Refrigeration Sales Corporation (RSC) was founded by Warren Wightman Farr Sr. in 1945, shortly after World War II. Business operations included service and repair of refrigeration equipment, as well as the retail sales of various refrigeration appliances. In 1949, Warren Sr. was approached by Willis Carrier (the recognized founder of air conditioning) to convert the business to pure wholesale of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration products. At that time, annual sales revenues were $2MM. While wholesale was a relatively new endeavor, and it would mean getting out of the familiar contracting business, Warren Sr. decided to take the risk and make the change to his business operations. To reduce this risk, he negotiated exclusive representation of the Carrier product line for 23 northeastern Ohio counties including Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown areas.In 1975, when Warren Sr. retired, annual sales were $7M. Warren Farr Jr. (Hap) assumed leadership of the company , and branch stores were added to diversify RSC sales away from HVAC equipment alone. Today, the parts and supplies division accounts for 33% of RSC's overall sales. Several more counties in the Columbus and southern Ohio areas were also added to RSC's Carrier franchise-- resulting in 1978 annual sales of $31MM. RSC continues to add other major HVAC/R products and brands to its sales offerings. In 2000, Warren Farr III was named President. Today, RSC continues to be a pure wholesaler with a wide variety of HVAC/R products including: ice machines, coolers, air conditioners, gas furnaces, chillers, digital control systems, replacement parts, tools, and chemicals. RSC has 12 locations, 11 in Ohio and 1 in Pennsylvania, servicing thousands of contractor customers. RSC is known for representing the best brands in the industry, as well as supporting these brands with excellent training and support services for the trade.

Most businesses get started small, and this is also true of ODL. Our roots sprang forth during World War II in 1945, as a small business in Cy Mulder's home. From that we grew into Art Craft Novelty shop in a humble brick building in Zeeland, Michigan. More than 65 years later, that small company has grown to become an industry leader thanks in part to the innovations we have introduced. ODL prides itself not only on manufacturing first-rate products, but knowing where our products have a place in the market. We understand our customer's desires and we are proud to live up to our motto: Building Value into Building Products®.

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.

Showerlux UK became a subsidiary of Swiss-based Duscholux Group in 1973. Showerlux wants its customers to luxuriate in the shower as often as they possibly can. The company manufactures and installs its own high-design, high-end bathroom fixtures. In addition to its primary product offering, which features shower enclosures, doors, and trays, its selection also includes shower seats, baths, cabinets, furniture, mirrors, and a hydrotherapy collection, all ready to fit into bathrooms of a variety of sizes. Customers are even able to design their own custom bathrooms on the company's Web site.

AUTOBACS STRAUSS INC. was created in 1982 through the acquisition of Strauss, a New York City auto-parts chain founded in 1919, by R&S Auto. It spent two years under the ownership of Japan's AUTOBACS SEVEN CO. before being sold back to its former owner Glenn Langberg in 2009. If your car conks out in the city that never sleeps you might seek out AUTOBACS STRAUSS (formerly Strauss Discount Auto) for a wake-up call. The auto parts and service chain has about 75 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The stores sell accessories and car-care products, as well as hard parts such as batteries, mufflers, radiators, and spark plugs, tires, and tools. Many locations also offer repair services.

The company, a subsidiary of CUTCO, manages the marketing and direct sales functions of sister company Cutco Cutlery, which is the largest kitchen cutlery manufacturer in North America. The firm and its Canadian counterpart, Vector Marketing Canada, enlist a legion of some 40,000 college students as representatives who make home visits to demonstrate and sell Cutco products. Cutco's product portfolio includes butcher knives, pizza cutters, paring knives, carving forks, ice cream scoops, and other kitchen utensils. Vector Marketing operates more than 200 offices throughout North America.

E-Z Mart Stores founder Jim Yates kept his first convenience store in Ashdown, Arkansas, open until 11. The company now boasts 300 outlets across five southern states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas). Rather than build its own stores, the company usually expands through acquisitions. In addition to the standard hot dogs, chips, sodas, and cigarettes, most E-Z Mart locations also offer Shell, Conoco, Phillips 66, or CITGO gasoline. Yates died in late 1998 when the plane he was piloting crashed, leaving his daughter Sonja Hubbard at the company's helm as CEO.

Newegg Inc. is the second-largest online-only retailer in the United States. It owns and operates Newegg.com (www.newegg.com) which was founded in 2001 and regularly earns industry-leading customer service ratings. The award-winning website has more than 13 million registered users and offers customers a comprehensive selection of the latest high-tech products, detailed product descriptions and images, as well as how-to information and customer reviews. Using the site’s online tech community, customers have the opportunity to interact with other computer, gaming and consumer electronics enthusiasts. Newegg Inc. is headquartered in City of Industry, California.

Bordine Nursery can help you with borders. Or flower beds. Or orchards. The company operates four nurseries in southeastern Michigan growing and selling annuals, perennials, shrubs, roses, and trees. Bordine also offers lawn and patio furniture, fertilizers and plant food, design services, plant guides, and gardening publications. Currently owned and operated by third generation Bordines, the nursery regularly donates plants, flowers, and shrubs to local schools and other community groups. Originally a roadside flower stand, Bordine was founded in 1939 by Darrell and Marian Bordine.

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.

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