Formed by the 1997 merger of Cotter & Company (which supplied the True Value chain) and ServiStar Coast to Coast, the retailer-owned hardware cooperative serves more than 5,000 retail outlets in some 55 countries. Stores offer home improvement and garden supplies, as well as appliances, housewares, sporting goods, and toys. In addition to the flagship True Value banner, members operate under the names of Taylor Rental, Grand Rental Station, Home & Garden Showplace, and Induserve Supply, among others. True Value also manufactures its own brand of paints. To survive against home improvement giants such as The Home Depot and Lowe's, True Value (formerly TruServ) is relying on the true value of service.

Grossman's Bargain Outlet is owned by Arkansas-based E.C. Barton, which also operates discount building products chain Surplus Warehouse. Grossman's Bargain Outlet caters to thrifty do-it-yourself and professional customers seeking an alternative to traditional home improvement centers. The company carries closeout and overstocked building supplies, including lumber, doors, windows, cabinets, flooring, fixtures, paint, and insulation. It operates about 50 no-frills Grossman's Bargain Outlet stores in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island. To encourage big-ticket shopping trips, Grossman's Bargain Outlet offers discounts on volume purchases and issues loyalty rewards to its Frequent Saver Club credit card holders.

Specialty Products & Insulation Co. is a division of Superior Plus LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Superior Plus Corp (Trading Symbol: SPB on TSX). For more information visit www.superiorplus.com. Specialty Products & Insulation Co. (SPI) specializes in the domestic and global distribution and fabrication of mechanical, industrial, commercial, building, metal building and HVAC insulation systems; OEM products; passive fire protection systems; architectural/acoustical ceiling, wall and flooring systems and a wide range of specialty products. We are proud of our company and our customer focus. We believe our history and commitment to the future sets us apart from our competitors, and we invite you to explore the world of SPI.

Through its eponymous print catalog and e-commerce site, Dr. Leonard's Healthcare Corp. offers a variety of health products aimed at seniors, along with clothing, collectibles, exercise equipment, home furnishings, housewares, and shoes. It also runs Carol Wright Gifts, an affiliated catalog and online retailer that sells similar merchandise as well as kitchen gadgets, travel items, gardening supplies, and holiday gifts. The company was established in 1979 by Dr. Leonard Feldman, and it operates as a subsidiary of direct marketing giant AmeriMark Holdings.

The only soft rock you'll find at Southwest Boulder & Stone is on the radio. Southwest Boulder & Stone Inc. provides natural stone, manufactured stone, and masonry products to the building trade in Southern California. Its products include boulders (real and manufactured), stones, bricks, pebbles, and assorted other sized rocks. Paving stones, crushed sand, and decomposed granite are available for paths between the boulders. Southwest Boulder & Stone Inc. also supplies a range of big equipment for transporting and placing large rocks and offers landscaping seminars. Operating from three locations in California, Southwest Boulder & Stone was founded in 1989.

Fellow countryman John Scheepers founded the company in 1905; he made the tulip the symbol of spring and came to be known as The Tulip King. John Scheepers isn't sheepish about its specialty. The company sells more than 700 varieties of tulips, narcissi, lilies, amaryllis, and rare and unusual Dutch bulbs through catalogs and online. It also sells bulb food and offers tips and planting information on its Web site. Company president Jan Ohms owns John Scheepers and sister company Van Engelen, a bulb wholesaler. Ohms is a fourth generation bulb specialist from Holland.

Bi-Mart Corporation retailer operates about 70 general merchandise membership stores throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.(About 20 are in the Portland area.) Just $5 buys a lifetime membership to the deep-discount chain, which has enrolled more than 1 million members to date. Stores offer automotive departments, clothing and shoes, food and alcohol, housewares, full-service pharmacies, and photo departments, with a focus on national brands. A pioneer in membership-based retail, Bi-Mart was started in 1955 by a group of investors in Yakima, Washington. The firm was bought by CEO Marty Smith and other senior managers from Rite Aid Corp. in 1997. Today, the company is employee-owned.

Pomp's Tire was established in 1939. The plan back then was the same as it is today, which is reflected in our mission statement. "At Pomp's tire Service, we pledge to cultivate satisfied employees who, in partnership with our suppliers, provide quality service and products in a professional manner for our customers." Since 1939, our industry has become very complex, especially recently. Just to keep up with all the new technology, new products and new governmental requirements, Pomp's has provided continual education and training to our employees in order to give our customers the correct advice for their tire and service needs.Our steady growth in seven Midwestern states lets our customers experience good hometown service. We can supply you with every tire need out there, except airplane and motorcycle tires. Over two hundred service trucks from over seventy locations, provide 24-hour service to our commercial fleet customers. Our retail stores carry the most requested brands of tires and equipment to give you confidence in your tire purchases. Our commercial truck tire division is dedicated to keeping your fleet moving. We thank you for your past support and want you to know that we'll be here for you tomorrow. We know tires, you should know Pomp's, because that's all we do.

Gabriel Brothers sells discounted brand-name clothing through more than 100 stores, under the Gabriel Brothers (commonly called "Gabes") and Rugged Wearhouse banners. Stores are located in about a dozen East Coast and Mid-Atlantic states. The company's offerings include men's, women's, and children's apparel and footwear, as well as housewares, with markdowns as high as 70% off of their original retail prices. It carries such brands as Anne Klein, Kenneth Cole, and Liz Claiborne. The family-run company was established in 1961 by James and Arthur Gabriel.

Cantoni is a tasteful retailer of modern home furnishings, with five stores in California, Georgia, and Texas. The company also offers residential and commercial staging and planning services. It also operates a warehouse and distribution center in Dallas. Michael Wilkov, Cantoni's president and founder, started the business in 1984 with a single showroom in Dallas, featuring furniture and accessories from around the world. Wilkov is the majority owner.

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