Spicers is nothing to sneeze at -- the company is a leading office products and equipment wholesaler in the UK and France, where most of its 20-plus distribution centers are located; it also holds strong market positions in Ireland, France, and the Benelux countries, and is developing its business in Germany, Italy, and Spain. The company's 18,000 products, which are sold to office products dealers via its numerous catalogs and Web site, include office equipment, furniture, and janitorial supplies sold under major manufacturers' brands as well as its own brand, 5 Star. Spicers accounts for about one-third of the revenues of its packaging and paper parent company, DS Smith.

Founded in 1998, Provide Commerce is owned by e-commerce and media conglomerate Liberty Interactive Group. Provide Commerce keeps the perishable goods market fresh. More than 80% of the e-tailer's sales are generated by its ProFlowers.com unit, which ships flowers, plants, and wreaths directly from growers to residential and corporate clients. The virtual florist also offers chocolate, popcorn, and fruit and cheese baskets. Provide Commerce's Cherry Moon Farms virtual shop offers hand-picked fruits, while its Secret Spoon Sweets brand sells baked goods, truffles, hand-dipped strawberries, and other confections. RedEnvelope (acquired in 2008) sells upscale gifts and jewelry online and via catalog.

CEO Sharon DiMinico founded Learning Express, Inc. in 1987. For kids (and parents) who want to get on board the educational entertainment train, Learning Express is the first stop. The specialty toy store franchiser has more than 100 locations in about 25 states. It sell toys for every age group with a focus on educational items. Major brands include Alex Toys (craft kits), Calico Critters (animal figures), Groovy Girls (dolls and accessories), Rokenbok (remote controlled vehicles and construction sets), and Thomas the Tank (wooden train sets and construction toys). It offerings are designed to spark creativity, teach diversity, and encourage development.

Founded in 1973, the company is a subsidiary of Fred Meyer Stores, which is itself a subsidiary of grocery giant Kroger. Fred Meyer Jewelers wants to help you keep track of time while making room in your life for some bling. Founded in 1973, Fred Meyer Jewelers sells value-priced diamond and gemstone jewelry and well-known watch brands, such as Bulova, Citizen, Longines, Movado, and Omega. The company has some 375 jewelry stores in about three dozen states, including locations inside Fred Meyer Marketplace and Kroger Marketplace stores. (More than a third of the stores are located in California, Oregon, and Washington.) It operates under the names Barclay Jewelers, Fred Meyer Jewelers, and Littman Jewelers.

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.

Grody cars can be beautiful. Ken Grody Automotive Group sells new Ford cars and trucks at two dealerships in California -- one in Buena Park and the other in Carlsbad. For customers desiring some extra power, both locations offer high-performance Roush-engineered crate engines for its vehicles. Additionally, the company sells a wide variety of used cars and provides parts and service. Customers can use the company Website to browse for vehicles, get a quote and apply for credit. Founded in 1958, the group is now solely owned by president Ken Grody.

Edwin Watts Golf is a leading golf specialty retail chain in the US. The company operates about 70 golf specialty stores in 10 mostly southeastern states and Texas. Its stores sell clubs, golf balls, bags, training aids, and more. The company also sells golf equipment by catalog and online, and it operates a club leasing program for novices and golfers who like to try out state-of-the-art gear. Edwin Watts Golf was founded in 1968 as a small pro shop at the municipal golf course in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, by brothers Edwin and Ronnie Watts. It is owned by an affiliate of investment firm Sun Capital Partners.

Florida Transportation Systems makes sure the wheels on the bus go round and round. The company sells and services Blue Bird school buses and other commercial buses, such as transit and shuttle buses made by Thor Industries, ADA-accessible paratransit vans made by The Braun Corporation, and minibuses made by Girardin. Customers include Florida school districts, transit agencies, and local governments in the Sunshine State. Florida Transportation Systems was founded in 1982.

Tangram Interiors keeps it all on the inside. Tangram Interiors company is an office furniture manufacturer and dealer specializing in Steelcase products. Other brands include Brayton, Vecta, Metro, and Lightolier. Tangram Interiors, with two showrooms in southern California, offers asset management, furniture rental, network installation, remanufacturing, and moving and relocation assistance. Tangram sells an "acoustic privacy system" that allows workplace conversations to remain private by broadcasting a signal that scrambles speech patterns into white noise. The company's Tangram Studio provides design services, project management, and custom architectural elements. Tangram Interiors is part of Steelcase family of companies.

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.

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