J. Front Retailing fronts the retail operations of leading Japanese department stores The Daimaru and Matsuzakaya Holdings. The holding company was created by the merger of the two ailing rivals in 2007. The Daimaru, founded as a drapery shop in 1717, operates about 15 upscale shops in western Japan. Matsuzakaya, founded in 1611 as a kimono retailer, runs eight department stores in central Japan, including its flagship location in Nagoya. J. Front's Peacock Stores unit operates some 90 supermarkets in the Chubu, Kansai, and Tokyo districts of Japan. The company's other activities include construction, credit services, direct marketing, furniture making, restaurants, and wholesale textiles.

Variety is not only the spice of life -- it's also a major purveyor of deeply discounted merchandise. With some 425 stores in about 15 Southeastern states, Variety Wholesalers has survived even Wal-Mart's march through rural America. The company, which has aggressively bought other chains while closing poorly performing stores, tends to set up shop in small towns where the retail giants fear to tread. Its retail outlets sell beauty products, housewares, snacks, toys and more, under banners including Bargain Town, Maxway, Roses, and Super 10. Variety Wholesalers was founded in 1949 by James Pope; the Pope family, including chairman and CEO Art Pope, still runs the company.

Interstate Companies, Inc., provides a broad range of automotive products and services through its group of businesses. Its Interstate PowerSystems unit distributes engines, transmissions, heater systems, mobile refrigeration products, generators, and other products manufactured by Detroit Diesel, Deutz, Dresser Waukesha, Espar, Allison, Carrier, and others. Its AssemblySystems division offers parts, kits, and assemblies to bus and coach OEMs throughout North America. The BearingsSytems unit provides bearing, power transmission, and conveyor services. Founded in 1957, Interstate Companies has more than 15 locations throughout Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the Dakotas.

Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) is Canada's only nationwide drugstore chain, with locations in every province and two territories. With more than 1,200 drugstores, it's #2 north of the border, behind Katz Group. Most of the company's stores fly the Shoppers Drug Mart banner (Pharmaprix in Quebec). It also operates about 65 Shoppers Home Health Care stores. SDM ranks as a leading Canadian retailer of beauty products, with more than 225 in-store beauty boutiques that sell prestige cosmetics, fragrances, and skin care products. It is expanding in Quebec by opening new stores and acquiring independent pharmacies. The firm was founded in 1962 by Murray Koffler, a Toronto druggist.

Chairman Max Gondon founded AMS in 1969. The company was acquired in 2007 by CRH, an Ireland-based building materials maker. Acoustical Material Services (AMS) sells the materials builders need to put a roof over your head -- not to mention hold your whole house together. The company provides acoustical ceiling products, lath and plaster, drywall, doors, and frames, as well as other construction supplies. Customers include large and small contractors, subcontractors, building owners, and dealers. AMS distributes products from about 20 locations in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah, as well as Mexico (via AMS De Mexico). It also exports to markets in Guam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

QVC (its name stands for "quality, value, and convenience") offers about 1,150 items each week to TV-tied shopping addicts. Merchandise includes apparel, cosmetics, electronics, housewares, jewelry, and toys. It broadcasts 24 hours a day; viewers call in their orders to one of its five call centers. If you can't find what you're shopping for on the tube, it also sells online and through five outlet stores plus a full-line store at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The company also has shopping channels in Germany, Japan, and the UK. QVC is a subsidiary of Liberty Interactive Group, which is owned by Liberty Media.

Precision Trading Corp. was founded in 1979 with the goal of becoming the premier exporter and distributor of consumer electronics and housewares in the Americas. In an industry often permeated by less than honest practices, Precision’s main goal has been and continues to be to offer the best products at the best prices while adhering to the highest ethical standards as well as total customer satisfaction.Precision Trading is located in Miami, Florida, where its headquarters as well as its main warehouse and distribution facilities are located. Additionally Precision has a network of distributors and service stations in most major countries throughout Latin America. In Brazil, Precision has a joint venture audio and video manufacturing facility in the free port city of Manaus. Worldwide purchasing is managed out of Miami headquarters with the assistance of satellite purchasing offices in Hong Kong and Ningbo, P.R.C.

Small Island Trader sells ceramics and crystal objects online to private buyers globally. Its web site contains more than 50,000 items, ranging from Wedgwood china to collectible paperweights and Versace ashtrays and other collectibles. The company secures its merchandise from about 20 leading ceramics manufacturers. Founded in 1997 by husband-and-wife team Alexandra and Jim Murray (managing director and creative director, respectively), the company is still owned by the couple.

AUTOBACS SEVEN was founded in 1947. AUTOBACS SEVEN is driven to provide one-stop shopping to Japanese motorists. The company sells automotive items at about 520 stores throughout Japan, under the names AUTOBACS, Super AUTOBACS, AUTO Helloes, and AUTOBACS Hashiriya Tengoku, among others. AUTOBACS are small, automotive convenience-type stores, while the larger-sized Super AUTOBACS carry a broad range of auto products. The Hashiriya Tengoku locations boast used parts. AUTOBACS also provides safety inspections and maintenance services, and it sells cars and gas. In 2009 the company sold its US arm, AUTOBACS STRAUSS (acquired in 2007), and exited the US market.

Modern Builders Supply (MBS) is an old hand when it comes to windows and doors. The company, founded in 1944, makes and markets window and door systems through its Polaris Technologies division. The company's brands include Polaris Dynatech and Polaris UltraWeld. MBS also distributes products from other leading manufacturers, including roofing, siding, and accessories (Alcoa, Certainteed, Owens Corning); kitchen components (4B Wood Cabinets, Kraftmaid); entry and storm doors (Pease, Therma-Tru); and tools and equipment (QualCraft, Werner). President and CEO Kevin Leggett runs the company with his brother, COO Eric.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.