural, and concrete slates; concrete and clay tiles, fiber cement sheets), decorative fiber cement boards and siding, and water treatment microstations. Eternit also makes solar energy roof panels and cement plant containers. Its products are distributed to building contractors throughout Luxembourg and Belgium.

Modern Builders Supply (MBS) is an old hand when it comes to windows and doors. The company, founded in 1944, makes and markets window and door systems through its Polaris Technologies division. The company's brands include Polaris Dynatech and Polaris UltraWeld. MBS also distributes products from other leading manufacturers, including roofing, siding, and accessories (Alcoa, Certainteed, Owens Corning); kitchen components (4B Wood Cabinets, Kraftmaid); entry and storm doors (Pease, Therma-Tru); and tools and equipment (QualCraft, Werner). President and CEO Kevin Leggett runs the company with his brother, COO Eric.

Founded in 1892 as a local hardware store, the retailer was acquired by The Boots Company (now Alliance Boots) in 1989 and sold off in 2002; in 2004 it floated as a publicly traded company for the first time. Halfords Group is more than just mechanically inclined: It serves others who are also DIY mechanics. The retailer sells vehicle maintenance necessities (parts, tools), luxury automobile items (stereos, navigation systems), and travel-related products (car seats, camping equipment), as well as bicycles and related components. Halfords operates about 470 stores across the UK and Ireland, as well as about a half a dozen locations in the Czech Republic and Poland.

American Signature operates about 130 stores in 20 states under the American Signature Furniture and Value City Furniture banners. Stores feature wood and upholstered home furnishing collections, as well as bedding. In addition to its retail operations, American Signature designs and manufactures its own pieces and operates its own warehouses and distribution centers. The American Signature Furniture concept was introduced by parent Schottenstein Stores in 2002, in an effort to expand the company's higher-end offerings.

T.K. Maxx takes bargain-hunting to the max. A subsidiary of US-based TJX Companies, T.K. Maxx is a leading off-price retailer in Europe. Launched in 1994, T.J. Maxx operates about 225 stores in the UK and Ireland and another 10 in Germany. The stores, which measure about 32,000 square feet, sell steeply discounted designer and brand-name apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children; toys; sporting goods; furniture and assorted housewares, among other things. The deep-discount retailer has been expanding its footwear and accessories departments, which now number about 25. Ultimately, T.K. Maxx plans to grow to about 275 stores the UK and Ireland and as many as 300 stores in Germany.

With two locations, Gallery Furniture has evolved into a leading regional furniture retailer, accounting for about 20% of Houston's market share. Gallery Furniture also ranks as one of the nation's top sellers in terms of sales per square foot. In addition to mattresses (Simmons Beautyrest and Tempur-Pedic brands), it sells bedroom, dining room, home office, and living room furniture. The firm was founded in 1981. A fire in May 2009 destroyed its 100,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and damaged its North Freeway showroom.

What's next in style is what concerns NEXT. NEXT plc sells moderately priced clothing for men, women, and children; housewares; and furniture through about 515 stores (including some 25 stand-alone NEXT Home stores) in the UK and Ireland. It also franchises 180-plus stores elsewhere in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and Turkey. NEXT targets customers in their 20s and 30s who are looking for stylish but affordable clothes to take them through the next fashion cycle. Sales comes from its retail stores, its NEXT Directory catalog and website, and Ventura, a division which provides call center and customer support services

Menard is owned by president and CEO John Menard, who founded the company in 1972. If sticks and stones break bones, what can two-by-fours and two-inch nails do? That is what Menard is wondering now that its biggest rivals (#1 home improvement giant The Home Depot and #2 Lowe's) are hammering away at its home turf. One of the largest home improvement chains in the Midwest, Menard has more than 250 stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The stores sell home improvement products, such as floor coverings, hardware, millwork, paint, and tools. Unlike competitors, all the company's stores have full-service lumberyards.

Founded in 1970, Wisenbaker Builder Services has sales and design centers in Dallas, Houston, and San Marcos, Texas. Wisenbaker Builder Services supplies a range of building materials to new home buyers, homeowners, and professional builders. The company's offerings include sinks, window arches and shutters, carpeting, ceramic tile, and wood and vinyl flooring. It also fabricates solid surface, quartz, and granite countertops.

The Wet Seal, Inc., a specialty retailer, operates stores that sell fashionable and contemporary apparel and accessory items designed for female customers. The company operates two primarily mall-based chains of retail stores under the Wet Seal and Arden B names. Its Wet Seal stores provide fashionable and basic apparel, and accessories for teenage girls; and Arden B stores offer contemporary collections of fashion, basic separates, and accessories for the feminine contemporary woman. In addition, the company operates Web-based stores, including wetseal.com that provides Wet Seal merchandise; and ardenb.com, which offers Arden B apparel and accessories. As of May 1, 2010, it had 501 stores, including 422 Wet Seal stores and 79 Arden B stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The Wet Seal, Inc. was founded in 1962 and is based in Foothill Ranch, California.

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.