The Birthdays concept was later launched in 1986. Clinton Cards purchased its rival Birthdays in 2004 and runs the unit as a separate business. Amid economic turmoil and slowed consumer spending, however, Birthdays collapsed into administration (the equivalent of bankruptcy in the US) in 2009. You say it's your birthday? Well, your friends better run to a Birthdays store for those cards! The company operates about 200 (down from more than 400) Birthdays stores in the UK and Ireland offering discount greeting cards and party supplies for every occasion. Founded in 1966 as Ron Wood Greeting Cards, the company was originally a distributor of cards and gift wrap until the mid-1970s when it opened three card shops.

Monsoon Commerce Solutions (MCS) helps online retailers and booksellers through its Marketplace Services and Selling Solutions divisions, providing retail management software, distribution assistance, and hosted store services. Its roster of more than 15,000 customers includes libraries, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers in about 50 countries. The Alibris Retail unit operates Alibris.com, an online marketplace for independent sellers of books, music, and movies. Founded in 1998, the firm acquired Monsoon in early 2010 and then reorganized and changed its name. MCS is owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners.

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. engages in the retail and direct marketing of vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbs, sports nutrition formulas, homeopathic remedies, natural pet food, low carb foods, diet and weight management supplements, and other health and beauty aids primarily in the United States. It sells its products through its retail stores, as well as through its catalog and Websites, primarily vitaminshoppe.com. Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. sells its products under its Vitamin Shoppe, BodyTech, and MD Select brand names, including Ultimate Man, Ultimate Woman, and Whey Tech, as well as under national brands, which include Solgar, Twinlab, EAS, and Nature’s Way. As of March 9, 2010, it operated 447 stores in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. was formerly known as VS Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. in November 2009. Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in North Bergen, New Jersey.

KaBloom was founded in 1997 by David Hartstein and former Staples CEO Thomas Sternberg. KaBloom.com can be found daisy chaining across the country and cyberspace. The floral chain owns or franchises about 30 retail shops that sell bouquets, cut flowers, and plants primarily in Massachusetts, and is test-marketing selling flowers through kiosks. It also offers national floral delivery through its toll-free number and Web site. Its business flower program arranges flower deliveries to office buildings with weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly schedules available. From about a dozen stores in the Boston area, KaBloom has spread its roots to about a dozen other states and the District of Columbia.

The Paradies Shops operates more than 500 shops in airports, hotels, and aquariums throughout the US and Canada. It serves more than a half billion passengers annually, with retail sites that include bookstores, gift shops, jewelry stores, ladies accessory shops, newsstands, sunglass stores, and western stores, among others. Paradies Shops is also the exclusive licensee of Brooks Brothers, CNBC, PGA Tour, and the New York Times. The firm operates several hotel properties and the retail program for the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The company was founded by the Paradies family in 1960. In mid-2010 it sold a majority stake to Freeman Spogli & Co.

ODI is the UK operating arm of US-based office supplies retailer Office Depot. This office products supplier deals directly with its customers. Office Depot International (UK), or ODI, operates Viking Direct, one of the leading office supply retailers in the UK. It distributes about 15,000 brands through catalogs, telephone sales, and the Internet, offering an array of paper and writing products, ink and toner, small office machines, furniture and seating, and warehouse and janitorial supplies. In addition to office products, ODI sells video game consoles, kitchen appliances, and satellite navigation systems. The company's customer base largely consists of retail businesses and public agencies.

Supplies Network was founded in 1991 by CEO Tom Fleming. Supplies and networking is what Supplies Network is all about. Supplies Network is a leading wholesaler in the US, with some 5,000 media storage and computer, copier, fax, and printer supply products and accessories. The company peddles products from about 70 manufacturers, including Canon, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Xerox. All of Supplies Network's SKUs are stocked for same-day shipping. Supplies Network, which specializes in serving the independent dealer, helps its customers with marketing and sales materials and manufacturer connections.

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.

Wessco International is a leading supplier and wholesaler of customized amenities and accessories (personal care products, bathroom accessories, and food and beverage serviceware) to the global lodging and cruise line industry. The company's clients have included Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Omni, Westin, Adams Mark, Bellagio, the Venetian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Holland America, and Norwegian. Wessco International also offers customized onboard service products (tableware, hot towels, amenity kits, children's items, and passenger comfort items) to top airlines worldwide, such as American, Continental, British, KLM, AeroMexico, Singapore, and Cathay Pacific.

Founded in 1988, Carpetright is led by its chairman and chief executive Lord Harris of Peckham, who owns about 25% of the group. Carpetright hasn't been wrong about flooring. Founded in 1988, Carpetright is the leading European flooring retailer with 500-plus stores operating under the Carpetright banner throughout the UK and Ireland. Carpetright company also boasts more than 120 stores located in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland. In addition to carpets, it sells area rugs and vinyl and wood-like laminate flooring. Carpetright also operates some 60 concessions in department stores.

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