Mikimoto opened its first freestanding store on New York City's famous Fifth Avenue in 1975. In addition to its Fifth Avenue location, Mikimoto operates retail stores in Beverly Hills and Costa Mesa, California, as well as in Las Vegas. The jeweler also operates an online store. Mikimoto company also distributes non-Mikimoto brand pearls to jewelry chains including Fred Meyer Jewelers, Kay Jewelers, and Zales. Kokichi Mikimoto was among the pioneers of the cultured-pearl industry. While a diamond may be "forever," a Mikimoto pearl is nothing to sneeze at. Mikimoto (America) is the US arm of Japanese pearl manufacturer, K. Mikimoto & Co., a leading creator of cultured pearl jewelry that is sold worldwide.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) runs more than 3,100 facilities -- including PXs and BXs (Base Exchanges) -- at US Army and Air Force bases in more than 30 countries (including Iraq), all 50 US states, and five US territories. Its presence ranges from tents to shopping centers, including 180 retail stores, 1,000 fast-food outlets (brands like Burger King and Taco Bell), movie theaters, beauty shops, and gas stations. AAFES serves active-duty military personnel, reservists, retirees, and their family members. Although it's a government agency under the DOD, it receives less than 5% of its funding from the department.

The business was established in 1981. Got floors? Tri-West's got you covered. The company distributes various floor coverings through nearly 10 warehouses located in the western US (Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) and the Hawaiian Islands. In addition to those states, Tri-West also serves customers in Texas and Guam. Tri-West offers carpets, ceramic and specialty tile, hardwood flooring, laminate and vinyl flooring, and eco-friendly products (recycled rubber tiles, bamboo flooring) from major manufacturers. It also carries adhesives and tools.

Retail Ventures, Inc. through its subsidiary, DSW Inc., operates as a specialty branded footwear retailer in the United States. Retail Ventures, Inc., through DSW stores and dsw.com, offers a selection of branded dress, casual, and athletic footwear and accessories for women and men. As of January 30, 2010, it operated 305 DSW shoe stores in 39 states. Retail Ventures, Inc. also supplied shoes to 356 locations for non-related retailers. Retail Ventures, Inc. was founded in 1917 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

Family Christian Stores,a leading Christian retailer in the US, Family Christian Stores boasts about 290 stores in about 35 states. The company sells a variety of Christian-themed merchandise, including Bibles and other Christian books, music, software, gifts, cards, videos, apparel, and church supplies. Customers can also buy products through the company's catalog and website. Family Christian has grown through new store openings and acquisitions (including chains Joshua's Christian Stores and Shepherd Shoppe). The investment firm Madison Dearborn owns a majority stake in Family Christian Stores.

Lookers sells the kind of cars that get noticed. The company operates through about 100 franchised auto dealerships in the UK. It also does business as the Charles Hurst Group in England and Northern Ireland and as Taggarts in Scotland. The company sells new and used vehicles from such brands as Aston Martin, Bentley, Citroën, Honda, Jeep, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Lookers also sells motorcycles from two dealerships. In addition to its franchise operations, the company's business lines include aftermarket auto parts (FPS Distribution) and used car supermarkets (Bristol Trade Centre and Ian Shipton Cars). Lookers was founded in 1908. Millionaire car trader Tony Bramall holds about a 20% stake in the company.

YBP Library Services helps academic, community, and research libraries find all kinds of books, including electronic books. The company offers a Web-based tool called GOBI (Global Online Bibliographic Information) that provides its customers with a wide array of acquisitions and collection management services connected to a database some 2 million English-language titles. Founded in 1971, YBP works closely with its parent company, Baker & Taylor Corporation (the top wholesale book distributor in the US), and benefits from B&T's large inventory. YBP's UK-based Lindsay and Croft subsidiary offers similar services to the worldwide academic and research library market.

Altrec Inc. online retailer, which does business as Altrec.com, offers equipment, apparel, and accessories for camping, backpacking, hiking, running, winter sports, and other outdoor activities. Its website, which aims to inspire, offers live online shopping assistance and product suggestions to promote life in the wild. Altrec.com fulfills customer orders from warehouse supplies and through manufacturer-direct shipments. It is the retail arm of sister company Greatoutdoors.com, a provider of adventure articles and outdoor news.

Elegant Illusions, Inc. engages in the retail created gem jewelry business. As of February 7, 2007, it operated 17 specialty stores in the continental United States. Elegant Illusions, Inc. offers fine jewelry and replications of fine jewelry, known as copy jewelry items that are manufactured with synthetic stones set in gold, sterling silver vermeil, or plated brass. Its stores offer a range of jewelry, including rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pearl enhancers, ear charms, sterling silver vermeil, and gold bonded brass or white metal products; and other precious metals set with precious and semi-precious stones and certain gift ware items. The company also sells original oil paintings, lithographs, reproductions, and other art through its art galleries in Sarasota, Florida; Vail, Colorado; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Elegant Illusions, Inc. was incorporated in 1988 and is based in Pacific Grove, California.

Golfsmith International caters to country club sports fans. Through its catalogs, website, and more than 70 stores in about 20 states, the company sells golf and tennis equipment, apparel, and accessories from major makers (such as TaylorMade-adidas, Callaway, Mizuno, and Nike) and its own brands (Golfsmith, Clubmaker, Killer Bee, J.G. Hickory, Lynx, and ZTech, among others). It also teaches golfers to assemble their own clubs, and offers custom fitting and repair services for clubs and racquets. In addition to its retail operations, Golfsmith runs the Harvey Penick Golf Academy, an instructional school for golfers in Texas. The company was founded in 1967 as a mail-order seller of custom-made golf clubs.

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