founded the company in 1964. The Koons family owns Koons Automotive.Wheelin' and dealin' on the Web, Jim Koons Automotive Companies sells new and used cars the old-fashioned way and through the Internet. Its more than 20 locations in the Washington, DC, area (Virginia and Maryland) offer cars made by Ford, GM, Toyota, and Volvo. Three locations specialize in used cars; the company also offers body work. Internet customers can obtain quotes, make appointments for parts and service, and access online coupons for oil changes and other services. CEO Jim Koons' father, John Koons Sr., the first auto dealer to enter the Automotive Hall of Fame.

Sensational Beginnings (SB) helps kids start having fun early. The catalog and online merchant sells educational toys, furniture, and safety and child care items for infants and toddlers. (SB also operates a single store in Michigan.) Toy categories include science and nature, ride-ons, musical instruments, indoor active play, travel kits, and seasonal items. SB also offers gift-giving and parenting advice, a gift registry, and an online photo gallery of children using company products. Customers can shop by brand, category, or age group or get advice on age-appropriate toys and games. President Debra Shah, a former nurse specializing in mother and child medical care, founded the company in the early 1990s.

Star Struck was founded in 1981. Jewelers can set their watches by Star Struck. Star Struck LLC distributes batteries, repair tools, testing machines, cleaning agents, and other supplies for jewelry and watchmaking. Besides its batteries for timepieces, Star Struck carries batteries for calculators, cameras, and hearing aids from major brands (Energizer, Rayovac) as well as its own private label. Star Struck LLC serves more than 17,000 customers, including jewelers, watch repairmen, electronics professionals, and hobbyists. Its products are sold via phone or online.

Founded by Samuel Silverman in 1912, today jewelry chain Ben Bridge Jeweler operates more than 70 stores in a dozen mostly western states, including Alaska and Hawaii. The company sells platinum, 14- and 18-karat gold jewelry, diamonds, watches, and bridal and anniversary fare from its mall-based stores and Web site. Ben Bridge married Silverman's daughter in 1922, bought out his father-in-law, and renamed the company after himself. Still run by the Bridge family, the company became a subsidiary of billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 2000.

Star Gas Partners, L.P. operates as a home heating oil distributor and services provider in the United States. It provides its services to residential and commercial customers to heat their homes and buildings. As of September 30, 2009, the company sold home heating oil to approximately 374,000 full service residential and commercial home heating oil customers and propane to approximately 7,000 propane customers. It also sells home heating oil, gasoline and diesel fuel to approximately 34,000 customers. In addition, Star Gas Partners installs, maintains, and repairs heating and air conditioning equipment, as well as provides ancillary home services, including home security and plumbing to approximately 11,000 customers. Kestrel Heat, LLC operates as the general partner of the company. Star Gas Partners was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

AFFLINK Inc. was founded in 1977. AFFLINK knows that packing products, cleaning items, and office supplies aren't sexy, but just about everyone uses them. The company distributes products for industrial and food packaging (tape, stand-up pouches), janitorial services (tissue paper, cleaners), and offices (business cards, lighting). It also supplies the food service (bowls, cutlery), safety (protective apparel, head gear), and medical (exam supplies, disinfectants) industries. Customers include building maintenance providers, hospitals, and restaurants. AFFLINK is a subsidiary of Performance Food Group.

Luxottica Group S.p.A. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture, and distribute luxury, fashion, and sport/performance eyewear worldwide. It operates in two segments: Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution, and Retail Distribution. The Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution segment engages in the design, manufacture, wholesale distribution, and marketing of house and designer lines prescription frames and sunglasses. It offers performance optics products, including sun and prescription eyewear, ski goggles, and electronically-enabled eyewear, as well as apparel, footwear, watches, and accessories. This segment offers its products under various brands, including house brands, such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Arnette, Eye Safety Systems, K&L, Luxottica, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples, Persol, Revo, Sferoflex, and Vogue; and licensed designer brands comprising Anne Klein, Brooks Brothers, Bvlgari, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, D&G, Donna Karan, DKNY, Fox, Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren, Chaps, Club Monaco, POLO, RALPH, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, PRADA, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Versace, and Versus. It serves retailers of mid to premium-priced eyewear, such as independent opticians, optical retail chains, specialty sun retailers, and duty-free shops, as well as independent optometrists and ophthalmologists, and department stores. The Retail Distribution segment operates optical and sun glass stores under the LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Pearle Vision, ILORI, The Optical Shop of Aspen, OPSM, Laubman & Pank, Budget Eyewear, Bright Eyes, Oakley ‘O’ Stores and Vaults, and David Clulow names, as well as licensed brands, such as the Sears Optical and Target Optical. As of March 31, 2010, this segment operated 5,809 corporate stores and 536 franchised or licensed locations. Luxottica Group S.p.A. has a strategic alliance with Drugstore.com Inc. Luxottica Group was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy.

Lentuo International Inc. operates as an automobile retailer in the People’s Republic of China. It sells passenger vehicles, auto parts, and accessories; offers automobile repair and maintenance services; and provides a channel for vehicle manufacturers to gather customer feedback. The company also offers its customers assistance with procuring automobile insurance and financing and other automobile-related services. In addition, Lentuo International provides luxury or specialty vehicles on rent for business use by corporations or corporate executives. As of June 30, 2010, it operated 6 franchise dealerships, 10 automobile showrooms, and 1 automobile repair shop in the Beijing metropolitan area. The company was founded in 1994 and is based in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.

Brown & Brown Chevrolet became part of AutoNation in 1998, but retained the Brown & Brown Chevrolet local market brand.Customers hope air conditioning comes standard on Brown & Brown Chevrolet's vehicles. Located in Mesa, Arizona, the company is part of the AutoNation family and markets new and used cars and trucks. Brown & Brown Chevrolet offers customers a chance to research (through a link to Kelley Blue Book), search, and get a free quote using its brownandbrownchevy.com Web site. The auto retailer peddles some 30 Chevrolet models, including SUVs, coupes, hatchbacks, vans, wagons, trucks, convertibles, and others.

Duval Motor company's Jacksonville, Florida, locations sell new Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans, along with used vehicles. Duval Ford also sells fleet units. Its Web site allows visitors to search new and used inventory, apply for financing, schedule service appointments, and purchase parts. The Internet hot shot has come a long way since it was founded in 1916. At that time Duval Ford sold black Model T Fords (and nothing else) for $360.Duval Ford likes online car buyers. The company is the region's #1 Internet Ford dealer and it ranks among the top 10 in the nation. Duval Ford is the flagship dealership of the Scott-McRae Group

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