Connolly Music Company, Inc. imports and distributes strings for basses, cellos, guitars, mandolins, violas, and violins. It is the only US importer of Austria-made Thomastik-Infeld strings and rosin. Products include specialty strings for electric, acoustic, classical, and jazz guitars; acoustic and jazz basses; and custom sets as well as various cored strings for orchestral instruments. The company supports the American String Teachers Association, the Suzuki Association of America, and the Perlman Music Program. Connolly Music was founded in 1970 by John Connolly. His son Jake is president and owner.

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).

Safeguard Business Systems wants to make sure small businesses get the supplies they need to stay in business -- and maybe even become less small. Safeguard Business Systems oversees the distribution of printed products (business cards, forms), office supplies (toner cartridges, file folders), and logo-branded apparel and promotional items (pens, bags) to more than 600,000 customers throughout the US and Canada. It operates through a network of about 360 local distributors. Safeguard Business Systems is a subsidiary of small business services provider and check printer Deluxe. Safeguard Business Systems was founded in 1956.

Current USA is a leading direct marketer of greeting cards and gift wrap, scrapbooking supplies, stationery, and home decorating items. It sells under the brands Times to Cherish (scrapbooking supplies), Colorful Images (personalized address labels and other paper products), Lillian Vernon (gifts and home decor), and, of course, Current. The company also operates an outlet store in Colorado and a fundraising business that lets not-for-profit groups sell its products and share the proceeds. Founded in the 1950s, Current USA was initially run out of the basement of founders Orin and Miriam Loo. The company, which was family owned and operated until 1986, is a subsidiary of printing giant Taylor.

Holt's Cigar Company gets stoked about stogies. The company sells more than 170 brands of premium cigars, including its Ashton and Holt's brands, and related smoking accessories (cases, humidors, lighters, ashtrays). Almost half of its sales are from wholesale distribution through a direct sales force. It also sells cigars through a catalog, its Web site, a pair of stores in Philadelphia, and a club in Philly's Wachovia Complex arena. Dominican Republic-based Fuente Cigar supplies two-thirds of the company's smokes. HCH Acquisition, controlled by Holt's Cigar CEO Robert Levin and the Fuente family, took the company private in December 2000.

Founded as Galpin Ford in 1946, Galpin Motors is owned and run by the Boeckmann family.Galpin Motors will do just about anything to get you to buy a car, even jolt you with joe at the full-service Starbucks shops attached to its luxury car dealerships. Claiming to have sold the first Saturn and ranking as the top Ford dealer in the world, it also sells Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, and Volvo models, as well as used cars, from four dealerships and a Web site. It also rents and customizes -- or "Galpinizes" -- vehicles, such as the Tailgate Party Truck with a built-in stainless steel barbecue, blender, DVD/TV combo, and refrigerated beer kegs.

Dive N' Surf outfits its patrons to catch the waves. Specializing in diving equipment and training, as well as surf boards, surfing gear and apparel, the company sells products through its own retail store in Redondo Beach, California, and its website. Brands include Billabong, Lost, UGG, and Volcom, among others. In addition to these, Dive N' Surf markets its Body Glove brand of high-tech surf gear. The family of the founding twin brothers Bob and Bill Meistrell own Dive N' Surf, which opened for business in 1953.

iParty Corp. engages in the sale of party goods and services through its retail stores in New England and Florida, the United States. Its stores feature approximately 20,000 products comprising paper party goods, Halloween costumes, greeting cards, and balloons, as well as merchandise, such as pinatas, tiny toys, masquerade, and Hawaiian Luau items. iParty Corp. also offers party planning advice and relevant information services, as well as licenses the name iParty.com to a third party. As of December 26, 2009, it operated 26 stores in Massachusetts, 7 in Connecticut, 6 in New Hampshire, 3 in Rhode Island, 3 in Maine, 1 in Vermont, and 5 stores in Florida. iParty Corp. was founded in 1998 and is based in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Findlay Automotive also sells RVs at its Las Vegas location. In addition, the company provides auto parts, services, and financing. Established in 1959 by the late Pete Findlay, today Findlay Automotive is owned by his son president Cliff Findlay.High rollers can find their wheels at Findlay Automotive. Findlay Automotive Group sells a variety of new and used cars at about a dozen dealerships in the Las Vegas area, but also in Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. Findlay's auto brands include Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, GMC, Saab, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

Half Price Books, Records, Magazines, Incorporated,the bookstore chain sells used and new books, magazines, videos, DVDs, and music. Only about half of the merchandise it sells is new. Its roughly 110 stores are located in more than 15 states, primarily Texas. Its wholesale catalog division, Texas Bookman, reprints classics and other public domain works. Half Price Books has grown slowly but steadily; its stores keep a small-company look with secondhand and employee-made furnishings. The company was started by Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson (late mom of president and CEO Sharon Anderson Wright) in 1972 to save trees by recycling unwanted books. The Anderson family owns most of the company.

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