In 1959, William Jacobs started Columbus Fair Auto Auction based on excellent customer service and fairness. He recognized that auctions offered a solution to automobile dealers' needs for a source and marketplace for used motor vehicles.Obviously, the financial risk of leasing space at the Ohio State Fairgrounds to run a one-lane auction in 1959 was small, but significant for this startup entrepreneurial endeavor. It, however, pales in comparison to the present multi-million dollar investment in today's 85-acre facility in Obetz. However, the original strategy of offering a marketplace for used vehicles where buyers and sellers would congregate for the benefit of both continues today.

Star Struck was founded in 1981. Jewelers can set their watches by Star Struck. Star Struck LLC distributes batteries, repair tools, testing machines, cleaning agents, and other supplies for jewelry and watchmaking. Besides its batteries for timepieces, Star Struck carries batteries for calculators, cameras, and hearing aids from major brands (Energizer, Rayovac) as well as its own private label. Star Struck LLC serves more than 17,000 customers, including jewelers, watch repairmen, electronics professionals, and hobbyists. Its products are sold via phone or online.

LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention helps to spread the teachings of Jesus. The company is a not-for-profit Christian publisher; it also sells Bibles and other good books, CDs, gifts, software, church furniture, signs, and other supplies through more than 150 LifeWay Christian Stores in about 25 US states, online, and through its catalog. In addition, LifeWay operates two of the nation's largest Christian conference facilities (and summer camps). LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina and LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico together welcome about 2,000 conference and overnight guests per year. LifeWay was founded in 1891 by Dr. J.M. Frost.

Archibald's knows hot wheels when it sees 'em. The auto dealer specializes in the sale of used luxury vehicles from a single location in Kennewick, Washington. Archibald's swanky rides include BMW, Acura, Cadillac, Jaguar, and Mercedes Benz. Visitors to the company's Web site can check inventory, view photos of each vehicle, check trade-in values, and apply for financing. Archibald's claims its success is due to applying the golden rule, treat other people the way you would like to be treated, to its business model. The company is owned by president John Archibald and vice president Daniel Archibald.

Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) can prepare you for a life of climb. EMS sells a wide range of outdoor gear, apparel, footwear, and accessories from about 65 stores in a dozen East Coast states from Maine to Virginia and on its website. Outdoor enthusiasts can purchase or rent tents, sleeping bags, and other equipment -- choosing from brands such as Patagonia, Columbia, The North Face, and Teva. The retailer's own EMS branded products account for more than a third of sales. EMS offers outdoor skills clinics, provides guides for hire, and arranges day and overnight trips. It also operates climbing and kayaking schools. EMS was founded in 1967 by two New England rock climbers.

Kuni Automotive has the right wheels for the Left Coast. The auto group annually sells new BMW, Buick, Honda, Land Rover, Lexus, Smart, and Volkswagen cars at about eight dealerships in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. The dealership group also sells used cars. Kuni Automotive's dealerships provide parts and services, and some of them also perform collision repair. On the group's Web site, car shoppers can browse for new and used offerings, order parts, schedule service, or apply for financing. With Burt Automotive, Kuni operates Burt-Kuni Honda near Denver, Colorado.

KMC Music helps to keep amateur and professional musicians plugged in to the latest and greatest. Formerly Kaman Music Corporation, it's the largest independent distributor of musical instruments and accessories in the US. KMC's products portfolio includes Ovation and Hamer guitars, Gibraltar hardware, Latin Percussion, and Toca drums. It also sells Takamine guitars, Gretsch drums, Sabian cymbals, and Genz Benz amps. KMC peddles its products in the US, Asia/Pacific, Australia, Europe, and South America and through wholesale catalogs with more than 36,000 products. KMC was founded in 1966 as Ovation Instruments and in 2007 it was acquired by industry behemoth Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

American Service Center was founded in 1937 by Saul Brooks and his brother-in-law Saul Gordon. It was located at the intersection of Glebe Road and North Randolph Street in Arlington, Virginia. Although the business has gone through many changes, it is still at the same location operating as a Mercedes-Benz dealership. Today, it is owned and operated by the second and third generations of it's founders. The daily operation of the business is now in the capable hands of Alvin Brooks and Morton Zetlin, the son and son-in-law of Saul Brooks. Mark Zetlin, Morton's son, is currently the New Mercedes-Benz Sales Manager. American Service Center, through the hard work and dedication of over 300 employees, has achieved and maintained great success in the Washington Region of Mercedes-Benz USA. By constantly paying attention to Customer Satisfaction and remembering Saul Brooks' most often used directive "Take care of the Customer, that's the main thing", ASC ranks either 1st or 2nd in: New Mercedes-Benz sales; Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned sales; Service sales; Parts sales; and Body Shop sales. Our Body Shop is, not only 'Fully Certified' by Mercedes-Benz USA, but also is an 'authorized' and 'designated' repair facility for both GEICO and USAA insurance companies.

Internet Brands was founded in 1998 as CarsDirect.com. CarsDirect quickly gained popularity with consumers and advertisers, winning numerous industry awards, such as one of the "50 Best" websites in the world by Time Magazine, a "Top 100 Classic Website" by PC Magazine, and a "Top Site for Buying or Selling Anything" by PC World. But that success was only a seedling. In 2005, the company began an enormous transition - from a single vertical to a diversified, platform company that would scale much larger. In 2006, the company changed its name to Internet Brands and started to accelerate its diversification and growth. On November 16, 2007, Internet Brands became a public company, listing on the NASDAQ exchange with ticker symbol INET.In 2008 and 2009, the company continued to grow its EBITDA profitability and its "same store" revenue at double digits, despite the recession.

Tourneau tells time with style. A leading wholesaler and retailer of luxury watches for more than a century, Tourneau has several stores (including the Tourneau TimeMachine, its flagship location which opened in 1997 and covers 16,000 sq. ft.) in New York City and more than 30 others in about a dozen states across the US, including California and Florida. The stores sell watches and vintage timepieces under more than 100 well known brand names, including its namesake brand (Tourneau). Tourneau also operates Watch Gear (launched in 1999), a chain targeted at younger (ages 18 to 35), less affluent consumers. Watch Gear offers more than 30 watch brands both in stores and online at Watchgear.com.

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.