DirectGroup Bertelsmann GmbH runs book clubs especially popular in Europe and Asia under such brands as Der Club in Germany, France Loisirs in France, and Circulo de Lectores in Spain. Club members can access its products through mail-order catalogs, the Internet, or one of 800 retail stores worldwide. DirectGroup Bertelsmann boasts 35 million members worldwide and operates in more than 20 countries. The company is a division of German media firm Bertelsmann AG, which sold its faltering American book club operations in 2008 to focus on Europe and Asia.

In 1959, William Jacobs started Columbus Fair Auto Auction based on excellent customer service and fairness. He recognized that auctions offered a solution to automobile dealers' needs for a source and marketplace for used motor vehicles.Obviously, the financial risk of leasing space at the Ohio State Fairgrounds to run a one-lane auction in 1959 was small, but significant for this startup entrepreneurial endeavor. It, however, pales in comparison to the present multi-million dollar investment in today's 85-acre facility in Obetz. However, the original strategy of offering a marketplace for used vehicles where buyers and sellers would congregate for the benefit of both continues today.

Founded in 1891, Texas-based Samuels Jewelers was acquired by India's Gitanjali Gems Ltd., a jewelry maker and retailer, in late 2006. In addition to diamonds and gemstones, Samuels Jewelers knows something about millstones -- the bankruptcy kind (it has been thrice drawn into bankruptcy court since the early 1990s). Samuels sells fine jewelry items through about 85 jewelry stores in California, Texas, and about 15 other states; stores are primarily located in regional shopping malls, power centers, and strip centers. Samuels also operates some stand-alone stores and sells jewelry online at SamuelsJewelers.com. Its stores operate under the Samuels Diamonds and Samuels Jewelers banners.

JAM Industries wants to provide musically-inclined Canadians with the opportunity to jam at a hootenanny or a jamboree. The firm is a leading North American musical equipment distributor. It operates eight divisions: American Sound & Music; Coast Music (music accessories); Erickson Audio (pro audio equipment); Erikson Music (musical instruments, including Korg keyboards); Erikson Pro (sound and lighting equipment); Erikson Commercial (audio and video equipment), Erikson Consumer (consumer electronics retailer products); and Korg Canada. JAM was founded in 1972 when chairman Marty Golden introduced the JAM (named after the initials of his three children, Joel, Annie, and Michael) line of hand-wired tube combos.

American Service Center was founded in 1937 by Saul Brooks and his brother-in-law Saul Gordon. It was located at the intersection of Glebe Road and North Randolph Street in Arlington, Virginia. Although the business has gone through many changes, it is still at the same location operating as a Mercedes-Benz dealership. Today, it is owned and operated by the second and third generations of it's founders. The daily operation of the business is now in the capable hands of Alvin Brooks and Morton Zetlin, the son and son-in-law of Saul Brooks. Mark Zetlin, Morton's son, is currently the New Mercedes-Benz Sales Manager. American Service Center, through the hard work and dedication of over 300 employees, has achieved and maintained great success in the Washington Region of Mercedes-Benz USA. By constantly paying attention to Customer Satisfaction and remembering Saul Brooks' most often used directive "Take care of the Customer, that's the main thing", ASC ranks either 1st or 2nd in: New Mercedes-Benz sales; Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned sales; Service sales; Parts sales; and Body Shop sales. Our Body Shop is, not only 'Fully Certified' by Mercedes-Benz USA, but also is an 'authorized' and 'designated' repair facility for both GEICO and USAA insurance companies.

Current USA is a leading direct marketer of greeting cards and gift wrap, scrapbooking supplies, stationery, and home decorating items. It sells under the brands Times to Cherish (scrapbooking supplies), Colorful Images (personalized address labels and other paper products), Lillian Vernon (gifts and home decor), and, of course, Current. The company also operates an outlet store in Colorado and a fundraising business that lets not-for-profit groups sell its products and share the proceeds. Founded in the 1950s, Current USA was initially run out of the basement of founders Orin and Miriam Loo. The company, which was family owned and operated until 1986, is a subsidiary of printing giant Taylor.

Like Ellis Island in the past, Cruise America welcomes thousands of Europeans each year. Cruise America is the US's largest recreational vehicle renter with about 20 company-owned stores, some 120 dealer locations, and a 3,000-vehicle rental fleet of RVs (cab-over motor homes). For those who choose to cruise north of the US-Canada border, Cruise America boasts locations in Canada. Up to a million dollars in liability insurance is included with each rental. The company allows its customers (nearly half of whom are foreign) to have the freedom of the open road while saving money on travel and lodging costs. It also sells its used trucks, along with new and used RVs, through RV Depot dealerships.

Dancker, Sellew & Douglas (DS&D) is a furniture dealership serving the New York City metropolitan area, upstate New York and New Jersey. It specializes in providing furniture to businesses, with clients including AT&T and Coldwell Banker. DS&D offers chairs, desks, lighting, and storage from a variety of manufacturers, including Peter Pepper Products, Steelcase and Teknion. Dancker, Sellew & Douglas also offers furniture rental and warehousing, along with design consulting, inventory management, and refurbishment services. DS&D also caters to hospitals and universities, and provides lab furniture and equipment to pharmaceutical companies. The firm was founded in 1829 as the T.G. Seller Company, making roll-top desks.

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.

Fletcher Jones Management Group holds the title as the US's top Mercedes seller. It rolls out Benzes from a 225,000-sq.-ft. superstore in Las Vegas; a 186,000-sq-ft. store in Newport Beach, California; a dealership in Chicago; and another in Honolulu. Fletcher Jones also operates another dealership in Chicago, five more in Hawaii, an another two in California, two more in Las Vegas, and one in Reno, Nevada, selling cars from Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Toyota, and Volkswagen. The company is owned by president and CEO Fletcher Jones Jr., whose father started it in 1954 with one Los Angeles dealership.

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