Levenger began when Lori Granger Leveen and her husband, Steve, said: "Let there be lighting!" The company, which got its start in 1987 by selling halogen lights for reading, has fashioned itself into the provider of "Tools for Serious Readers." The direct marketer offers an assortment of branded and private-label home and office accessories and furniture. Its products include bookcases, briefcases, leather armchairs, lap desks, inkwells, pens, pillows, stationery, and of course, lighting products. Levenger (which derives its name from combining Leveen and Granger) sells its merchandise through its catalog, website, and retail stores in Boston; Chicago; Boca Raton, Florida; and the Washington, DC, area.

Timberlane, Inc. was founded in 1996. Customers shudder at the beauty of their shutters. Timberlane Woodcrafters manufactures custom-made exterior and interior wooden shutters. Its shutters are all crafted from western red cedar and come in authentic Cape Cod, Colonial, Federal, Greek, Mediterranean, and Victorian designs, to name a few. In an effort to ensure historical accuracy, the company employs blacksmiths to craft hand-forged, wrought iron hardware for use on their shutters. Timberlane sells directly to the individual consumers through catalogs and the company Web site, which also offers customers a shutter design tool and an online quote request form.

The Stanley Gibbons Group was founded in 1865 with the publication of its first stamp catalog. If you're seeking a stamp of approval (or any other kind of stamp), best to consult with the Stanley Gibbons Group. The Stanley Gibbons Group Limited sells stamps, autographs, and other collectibles from its London retail store and its retail website. It also makes stamp-collecting accessories and publishes Gibbons Stamp Monthly magazine, which has been in continuous circulation since 1890. Stamps and autographs are considered by The Stanley Gibbons Group Limited to be solid financial investments; therefore, it hopes to spin off a separate investment arm. In late 2010, The Stanley Gibbons Group Limited acquired Benham Collectibles from Flying Brands to diversify its business.

Follett is the #1 operator of college bookstores, with more than 850 campus bookshops (vs. about 635 for Barnes & Noble) across the US, as well as Canada. The company's business groups, which reach about 60 countries, also provide books and audiovisual materials to grade school and public libraries, library automation and management software, textbook reconditioning, and other services. Follett acquired its smaller online rival Varsity Group in 2008, complementing its own efollett.com website that sells college textbooks. The Follett family has owned and managed the company for four generations.

Tattered Cover Book Store, an independent seller of new books in Denver. Tattered Cover stocks some half a million titles in three locations: inside the Lowenstein Theater on Colfax Avenue, historic lower downtown (LoDo) Denver, and suburb Highlands Ranch. Each store encourages customers to linger by offering overstuffed chairs and reading lamps. Tattered Cover attracts customers with activities such as book groups for adults and children and author readings and signings. The company was founded by owner and CEO Joyce Meskis, a former librarian, in 1974.

Braman Management Association dealerships, most of which operate under the Braman name, sell upscale makes such as Acura, AUDI, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce; it also sells new Hondas and Mitsubishis and a variety of used cars. Each Braman location offers parts and service departments. Owner and CEO Norman Braman, who once owned the Philadelphia Eagles, formed Braman Management in 1972.It's no bull to say that Braman Management sells cars fit for Brahmans. Braman Management operates dealerships in Greenacres, Miami, and West Palm Beach, Florida; and Denver, Lakewood, and Littleton, Colorado

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.

Aaron Brothers has its hand in custom-framing and crafting. Aaron Brothers, Inc. opened its first shop in Los Angeles in 1946; today it operates some 150 stores in about 10 states. Its stores are located mostly in Texas and in the western US, but also reach to Georgia and Virginia. Aaron Brothers stores offer ready-made frames and mattes, art supplies, and custom framing services. A subsidiary of big brother hobby-retailer Michaels Stores, Aaron Brothers stores average about 5,600 sq. ft. and offer its customers some 7,100 products. Parent company Michaels Stores was taken private in 2006 by a pair of private equity firms (Bain Capital Partners and The Blackstone Group).

Marimon Business Systems was founded in 1978 by mother and son owners, president Yolanda Marimon and VP Anthony Marimon. Marimon Business Systems makes managing documents its business. With direct purchasing and service relationships with office equipment manufacturers and software developers, including HP and Sharp, the company supplies corporate clients with such products as printers, copiers, fax machines, and electronic storage and retrieval systems. Marimon's PrintCheck is a managed print service that helps with usage assessment, product selection, onsite and telephone help desk support, and real-time monitoring of supply needs. Customers have included Convergint Technologies and Capital One Bank.

Alliance Entertainment, LLC distributes music and video CDs, DVDs, games, and related products to some 3,000 merchants, including Target, Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, and Borders, as well as Internet retailers such as Amazon.com. Alliance also provides fulfillment, e-commerce, and related support services through its AEC Direct division. Its NCircle Entertainment unit licenses and distributes family entertainment titles based on such characters as Super Mario Bros. and My Little Pony. Alliance Entertainment was founded in 1990. Today it is owned by investment firms Platinum Equity and The Gores Group.

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