Bergdorf Goodman has been doing business at its prime location since 1901. Ladies who lunch love to shop at Bergdorf Goodman, a Fifth Avenue purveyor of luxury women's apparel, handbags, precious and designer jewelry, makeup, perfume, shoes, and tableware, as well as men's accessories, by designer labels such as Chloe, Giorgio Armani, and Marc Jacobs. Owned by the upscale department store operator Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman operates two opulent stores across from each other on 58th Street in Manhattan, that ring up about 13% of Neiman's total revenue. The smaller store, which opened in 1991, is devoted exclusively to men. The elite retailer also sells via a catalog and a website.

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.

Founded in 1985 by chairman John Hargreaves, the retailer was taken private in 2006 by Missouri Bidco, a company controlled by the Hargreaves family, for about $1.5 billion. Clothes might make the man, but they also make Matalan one of Britain's largest value-fashion retailers. Based on the US warehouse club concept, the firm's 200-plus stores sell fashionable name-brand and private-label apparel for men, women, and children, as well as housewares, at bargain prices. Its brand-name merchandise includes Calvin Klein, Farah, Jeff Banks, Playtex, and Wrangler; its private labels include Wolsey, Be Beau, Et Vous, Influence, Jeff & Co., and Soon. Matalan also sells through its e-commerce site.

The story of Wilkinson Hardware defines DIY, and not just because the do-it-yourself trend has made the business a success and has allowed it to ride out a couple recessions. Founded in Leicester in 1930, Wilkinson Hardware Stores operates more than 330 home and garden shops throughout England and Wales. Each of its locations peddles some 25,000 products. Wilko, as the company is known, is one of the largest privately-held companies in the UK. The business is led by the founding Wilkinson family. J.K. Wilkinson founded the original store after gathering the seed money by saving £1 a week from his wages for nearly six years. Chairwoman Karin Swann is the founder's granddaughter.

GULFEAGLE is a full line distributor of residential and commercial roofing and building products that offers jobsite delivery to our customers. The company was originally founded as Gulfside Supply, Inc. in 1973 by Mr. Jim Resch. Mr. Resch remains as the current owner and CEO. The company started in Tampa, Florida with one branch and has grown to over 50 locations nationwide. This growth has come from acquisitions, start-up locations, and diversity of products. The first acquisition was Service Lumber in Jacksonville in 1975. Others include Southern Diversified in Miami, Sun Supply in Melbourne, United Wholesale in Pompano, Ft. Myers and Sarasota and Stringfellow Supply in Gainesville. In 1995 a major step was taken by acquiring American Wholesale which included locations in Huntsville, Montgomery, Dothan, Mobile, Pensacola and Panama City. The Standard/ Bieler acquisition further expanded into South Florida. In 1997 the company acquired Roofline Supply in Macon, Georgia. New start-ups over the years include Orlando, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Daytona, Tallahassee, Decatur, Alabama, St. Petersburg, Ft. Pierce, Palm Coast and Buda, TX.

Hi School Pharmacy has a history founded in the tradition of the classic corner drug store. The original store, opened in 1925, was named High School Store due to its location across the street from Vancouver High School on Main Street, Vancouver, Washington. Because of its soda fountain and wide selection of candy and school supplies, it became a popular spot with the students. In 1939, two brothers, Ken and Matt Zapp, opened a pharmacy in the old Safeway building adjoining the High School Store. This doubled the size of the original store and greatly increased the variety of merchandise offered. More importantly, Hi-School Pharmacy, as it was duly named, became known as the place to have prescriptions filled.In 1948, Val and Dorothy Mowan purchased the Main Street store and over the next twenty years, remodeled and expanded the pharmacy and variety store to 10,000 square feet. In 1967, Steven Oliva, a Registered Pharmacist, bought Hi-School Pharmacy. In addition to filling prescriptions, Steve learned all aspects of the retail business from ordering and pricing merchandise to stocking shelves and advertising. His hard work and competitive nature, coupled with a booming economic environment in Southwest Washington, paid off. In the 1970’s, Hi-School Pharmacy expanded by building new stores, and by acquiring drug stores that had been previously operated by other companies, such as Pay’n Takit and Reder’s. With a strong core group of stores located in Vancouver, the company began to expand in other areas. The chain found its niche by locating in communities with smaller populations. Stores in the chain stretched from Northern California to multiple locations in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

The subsidiary of CDW Corporation bought Technology Resource Center, which served higher education customers, in late 2006 and folded it into its operations. You might say this company is schooled in how best to sell computers to the public sector. CDW Government is a leading supplier of computer products to public education institutions and other federal, state, and local government agencies. It offers wide selection of hardware and software, networking equipment and computer peripherals, and general office supplies and furniture. CDW Government sells products through its Web site and catalogs and through a direct sales force.

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the United States. Its stores offer new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, including alternators, starters, fuel pumps, water pumps, brake system components, batteries, belts, hoses, chassis parts, and engine parts; maintenance items comprising oil, antifreeze, fluids, filters, wiper blades, lighting, engine additives, and appearance products; accessories consisting of floor mats, seat covers, and truck accessories; and a line of auto body paint and related materials, automotive tools, and professional service equipment. The company’s stores sell a selection of brand name and private label products for domestic and imported automobiles, vans, and trucks to do-it-yourself customers and professional installers. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 3,421 stores. O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.

Sedano's Supermarkets was founded in Hialeah, Florida in 1962. Our founder, Armando Guerra, was a thriving businessman in Cuba, and it was there where he gained the necessary experience to establish himself in the U.S. In 1971, Guerra brought Manuel Herrán on board to help out with the daily operations of his small business. From its humble beginnings, Sedano's is now the No. 1 Hispanic retailer in the nation.Manuel Herrán was born in Santander, Spain in 1937. In 1951, he moved to Cuba with his family. By 1967, Herrán and his family made their way to Miami where he worked as a salesman before beginning his career with Sedano's. Mr. Guerra passed away in 1979, and Herrán took over the reigns of the company. Agustin Herran, Manuel's son, is the current President and CEO, and Manuel is now Chairman of the Board.This year, Sedano's celebrates its 47th year of operation. From a single store in 1962, the Sedano's chain has grown to more than 30 supermarkets across South Florida. Sedano's has also become the largest member of the Associated Grocers of Florida. The company's plans include opening a new location in 2009 and an expansion to the Orlando market in 2010 where Sedano's will open three stores. Future plans include the ongoing beautification of all existing stores.

Ports International was founded in 1961 by Luke Tanabe and sold to the family of current chief executive Alfred Chan in 1989. Ports Design has carved out a place in China's collective fashion consciousness. Ports Design Limited company designs, manufactures, and sells upscale clothing and accessories under the Ports International and BMW Lifestyle brands. Primarily serving China and Hong Kong, the company's Ports International retail chain sell menswear and womenswear through 300 stores in 55 Chinese cities. Ports Design Limited company also sells sporty casual wear through almost 30 BMW Lifestyle stores (BMW licensed Ports Design Limited company to make and sell branded products in China).

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