Aaron Brothers has its hand in custom-framing and crafting. Aaron Brothers, Inc. opened its first shop in Los Angeles in 1946; today it operates some 150 stores in about 10 states. Its stores are located mostly in Texas and in the western US, but also reach to Georgia and Virginia. Aaron Brothers stores offer ready-made frames and mattes, art supplies, and custom framing services. A subsidiary of big brother hobby-retailer Michaels Stores, Aaron Brothers stores average about 5,600 sq. ft. and offer its customers some 7,100 products. Parent company Michaels Stores was taken private in 2006 by a pair of private equity firms (Bain Capital Partners and The Blackstone Group).

Teleflora was founded in 1934. Teleflora's business is blooming, with the help of some of its best buds. Teleflora, a subsidiary of Roll International, supplies fresh flowers, plants, and gift items to consumers worldwide through its websites and toll-free number. The floral firm taps into a network of about 18,000 florists across the US and Canada, as well as another 20,000 affiliated florists outside North America. It offers fresh flowers for any occasion, as well as plants, corporate gifts, and fruit and goody baskets, some available same day, at prices ranging from $29.99 to about $200. Its partner marketing program provides commissions and discounts for affiliates, corporate giving, and rewards programs.

Levenger began when Lori Granger Leveen and her husband, Steve, said: "Let there be lighting!" The company, which got its start in 1987 by selling halogen lights for reading, has fashioned itself into the provider of "Tools for Serious Readers." The direct marketer offers an assortment of branded and private-label home and office accessories and furniture. Its products include bookcases, briefcases, leather armchairs, lap desks, inkwells, pens, pillows, stationery, and of course, lighting products. Levenger (which derives its name from combining Leveen and Granger) sells its merchandise through its catalog, website, and retail stores in Boston; Chicago; Boca Raton, Florida; and the Washington, DC, area.

CEO Sharon DiMinico founded Learning Express, Inc. in 1987. For kids (and parents) who want to get on board the educational entertainment train, Learning Express is the first stop. The specialty toy store franchiser has more than 100 locations in about 25 states. It sell toys for every age group with a focus on educational items. Major brands include Alex Toys (craft kits), Calico Critters (animal figures), Groovy Girls (dolls and accessories), Rokenbok (remote controlled vehicles and construction sets), and Thomas the Tank (wooden train sets and construction toys). It offerings are designed to spark creativity, teach diversity, and encourage development.

Mac Papers is the largest distributor of printing papers in the Southeast. We’re proud of the tradition of excellence we’ve built, serving customers through local facilities with local inventories and local sales representatives. Since our founding in 1965, we have continued to institute programs that allow us to offer the industry’s finest products and most responsive services — first, fast and accurate. The customers we serve include commercial printers, graphic arts professionals, corporate marketing departments, in–house printing-and-reproduction departments, tax–supported businesses, end user publishing and the laser and inkjet markets. Our 20 branch office/warehouse locations and 19 Mini Macs are strategically located in an eight-state region. This positions our vast inventory where it’s needed — close to our customers. Mac Papers has always been a company of people helping people, one to one, with an uncompromising focus on meeting the needs of our customers. This is the Mac Papers tradition.

Color Me Mine Enterprises brings out the Picasso in you. The company has some 150 franchise locations open or under development in about two dozen US states, as well as in Australia, France, Kuwait, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. Customers can choose from more than 400 pieces of pottery and paint it on site, either solo or as part of a party package for birthdays, bridal showers, and other events. Color Me Mine To Go brings the pottery and paint to the party when you can't make it to the store. Some locations also offer workshops catering to students in kindergarten through sixth grades and home-school art certification.

West Coast Paper was founded in 1930. West Coast Paper coasts along on a paper trail out West. West Coast Paper distributes an array of paper, including varieties of bond, uncoated book, carbonless, and cardboard, to commercial printers primarily in the Pacific Northwest. It also markets packaging (boxes, shrink films), janitorial supplies (soaps, dispensers), and food service products (disposable cups, plates). In addition to the graphic arts market, West Coast Paper serves customers in the health care, hospitality, freight, and manufacturing industries. The firm operates more than 10 locations in Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Its international sales group serves Pacific Rim countries.

Ellett Brothers is a middleman for mountain men and other outdoor enthusiasts. The wholesaler supplies over 60,000 products for hunting, shooting, camping, archery, and marine sports to small sporting goods retailers. Sales efforts include telemarketing and catalogs used by its retail customers; it also offers catalogs customized with retailers' names. Ellett Brothers buys products from some 800 manufacturers and suppliers and distributes them to more than 20,000 customers throughout the US. Ellett Brothers was founded in 1933 as a fishing supply business by Chilton Ellett Sr.

Holiday Diver urges those who enjoy getting wet while going down under to swim over to its Divers Direct Web site. The online store sells everything to dress the diving enthusiast from head to fin. It also offers beach wear, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry. On the bricks-and-mortar side of business, the company operates five scuba shops in Florida that also do business under the Divers Direct name. The shops offer air tank fills in addition to beach essentials and dive gear. Holiday Diver was founded in 1984 as Divers Outlet.

CarMax, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. It also sells new vehicles under various franchise agreements. In addition, the company provides a range of related products and services, including the financing of vehicle purchases through its finance operation, CarMax Auto Finance, and third-party lenders; the sale of extended service plans and accessories; the appraisal and purchase of vehicles directly from consumers; and vehicle repair services. Further, it sells vehicles that do not meet its retail standards to licensed dealers through on-site wholesale auctions. As of February 28, 2010, the company operated 59 production superstores and 41 non-production superstores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.