Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc., founded in 1982, also sells graphic novels and related collectibles to comic book stores and bookstores nationwide. Diamond promotes comic book reading by organizing, sponsoring, and supplying Free Comic Book Day when stores give away select comic books to all attendees. Industry mainstays DC Entertainment (Batman), Dark Horse Comics, and Marvel Publishing (Spider-Man) also participate. Diamond president Steve Geppi also owns comic book publisher Gemstone Publishing, publishes Baltimore Magazine, and is an investor in the Baltimore Orioles.

The chain was acquired by Tiffany in 2002, but Tiffany sold Little Switzerland to NXP Corporation for $32.9 million in 2007. There's nothing neutral about Little Switzerland's definitively upscale stores. The company operates about 25 mostly duty-free stores that sell jewelry, watches, crystal, china, and other gift items priced from $20 to more than $10,000. Its stores, located on 11 Caribbean islands and in Key West, Florida, appeal to tourists (mostly from the US) looking to avoid the import taxes they would pay at home -- especially passengers on the cruise ship lines that ply the waters in those areas.

Hutchison Whampoa Limited operates in the ports and related services; property and hotels; retail; energy, infrastructure, finance, investments, and others; and telecommunications businesses. The company’s Ports and Related Services segment engages in the investment, development, and operation of ports in Europe, the Mainland China, north and south Asia, Australia, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment has interests in 50 ports comprising 306 berths. The company’s Property and Hotels segment invests in and develops office, commercial, industrial, and residential premises in the Mainland China, Hong Kong, and internationally. It also operates and manages hotels. The company’s Retail segment operates retail stores that sell personal care, health, beauty, luxury perfumery, cosmetic, and food and wine products, as well as consumer electronics and electrical appliances. This segment also manufactures and distributes bottled water and beverages. The company’s Energy, Infrastructure, Finance, Investments, and Others segment owns interests in energy and infrastructure projects principally in Hong Kong, the Mainland China, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This segment also engages in other ventures and activities, including the manufacture, distribution, and retail of healthcare, traditional Chinese medicine, and pharmaceutical products; property investment; manufacture of consumer electronic products; retail product sourcing and licensing; and Internet, publishing, outdoor media, and television and entertainment businesses. The company’s Telecommunications segment provides telecommunications and data services, including 3G video mobile services, fixed-line services, fiber optic broadband networks, and radio broadcasting services in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Macau, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Hutchison Whampoa Limited is based in Central, Hong Kong.

Founded by Samuel Silverman in 1912, today jewelry chain Ben Bridge Jeweler operates more than 70 stores in a dozen mostly western states, including Alaska and Hawaii. The company sells platinum, 14- and 18-karat gold jewelry, diamonds, watches, and bridal and anniversary fare from its mall-based stores and Web site. Ben Bridge married Silverman's daughter in 1922, bought out his father-in-law, and renamed the company after himself. Still run by the Bridge family, the company became a subsidiary of billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 2000.

Nebraska Book Company (NBC) can help college students across the US with book learnin'. One of the largest textbook distributors in the nation, NBC sells more than 7 million books annually. It serves a client base of some 2,500 booksellers and operates more than 275 bookstores on or adjacent to college campuses that sell and rent textbooks and other merchandise. In addition, NBC provides educational materials to students in private high schools, nontraditional colleges, and corporate and correspondence classes, as well as store management and e-commerce software. The company was founded in 1915 as a single bookstore near The University of Nebraska. It is controlled by investment firm Weston Presidio.

The Birthdays concept was later launched in 1986. Clinton Cards purchased its rival Birthdays in 2004 and runs the unit as a separate business. Amid economic turmoil and slowed consumer spending, however, Birthdays collapsed into administration (the equivalent of bankruptcy in the US) in 2009. You say it's your birthday? Well, your friends better run to a Birthdays store for those cards! The company operates about 200 (down from more than 400) Birthdays stores in the UK and Ireland offering discount greeting cards and party supplies for every occasion. Founded in 1966 as Ron Wood Greeting Cards, the company was originally a distributor of cards and gift wrap until the mid-1970s when it opened three card shops.

As we begin our 29th year in business, I want to say thank you to all of our customers who have contributed to our great success over the past 28 years. 2009 was filled with unprecedented economic change that will alter the auto industry forever. As a result, 2010 will be filled with all new challanges for us. I want you to know as your Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealer I will continue to do business the same way that I always have; by treating my customers with respect and fairness. I know that Ford Motor Company and Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury are positioned to succeed, and it's only with your help that we can do it

Cargiant was founded in 1977, helping to pioneer the car supermarket concept in the UK. The London-based dealer stocks as many as 5,000 cars, including models from Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Fiat, Ford, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, MG, and Vauxhall. The dealer offers financing through Blackhorse Plc, a unit of Llyods Banking Group(formerly Lloyds TSB), and other financial institutions. A PCP Program is provided for those who prefer 24- to 36-month leases.People looking for really big deals on wheels sometimes turn to Cargiant. The company, formerly The Great Trade Centre Ltd., is a supermarket for used automobiles.

CarMax, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. It also sells new vehicles under various franchise agreements. In addition, the company provides a range of related products and services, including the financing of vehicle purchases through its finance operation, CarMax Auto Finance, and third-party lenders; the sale of extended service plans and accessories; the appraisal and purchase of vehicles directly from consumers; and vehicle repair services. Further, it sells vehicles that do not meet its retail standards to licensed dealers through on-site wholesale auctions. As of February 28, 2010, the company operated 59 production superstores and 41 non-production superstores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.

Aristocrat Motors operates a Kansas City showroom complete with parts and service departments. Online, customers can search inventory, look up Blue Book values, request price quotes and test drives, and apply for credit. Aristocrat Motors is owned by Detroit-based holding company Soave Enterprises.To find out what an aristocrat would drive, just visit the dealership! The company sells and services new and used vehicles from such refined brands as Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Saab. It also carries vehicles from mini-car maker smart

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