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.

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.

Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center sells musical instruments (guitars, keyboards, drums, and band and orchestra instruments), as well as professional audio, disc jockey, and lighting equipment from a single store in Wheaton, Maryland. Its sister company, Washington Professional Systems, sells and installs high-end audio and video equipment for stadiums, boardrooms, schools, and religious institutions, as well as home theaters. The family-owned and -operated company was founded in 1968 by Marge and Chuck Levin. Chuck's son Robert took over the business in 2002 following the death of his father.

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.

State Line Tack is for people who delight in all things equine. The company provides accessories and equipment for riding horses and taking care of them. State Line Tack carries horse blankets, bridles, leads, saddles, and other tack, for English or Western riding, along with riders' apparel for horse shows and competitions. The company also offers instructional videos (Stacy Westfall Bridleless Riding), horse computer games (Paws and Claws: Pet School), and books (Braiding Manes and Tails). Established in 1974, State Line Tack is owned by PetsUnited, which bought the business in May 2007 when former owner PetSmart exited its equine business altogether.

Grody cars can be beautiful. Ken Grody Automotive Group sells new Ford cars and trucks at two dealerships in California -- one in Buena Park and the other in Carlsbad. For customers desiring some extra power, both locations offer high-performance Roush-engineered crate engines for its vehicles. Additionally, the company sells a wide variety of used cars and provides parts and service. Customers can use the company Website to browse for vehicles, get a quote and apply for credit. Founded in 1958, the group is now solely owned by president Ken Grody.

Academy is near the head of the class among sporting goods retailers. It is one of the leading full-line sporting goods chains in the US with about 120 Academy Sports + Outdoors stores in Texas and some 10 other states in the Southeast. Academy's low-frills stores carry clothing, shoes, and equipment for almost any sport and outdoor activity, including camping, golf, hunting, fishing, and boating. The company, which also operates a catalog and e-commerce site, dates back to a San Antonio tire shop opened by Max Gochman in 1938. The business moved into military surplus items and during the 1980s began focusing on sports and outdoor goods. The Gochman family still owns Academy and is run by CEO David Gochman.

Goldsmiths doesn't necessarily turn raw materials into gleaming baubles, but it does deal with the goldsmith's end result: jewelry. The firm, which was founded in 1778 and is the UK's #2 jewelry chain (behind Signet Jewelers' H Samuel) operates about 160 stores. Keeping up with the times, Goldsmiths also sells jewelry online. The chain was the country's first authorized Rolex merchant, and remains a top dealer of Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, and other watch brands. Goldsmiths is 70% owned owned by Aurum Holdings, which also owns the Mappin & Webb chain of jewelry shops. Goldsmiths' previous owner, Iceland's Baugur Group, acquired Goldsmiths in 2004 and later bought Mappin & Webb to form Aurum Holdings.

Sotheby’s, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an auctioneer of fine and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and France. The company operates in three segments: Auction, Finance, and Dealer. The Auction segment functions as an agent offering authenticated works of art for sale at auction. It also involves in brokering private sales of artwork. The Finance segment provides collectors and dealers with financing, which is secured by works of art that the company has in its possession or permits the borrower to possess. The Dealer segment invests in and resells artworks. It also operates as an art dealer for Dutch and Flemish Old Master paintings, as well as French impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. In addition, this segment sells works of art directly to private collectors and museums, as well as acts as a broker in private purchases and sales of art. Additionally, it operates a retail wine shop in New York City, as well as offers a range of wines online. Sotheby's was founded in 1744 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Founded in 1978, Sierra Office Solutions is an authorized Xerox sales agent and an approved vender for the federal government. While the Sierra Club wants you to save a tree, Sierra Office Solutions (formerly Sierra Office Supply) wants you to buy one. The office products and furniture firm supplies businesses and home offices in Eastern Kern, Inyo, and Mono counties in California, and Nye and Esmeralda counties in Nevada, with the necessities of running a business. Products include office supplies, computer and printer supplies, furniture, janitorial and break room items, Xerox copiers and other business machines, business cards, custom stamps, and signs. It offers an online product catalog and free delivery.

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