The Foschini Group (TFG) is an investment holding company operating in the retail and financial services segments within southern Africa. The Group trades primarily in South Africa with retail turnover emanating from Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia accounting for 3,8% of the Group turnover. Comprising 14 trading brands in over 1 500 stores, the Group brings a lifestyle range of brands that are prominent household fashion brands into the retail market. TFG Apparel Supply Company manages the supply of locally made apparel and co-ordinates the merchandise sourcing, shipping and quality assurance activities. A further two trading divisions offer financial services. All the trading divisions are supported by numerous service divisions which provide centralised support services. Foschini Limited, which commenced trading in 1924, has been listed on the JSE Limited since 1 January 1941 and is regarded as one of the foremost independent chain store groups in the country. It is listed on the main board in the Consumer Services – Retail sector.

Liberty Plc aims to deliver a liberal dose of luxury to London's shoppers. The firm operates a high-end department store on London's Regent Street under the Liberty banner. The landmark Tudor revival style emporium offers fashion-forward men's and women's apparel, shoes and accessories, beauty products, home goods, and other sundries and services. About a third of its revenue is generated by Liberty Art Fabrics, which designs, makes, and distributes high-quality, avant-garde textiles. Founded in 1875 by Arthur Lasenby Liberty, the firm has had a historic relationship with Japan and objects from that area.

Woolworths' 160-odd general merchandise discount stores operate under the Big W name. It also runs about 415 consumer electronics shops under the Dick Smith Electronics and Tandy brand names. The retailer's Taverner Hotel Group operates some 285 hotels.Chow Down Under with Australia's #1 food retailer (ahead of Coles) -- Woolworths (aka "Woolies"). The diversified retailer operates about 3,200 stores in Australia and New Zealand, including 975 supermarkets under the Woolworths, Safeway, Foodtown, and Countdown banners. It also operates BWS and Dan Murphy's liquor stores. In addition, Woolworths sells gasoline and leverages its distribution network to provide wholesale merchandise for third-party supermarkets.

Specialty Merchandise Corporation (SMC) wants to be the first company you call. SMC warehouses thousands of gifts and home decor accessories, and its members sell them at a markup. Its inventory includes everything from bird feeders to cutlery sets to billiards tables. The company offers its members merchandise catalogs, a business coach, a personalized e-commerce site, and selling manuals and videos for either $300 upfront (gold plan) or about $480 paid in monthly installments (silver plan). Marketing information covers running a business via home parties, flea markets, mail order, and fundraising, among others.

Reid Furniture is Scotland's largest independent retailer of home furnishings. Products offered include upholstered furniture, bedding, tables, lamps, rugs, and artwork. The family-run chain operates than 30 stores in Scotland, England, and Ireland. Reid's was the region's largest maker of upholstered furniture until it shutdown its manufacturing operations in 2008 and turned to cheaper foreign sources. The company, which was founded by former company chairman Sam Reid in 1970, was taken private by its management, including CEO Alan Marnie, in 2006.

Auchan's mammoth markets make room for more than meals. France's second-largest food retailer (behind Carrefour), Auchan operates some 740 supermarkets and about 515 hypermarkets (French for supercenters) in about a dozen countries. France represents 47% of Auchan's sales, but the firm has stores throughout Europe and in China, Dubai, Russia, and Taiwan. (Auchan exited the US, Mexico, and Morocco in recent years.) Its hypermarkets carry up to 100,000 products, including groceries, apparel, consumer electronics, and fast food. They also provide travel services. Auchan's other core businesses include banking (Banque Accord), and shopping mall development (Immochan). The founding Mulliez family controls Auchan.

YGM Trading Limited company has filled its products portfolio by purchasing many of its brands from foreign companies. YGM spun off Hang Ten as its own publicly traded company in 2003. YGM Trading company offers a frequent buyer's program and its own Visa card. Don't be surprised to find YGM Trading in your closet. The apparel manufacturer, distributor, and retailer offers fashions under the brand names Michel Rene (private label), Aquascutum, Guy Laroche Femme (owns and licenses), Charles Jourdan, Ashworth (golf), and (20% owned) Hang Ten. Its 800 shops are located mostly in China, as well as Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US. It boasts a presence in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Operating in the Pacific Northwest since the 1950s, the company was acquired by W. W. Monroe in 1974. Through more than 20 locations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, Thermal Supply has built a business distributing air-conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment, parts, and accessories. The company, which grew from a mere three locations over the years, specializes in supplying products from Copeland, Larkin, Manitowoc, Mitsubishi, Sporlan, and other manufacturers.

Some people may not like to eat Atomic Spears, but these guys think it is all A Matter of Taste. The company sells specialty food products, such as Atomic Spears (pickles) and Atomic Shrooms (mushrooms), Glow Babies (pickled carrots), P.B. Loco (flavored peanut butter), and cheddar beer soup. A Matter of Taste also peddles quilts and assorted commemorative figurines. While A Matter of Taste Inc. sells its products from its Web site, it also operates a single retail store in Washington.

PPR has transformed itself from a conglomerate to the world's third-largest luxury group (behind LVMH and Richemont). PPR's stable of global luxury brands includes a 99% stake in Italian luxury goods company Gucci Group, and luxury brands Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Boucheron, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others. The group's other activities include the multichannel merchant Redcats, Fnac music and book stores, the Conforama chain of household furniture and appliance stores, and the German athletic shoemaker PUMA. More than half of PPR's sales are generated outside of its home country. PPR is run by Francois-Henri Pinault, the son of its founder Francois Pinault.

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