At Carphone Warehouse, "upward mobility" means calling someone while driving uphill. The firm has more than 2,400 stores in Europe that sell mobile phones, contracts, and services. It operates stores under the Carphone Warehouse banner in the UK and The Phone House in eight other European markets, including France and Spain. Carphone Warehouse also sells Internet access to homes in England and Europe and has begun selling laptops, touch phones, and other mobile devices at a new, larger store format called Wireless World. Founded in 1989 by CEO Charles Dunstone and former director David Ross, Carphone Warehouse sold 50% of its retail business in 2008 and spun off its TalkTalk telecom unit in 2010.

O'Connell Oil operates about 30 Convenience Plus convenience stores and a half a dozen gas stations throughout western Massachusetts, serving customers with Citgo, Mobil, and Shell brand gasoline. Three O'Connell's Heating Oil & Service locations provide heating oil and air conditioner repair services. The company also runs plumbing and industrial lubricant divisions. Namesake Ralph M. O'Connell founded the company in 1925.

Maxeda, formerly Vendex KBB, is owned by investment firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Cinven, Permira, and AlpInvest Partners. If Hans Brinker went shopping at Maxeda's stores today, he'd find a lot more than silver skates. The Dutch retail group operates stores in a dozen countries across Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. The retailer is selling off its department store and specialty apparel chains to focus on its home improvement stores, which trade under the Brico, Formido, and Praxis banners. Its shrinking stable of retail operations include lingerie chain Hunkemeller and M&S Mode. In 2010 it sold its De Bijenkorf and Vroon & Dressman department store chains.

Macy’s, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation’s premier retailers, with fiscal 2009 sales of $23.5 billion. The company operates about 810 Macy’s department stores and furniture galleries in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as macys.com The Bloomingdale’s brand includes 40 stores in 12 states and bloomingdales.com. Macy’s, Inc.’s diverse workforce includes approximately 161,000 employees. Prior to June 1, 2007, Macy’s, Inc. was known as Federated Department Stores, Inc. The company’s shares are traded under the symbol “M” on the New York Stock Exchange.

Toupargel Groupe comprises two main businesses: frozen foods, which account for most of sales, and fresh foods and groceries under the Place du March name. CEO Roland Tchenio controls 56% of the company, which changed its name from Toupargel-Agrigel to Toupargel Groupe in 2007.Out of escargots? Short on soufflo? Not to worry, there is a solution! Toupargel Groupe (formerly Toupargel-Agrigel) delivers fresh and frozen foods, produce, dry goods, and groceries to more than 1 million customers in France. Customers place orders by telephone or online through the company's e-business Web site and are guaranteed delivery within 48 to 72 hours.

Collective Brands, Inc. primarily engages in the wholesale and retail of footwear and related accessories worldwide. Its Payless ShoeSource stores offer footwear, including athletic, casual and dress shoes, sandals, work and fashion boots, slippers, and accessories, such as handbags, jewelry, and hosiery for women, children, and men. The company’s Payless ShoeSource stores provide its products under the Airwalk, American Eagletm, Champion, Christian Siriano for Paylesstm, Dexter, and Lela Rose for Paylesstm brand names. It also involves in the wholesale of footwear in various retail formats, including premier department stores, specialty stores, and independent shoe stores primarily in North America. In addition, Collective Brands, Inc. markets its products directly to consumers by selling children’s footwear through its Stride Rite Children’s stores; and a selection of its footwear and apparel through its Stride Rite Outlet stores and e-commerce sites.

Casual Living is a mid- to high-end outdoor and patio furniture retailer that boasts a handful of locations throughout the Dallas Metroplex and beyond. In addition to selling home furnishings, Casual Living sells fireplaces and complementary accessories. It specializes in selling top brands, such as Stoll, Hanamint, Mallin, Meadowcraft, Prestige, Tropitone, Treasure Garden, Hargrove, and Lloyd Flanders. The company got its start in Carrollton, Texas, in 1993.

Founded in 1971 with a modest 800-sq.-ft. home furnishings showroom, City Furniture sells furniture, mattresses, rugs, and accessories through about 15 showrooms across the state of Florida (in Broward, Martin, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties). Half of the company's products are made in the US. Alongside countless others in its industry, City Furniture obtains 75% of its imported furniture from China; the balance comes from Vietnam and Indonesia. Its marketing in South Florida has the company exporting its products to the Caribbean and Latin America, as well.

Limited Brands, Inc. operates as a retailer of women’s intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products, and accessories in the United States and Canada. It offers lingerie, fragrances, cosmetics, shower gels, lotions, antibacterial soaps, candles, accessories, and spa products under Victoria’s Secret, Pink, La Senza, Bath & Body Works, C. O. Bigelow, The White Barn Candle Company, and Henri Bendel brands. The company sells its merchandise through its specialty retail stores, Web sites, and catalogues. As of March 15, 2010, it operated 2,970 specialty stores. Limited Brands company was formerly known as The Limited, Inc. and changed its name to Limited Brands, Inc. in May 2002. Limited Brands, Inc. was founded in 1963 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

T J Morris offers its customers top brands-- of nearly everything-- at bottom-basement prices to value-seeking shoppers in England and Wales. The company operates more than 140 Home Bargains and "halfpriceorless.com" outlets that sell discounted personal care and household products, such as health and beauty items, toys, and designer products. The chain has announced aggressive expansion plans to grow to and manage some 500 stores within the next five years. Managing Director Tom Morris founded the company more than three decades ago.

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