Harps operated as a family-run chain until 2001 when it became an employee-owned business.It's tough to survive in the face of Arkansas giant Wal-Mart, but Harps Food Stores (founded when Sam Walton was 12 years old) is putting up a fight. The company, which got its start when Floy and Harvard Harp put down $500 cash and opened the first Harp's Cash Grocery in 1930, operates more than 60 grocery stores, mostly in Arkansas but also in Missouri and Oklahoma. Its stores, operating under the Harps Food Stores and Price Cutter Food Warehouse banners, range in size from 13,000 to 63,000 sq. ft. and often feature bakeries, pharmacies, and meat departments

GNC is owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Board Plan, its affiliate Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund II, and management. GNC filed to go public in September 2010.What's good for the customer is good for GNC Acquisition Corporation (formerly General Nutrition Centers). GNC operates the world's leading nutritional-supplements retail chain devoted solely to items such as vitamins and dietary products. The company also makes Rite Aid private-label products. It sells its products online, as well, through a partnership with drugstore.com. GNC has 2,800 company-owned retail stores in the US and Canada; 1,900 store-within-a-store sites in Rite Aid's drugstores; and 2,220 franchised stores in 47 countries.

Other World Computing (OWC) has been providing quality hardware products and support to the computer industry since 1988 and features one of the largest online catalogs of computer, iPod, and iPhone enhancement products through its e-commerce portal www.macsales.com. As an Apple Certified Developer, OWC also provides extensive US based technical support for Macintosh users around the world as well as Internet access via www.fastermac.net and www.owc.net. OWC's industry awards and recognition include: Crain's Chicago Business 2009 "Fast 50" List of 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Chicago Area; Computerworld Magazine Top Green-IT Companies for 2008; Inc. 5,000 Top 100 Computers & Electronics Companies 2007 to 2009; and McHenry County Economic Development Corporation 2008 Business Champion Award.By activating an on-site wind turbine in October 2009 at its Woodstock, IL corporate headquarters, OWC became the first technology manufacturer/distributor in U.S. to become 100% on-site wind powered. The turbine cleanly generates more net energy than is consumed by OWC's operations and datacenter. OWC's leadership role in environmental stewardship was officially acknowledged in March 2010, when the Other World Computing corporate campus was awarded LEED Platinum Certification by the Green Building Certification Institute. Platinum is the highest achievable level of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Program, which began in 1998. Out of more than 14,000 LEED projects engaged worldwide since the program's inception, OWC is one ofless than three hundred to achieve the Platinum standard. With this recognition, OWC also became the first privately owned light manufacturing/assembly building in Illinois to obtain LEED Platinum status.

Founded in 1960 by the Libman family, Pennsylvania-based Hajoca Corporation acquired Able in 2005. President Barry Libman still runs the business. This company is ready, willing, and, well, you get it. Able Distributing Company supplies contractors with plumbing and heating products through a half-dozen locations in Arizona and Wisconsin. Its locations include showrooms with mock kitchens, bathrooms, and custom installations showcasing fixtures, pipes, tubing, and other items from such brands as Kohler, Delta Faucet Company, and Axor, among others. The company also provides related products and services through subsidiaries Able Technology and Able Field Services.

Cash Converters International makes cash advances in return for used merchandise, including electronics, jewelry, musical instruments, tools, and more, which it resells to the public. The second-hand goods retailer and pawnbroker operates about 500 franchised and company-owned stores in its home country of Australia and another 20 countries worldwide, including Canada, the US, and the UK. The company also offers customers cash advances on their paychecks. Stores operate under the Cash Converters banner. Texas-based EZCORP acquired a 30% stake in the firm in 2009.

There might be a trip to Best Buy for some CDs or a television in your future. Best Buy Canada operates about 210 consumer electronics superstores under the three brands: Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile, and Future Shop. The retail outlets offer televisions, computers, and DVD players, as well as cameras, CDs, DVDs, mobile phones, and software. In addition the Future Shop stores, which average 26,700 square feet and are smaller than Best Buy Canada locations, offer home appliances, office supplies, and maintenance services. Best Buy Canada also offers customers in-home and commercial technical support through its Geek Squad services unit. US-based retail giant Best Buy acquired the Future Shop chain in 2002.

Foot Locker, Inc. operates as a retailer of athletic footwear and apparel. Foot Locker, Inc. operates in two segments, Athletic Stores and Direct-to-Customers. The Athletic Stores segment offers athletic footwear and apparel under various formats, including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Footaction, and CCS. This segment offers footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories, as well as casual wear for various activities, including basketball, running, training, walking, toning, and fitness for young males, women, and children. The Direct-to-Customers segment, through its affiliates, sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, team licensed, and private-label merchandise through catalogs and Internet Websites. As of March 9, 2010, Foot Locker, Inc. operated 3,500 stores in North America, Europe, and Australia. It also franchises its Foot Locker stores in the Middle East and the Republic of Korea. As of January 30, 2010, the company had a total of 22 franchised stores. Foot Locker, Inc. was founded in 1879 and is based in New York, New York.

President Eduardo Bedoya founded the company in 1990. Choosing a new computer can be as easy as EBC. EBC Computers sells computers and related products through its four retail outlets in Orem, Salt Lake City, Sandy, and Walnut, Utah. Customers can buy complete computer systems, parts to build or upgrade a computer, and accessories like Web cameras, speakers, and microphones. The company will also build computers and systems to customer specifications. EBC's technical support includes advice and assistance for those who build their own computers as well as diagnostics and repair of all computers.

Victoria's Secret is not hush-hush, but it is unmentionable(s). The largest subsidiary of Limited Brands (based on sales) is also North America's #1 specialty retailer of women's intimate apparel, operating about 1,040 mostly mall-based Victoria's Secret and 250-plus La Senza lingerie stores throughout the US and Canada. Bras, panties, hosiery, swimwear, shoes, and more are sold under the Victoria's Secret brand and grouped in collections such as Dream Angels and Very Sexy. Many Victoria's Secret lingerie stores also sell beauty products. Its sister company Victoria's Secret Direct mails about 400 million of its sexy catalogs per year, offering intimate apparel, women's clothing, and footwear.

Dave's Supermarkets was founded in the late 1920's when Alex Saltzman, the first of four generations of grocers, hung up reins in his horse drawn produce wagon and opened the first corner family store at 33rd and Payne Avenue in Cleveland. The store was named for Alex's son, Dave who succeeded his father in the business. Following in Dave's footstep was his son Burton who recognized that the store needed to address the growing needs of their customers. Over the years, Burton along with his two sons, Dan and Steve Saltzman, have expanded upon the company's original vision and continue to grow the chain. Dave's is the only retail food store to invest significantly in Cleveland in recent years. New and exciting developments at Dave's included the acquisition of four new locations in 2007 as well as the launch of Dave's Mercado at the Ridge Road location. The Mercado provides the largest selection of hispanic foods in the Cleveland area. The Saltzman Family is proud to have stores serving 13 local neighborhoods.

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