James Halstead was founded in 1915. The Halstead family still retains control of more than half of James Halstead plc company's ownership, while company employees account for more than 10% of ownership. James Halstead wants to give the floor over to its customers. James Halstead manufactures, markets, and distributes products that include commercial flooring, industrial trailers and trailer tents, and motorcycle accessories. Customers include hospitals, pubs, prisons and schools. James Halstead plc operates mainly in the UK and Germany, but also in Australia and New Zealand.

Auto Sound Company, Inc. was founded in 1971. Auto Sound hopes car buyers automatically want better sound and plenty of fancy gadgets. The company sells vehicle accessories, including car audio components, mobile video units, navigation equipment, leather seating, and alarm systems, at its two locations in Middleton and Plainville, Massachusetts, as well as online. Auto Sound also offers custom grillwork, running boards, brush guards, and taillights, along with sunroofs and remote starters. Its Web site includes information on which safety devices qualify drivers for auto insurance discounts.

Poundland wants its customers to care as much as it does about the value of British Sterling. Founded in 1990, Poundland is the UK's leading single-price retailer with 260-plus storefronts throughout Britain and plans to add 50 more in 2010/2011. Its typical 3,000 products offered range from drinks to household goods, with more large-size manufacturers coming on board each year. In 2002 then chief executive David Dodd led a management buy-out backed by venture capitalist Advent International.

Formed by the 1997 merger of Cotter & Company (which supplied the True Value chain) and ServiStar Coast to Coast, the retailer-owned hardware cooperative serves more than 5,000 retail outlets in some 55 countries. Stores offer home improvement and garden supplies, as well as appliances, housewares, sporting goods, and toys. In addition to the flagship True Value banner, members operate under the names of Taylor Rental, Grand Rental Station, Home & Garden Showplace, and Induserve Supply, among others. True Value also manufactures its own brand of paints. To survive against home improvement giants such as The Home Depot and Lowe's, True Value (formerly TruServ) is relying on the true value of service.

Oddbins has been struggling financially and has been closing unprofitable stores. Founded in 1963, the company was acquired by its smaller rival Ex Cellar in August 2008. (Ex Cellar bought the chain from a subsidiary of French group Castel Frères)Whether you're looking for a whole bin or just an odd bottle, Oddbins likely sells your libation of choice. The specialty retailer sells a wide assortment of wines and spirits through some 130 Oddbins stores across the UK and Ireland, a single shop in Calais, France, and online. The managers of local stores are encouraged to promote particular labels based on their own tastes in wine; the company is known for the wine expertise of the staff in its stores.

Kwik Trip operates about 350 Kwik Trip and Kwik Star convenience stores throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The company also runs several Hearty Platter restaurants, about 40 Tobacco Outlet Plus (TOP) cigar stores, and car washes at some Kwik Trip store locations. All Kwik Trip stores built since 1990 are owned by Convenience Store Investments, a separate company, which leases the land and stores to Kwik Trip. Kwik Trip, which opened its first store in 1965 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is owned by the family of CEO Don Zietlow.

A leading home furnishings retailer, Value City Furniture (VCF) is operated by American Signature and is part of its network of some 130 superstores in 20 US states in the East, Midwest, and Southeast. It offers furniture for the bedroom, dining room, and living room, as well as mattresses, bedding, and other accessories. VCF stores feature furnishings from more than 30 manufacturers and even carry American Signature's private-label furniture and bedding. The retailer also peddles its wares online. Founded in 1948, VCF is owned by holding company Schottenstein Stores.

Other World Computing (OWC) has been providing quality hardware products and support to the computer industry since 1988 and features one of the largest online catalogs of computer, iPod, and iPhone enhancement products through its e-commerce portal www.macsales.com. As an Apple Certified Developer, OWC also provides extensive US based technical support for Macintosh users around the world as well as Internet access via www.fastermac.net and www.owc.net. OWC's industry awards and recognition include: Crain's Chicago Business 2009 "Fast 50" List of 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Chicago Area; Computerworld Magazine Top Green-IT Companies for 2008; Inc. 5,000 Top 100 Computers & Electronics Companies 2007 to 2009; and McHenry County Economic Development Corporation 2008 Business Champion Award.By activating an on-site wind turbine in October 2009 at its Woodstock, IL corporate headquarters, OWC became the first technology manufacturer/distributor in U.S. to become 100% on-site wind powered. The turbine cleanly generates more net energy than is consumed by OWC's operations and datacenter. OWC's leadership role in environmental stewardship was officially acknowledged in March 2010, when the Other World Computing corporate campus was awarded LEED Platinum Certification by the Green Building Certification Institute. Platinum is the highest achievable level of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Program, which began in 1998. Out of more than 14,000 LEED projects engaged worldwide since the program's inception, OWC is one ofless than three hundred to achieve the Platinum standard. With this recognition, OWC also became the first privately owned light manufacturing/assembly building in Illinois to obtain LEED Platinum status.

Big Lots, Inc. is the nation's #1 broadline closeout retailer, with some 1,360 Big Lots stores (down from a high of 1,500 at the start of 2005) in 47 states. (More than one-third of its stores are located in California, Florida, Ohio, and Texas.) It sells a variety of brand-name products that have been overproduced, returned, discontinued, or result from liquidations, typically at 20%-40% below discounters' prices, as well as private-label items and furniture. Its wholesale division, Big Lots Wholesale, sells its discounted merchandise to a variety of retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and other wholesalers.

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.

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