Established in 1973, PartyLite has been owned by Blyth since 1990. It's tough to make money by selling ambience, but PartyLite Worldwide pulls it off. The company sells candles, incense, diffusers, sachets, bath products, and decorative accessories for the home through more than 65,000 independent consultants in about a dozen markets worldwide, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Mexico, the US, and the UK. It also markets breads, cheeses, desserts, sauces, and other snack foods under the Two Sisters Gourmet brand. Consultants sell PartyLite's products through home parties held by hostesses and via personalized e-commerce sites.

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.

The David Wilson Automotive Group had its beginnings in 1983 when David Wilson, the new general manager of Toyota of Orange, purchased 25% of the dealership. Between 1983 and 1985 sales volume increased from 2,500 vehicles per year to over 8,000 vehicles per year, with their "customer service first" approach quickly resonating with consumers.Since then the Wilson organization has grown from one Toyota dealership with 90 employees to seven Toyota dealerships, three Lexus dealerships, three Honda dealerships, an Acura dealership, a Ford dealership and a Mazda dealership - now supporting nearly 2,000 associates. The David Wilson Automotive Group is one of the top ten public or privately owned automotive groups in the country.

Don Davis Auto Group sells new cars and trucks built by Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Lincoln, Mercury, Nissan, Scion, and Toyota. It sells them through a handful of dealerships in the North Texas cities of Arlington and Grapevine. The Don Davis Auto Group also peddles used cars and provides collision repair and service from its shop in Arlington. The auto group moves about 8,000 vehicles each year. Don Davis Auto Group was founded in 1979 by Don Davis, who owns 80% of the capital stock. Robert Howard owns the other 20%.The Don Davis Auto Group rounds up some sturdy wheels for Ranger and Cowboy fans, as well as surrounding residents in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

Famed toy store FAO Schwarz is a kid pleaser, but as a business it's had its ups and downs. The oldest toy store in the US charms the young (and young at heart) at its landmark store on New York's Fifth Avenue where it sells unique, hard-to-find toys, such as life-size stuffed bears and $50,000 kid-size Ferraris. A major tourist attraction, it hosts more than 3 million visitors each year. Being a kid itself, FAO Schwarz has a sweet tooth, with its sweets shop called FAO Schweetz. After years of unprofitable expansion in an age where mass merchants, such as Wal-Mart, rule toy retailing, it's down to a single location, a catalog, and a website. Toy titan Toys "R" Us added FAO Schwarz to its toy chest in 2009.

Follett is the #1 operator of college bookstores, with more than 850 campus bookshops (vs. about 635 for Barnes & Noble) across the US, as well as Canada. The company's business groups, which reach about 60 countries, also provide books and audiovisual materials to grade school and public libraries, library automation and management software, textbook reconditioning, and other services. Follett acquired its smaller online rival Varsity Group in 2008, complementing its own efollett.com website that sells college textbooks. The Follett family has owned and managed the company for four generations.

Osborne Stationers was founded in 1832 as E. C. & W. Osborne. The Osborne family sold Osborne Stationers Ltd in 1914. This version of the Osbornes strives for success with its stationery, not success at this station, and it doesn't need to revisit any bat-oriented events in the process. Osborne Stationers (known as Osborne Office Stationers) operates about 20 stationery and office supply stores throughout the UK. Osborne Stationers Ltd also stocks a variety of arts and crafts supplies and provides printing and copying services, as well as arts and crafts instruction.

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).

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.

Lei Shing Hong has a wandering eye. The firm manages operations across five diverse business lines: automobile and heavy machinery distribution, financial services, real estate, and trade goods. Lei Shing Hong's automobile division distributes Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and smart brand vehicles in China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The company also serves as the distributor for Caterpillar in eastern China and Taiwan. Financial services include share trading, foreign exchange investment, stockbrokerage, and insurance services in Hong Kong. The company dabbles in real estate development and management for properties in China, and offers import and export services for a variety of products.

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