The British Internet retailer was founded in 1998 by Michael Smith and Tom Boardman as a means to promote their Shot Glass Chess Set invention. A decade later it began doing business in the US. Firebox.com sells the very gadgets that women are forced to yell over to get their men's (and boys') attention. Firebox.com (formerly hotbox.co.uk) is an Internet retailer selling toys, games, and high-tech gadgets for boys (and girls, really) of all ages; products include remote-controlled cars and planes for the younger set, while for the older guys there are DVDs, cameras, tools, sea scooters, pool tables, and even the Internet Fridge (a refrigerator complete with a 56k modem, TV, radio, and digital camera).

Founded in 1998, Provide Commerce is owned by e-commerce and media conglomerate Liberty Interactive Group. Provide Commerce keeps the perishable goods market fresh. More than 80% of the e-tailer's sales are generated by its ProFlowers.com unit, which ships flowers, plants, and wreaths directly from growers to residential and corporate clients. The virtual florist also offers chocolate, popcorn, and fruit and cheese baskets. Provide Commerce's Cherry Moon Farms virtual shop offers hand-picked fruits, while its Secret Spoon Sweets brand sells baked goods, truffles, hand-dipped strawberries, and other confections. RedEnvelope (acquired in 2008) sells upscale gifts and jewelry online and via catalog.

Cole's was founded in 1986. Cole Office Products challenges the idea that big-box stores have the lowest prices. The independent retailer distributes about 3,000 workplace essentials, including business cards, forms, filler paper, writing implements, computer peripherals, office furniture, and maintenance and break room supplies. It features products from such makers as Avery, Safco, and Xerox. Orders can be placed by phone, fax, or through Cole's e-commerce site. As a veteran-owned small business, Cole Office Products, Inc. is an authorized supplier for the government.

Tourneau tells time with style. A leading wholesaler and retailer of luxury watches for more than a century, Tourneau has several stores (including the Tourneau TimeMachine, its flagship location which opened in 1997 and covers 16,000 sq. ft.) in New York City and more than 30 others in about a dozen states across the US, including California and Florida. The stores sell watches and vintage timepieces under more than 100 well known brand names, including its namesake brand (Tourneau). Tourneau also operates Watch Gear (launched in 1999), a chain targeted at younger (ages 18 to 35), less affluent consumers. Watch Gear offers more than 30 watch brands both in stores and online at Watchgear.com.

Midas, Inc. provides retail automotive services through franchised or company-operated shops primarily in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells Midas, SpeeDee, and Midas-SpeeDee co-branded franchises. Midas company’s retail shops offer automotive repair and maintenance services, such as exhaust, brake, suspension, air conditioning, tires, batteries, and various other maintenance services. As of January 2, 2010, it operated the Midas network of 1,602 shops located in the United States and 9 Canadian provinces; the SpeeDee network of franchised and company-operated shops consisting of 112 shops located in 12 states in the United States; and 776 Midas shops licensed in 14 other countries, and 57 licensed SpeeDee shops in Mexico. Midas, Inc. also involves in the real estate activities, including the development, ownership, and lease of Midas and SpeeDee shops in the United States and Canada; and supply chain activities comprising the provision of value-added merchandising services to franchisees. In addition, it owns, develops, sells, and leases automotive shop management software to Midas franchisees and other third-party automotive service providers. Midas, Inc. was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois.

Midland Paper Company (MPC) is a middleman for the paper industry. The firm distributes coated, uncoated, bond, specialty, and other types of paper produced by such manufacturers as Boise, Neenah Paper, Domtar, and International Paper. It also sells packaging supplies and equipment as well as janitorial supplies (including mops, brooms, cleaners, and floor-care products). MPC distributes primarily to large companies that print books, magazines, and catalogs. Founded in 1907 as a paper supplier to Chicago's graphic arts industry, the company now operates warehouses and sales offices in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Wisconsin.

Internet Brands was founded in 1998 as CarsDirect.com. CarsDirect quickly gained popularity with consumers and advertisers, winning numerous industry awards, such as one of the "50 Best" websites in the world by Time Magazine, a "Top 100 Classic Website" by PC Magazine, and a "Top Site for Buying or Selling Anything" by PC World. But that success was only a seedling. In 2005, the company began an enormous transition - from a single vertical to a diversified, platform company that would scale much larger. In 2006, the company changed its name to Internet Brands and started to accelerate its diversification and growth. On November 16, 2007, Internet Brands became a public company, listing on the NASDAQ exchange with ticker symbol INET.In 2008 and 2009, the company continued to grow its EBITDA profitability and its "same store" revenue at double digits, despite the recession.

Sport Supply Group (SSG) knows how to play the game. Primarily through its catalogs, the company makes and markets about 20,000 sports-equipment products, including balls of all types, tennis court nets, soccer goals, weight-lifting equipment, and other sporting and recreational equipment and uniforms. It also sells through telemarketing programs and about 90 e-commerce sites. SSG peddles products mostly to institutional customers, such as youth sports programs, YMCAs, schools, and municipal recreation departments. The company has grown through acquisitions of sports equipment manufacturers and distributors over the years. The company was acquired by investment firm Onex in August 2010.

Michaels Stores is pretty crafty. The nation's #1 arts and crafts retailer owns and operates about 1,040 Michaels Stores canvassing the US and Canada. Michaels sells more than 40,000 products including art and hobby supplies, decor, frames, needlecraft kits, party supplies, seasonal products, and silk and dried flowers. Michaels also operates about 140 Aaron Brothers stores in California, Texas, and about half a dozen other states, which provide framing and art supplies. The retailer's Artistree subsidiary manufactures frames and molding for Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores. Michaels Stores was taken private in 2006 by the investment firms Bain Capital Partners and The Blackstone Group.

Stark Carpet Corp. company is owned and operated by brothers John and Steven Stark. Their parents, the late Arthur and Nadia Stark, founded Stark Carpet company. Stark Carpet offers carpets, rugs, furniture, and textiles to design professionals for both commercial and residential use. The company sells its products under the Stark Carpet, Stark Fabric, Stark Fine Furniture, Stark Wallcovering, and Darius Antique & Decorative Rugs brand names from its own showrooms in the US and the UK as well as in design centers operated by others. Through its partnership with manufacturer GG Bailey, it also produces a line of Oriental and animal print car mats.

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