Topps Tiles Plc was founded by current chairman Barry Bester, who used the proceeds from his wife's hairdressing business to purchase the original shop in 1981. So tell them what you want, what you really really want. That's reportedly just what former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, did when she called upon Topps Tiles to outfit the bathroom in her Cheshire home. Topps sells ceramic tiles and wood flooring for homes and businesses throughout the UK and in Holland. Topps operates about 320 retail stores under the Topps Tiles and Tile Clearing House banners in Britain, and 20-plus Topps Floorstore shops in Holland. Its products are sourced directly from suppliers in China, Italy, Spain, South America, and Turkey.

Hicks may be in the sticks, but it has the supplies sporting goods retailers need. The company distributes marine, fishing, hunting, archery, and other outdoor products to retailers nationwide. Its bi-annual trade shows draw more than 1,500 retailers nationwide to look at boats, guns, fishing tackle, bows, arrows, and other recreational goodies. The company carries more than 30,000 items from 700 vendors and sells through a B2B site, as well. Hicks was founded in the early 1900s and has been family owned and run since. Third- and fourth-generation family members hold the chairman and CFO (John M. Wise) and president and CEO (John M. Wise, Jr.) positions.

The British Internet retailer was founded in 1998 by Michael Smith and Tom Boardman as a means to promote their Shot Glass Chess Set invention. A decade later it began doing business in the US. Firebox.com sells the very gadgets that women are forced to yell over to get their men's (and boys') attention. Firebox.com (formerly hotbox.co.uk) is an Internet retailer selling toys, games, and high-tech gadgets for boys (and girls, really) of all ages; products include remote-controlled cars and planes for the younger set, while for the older guys there are DVDs, cameras, tools, sea scooters, pool tables, and even the Internet Fridge (a refrigerator complete with a 56k modem, TV, radio, and digital camera).

Union Diamond Corporation continues to add twinkle to its sparkling reputation. Union Diamond Corporation sells wholesale and retail loose diamonds, pre-made and custom-made jewelry, and watches through its Web site and through a flagship showroom in Atlanta, Georgia. All products are distributed from one location. Prices range from $300 to $500,000, with some items topping $1 million. Customer service includes education by live diamond experts offering telephone consultations-- including advice from diamond industry veterans president and CEO Scott Anderson and COO Tony Rixom. The same pair owns Union Diamond Corporation company.

Before Old Navy, there was the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). Active-duty military personnel, reservists, retirees, and their family members can shop and gas up at more than 100 NEXCOM retail stores (brand-name and private-label merchandise ranging from apparel to home electronics), more than 155 NEXCOM Ships Stores (basic necessities), and its 100-plus Uniform Support Centers (the sole source of authorized uniforms). NEXCOM also runs about 40 Navy Lodges (motels) in the US and about half a dozen foreign countries. NEXCOM receives tax dollars for its shipboard stores, but it is otherwise self-supporting. Most of the profits fund morale, welfare, and recreational programs (MWR) for sailors.

This company has a singular mission to distribute paper to North America. Unisource Worldwide is a leading distributor of paper products and other supplies, providing commercial printing and business imaging paper and specialty paper products through about 85 distribution centers. Its offerings include ink jet and laser paper, Xerox paper, and toner cartridges, in addition to coated and uncoated commercial printing paper. Unisource also distributes packaging supplies (corrugated papers, foam and bubble sheeting), packaging systems (pallet systems, shrink packaging systems), and cleaning supplies and equipment. Unisource Worldwide, Inc. is 60% owned by Bain Capital; paper manufacturer Georgia-Pacific owns about 40%.

Leif Johnson Ford sells, you guessed it, Ford vehicles. The company's inventory includes new Ford cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as used vehicles of all makes. Leif Johnson Ford lets customers shop for, customize, and order vehicles as well as apply for financing online. Customers can schedule service appointments or order parts on its site, too. Leif Johnson Ford's AJ Rent-A-Car allow temporary use of a variety of vehicles from a Ford Focus to a 15-passenger van. The company, with a pair of locations in Austin, Texas, was founded in 1957 by Texas Land Commissioner Bob Armstrong. Leif Johnson, father of CEO Robert Johnson, purchased it in 1967 after being the manager for many years.

Lakeshore Equipment Company aims to make learning fun. Through about 50 Lakeshore Learning Stores in two dozen states, Lakeshore Equipment company sells educational toys and classroom tools, including art supplies, games, learning kits, textbooks, and teacher resource packets. It also offers products that address multicultural learning environments and special needs children, as well as in-store teacher workshops. In addition to its store network, Lakeshore Equipment markets learning materials via its two mail-order catalogs and website. Ethelyn Kaplan founded Lakeshore Equipment company in 1954. Today it is run by her son Michael (chairman) and grandsons Bo (president and CEO) and Josh (VP of Merchandising).

Wessco International is a leading supplier and wholesaler of customized amenities and accessories (personal care products, bathroom accessories, and food and beverage serviceware) to the global lodging and cruise line industry. The company's clients have included Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Omni, Westin, Adams Mark, Bellagio, the Venetian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Holland America, and Norwegian. Wessco International also offers customized onboard service products (tableware, hot towels, amenity kits, children's items, and passenger comfort items) to top airlines worldwide, such as American, Continental, British, KLM, AeroMexico, Singapore, and Cathay Pacific.

Hollywood Media Corp. provides online ticketing services and entertainment-related services. The company’s Ad Sales segment sells advertising on plasma TV displays, and cinema and theater Web sites in the United Kingdom and Ireland; and on lobby display posters, movie brochure booklets, and ticket wallets distributed in cinemas, live theater, and other entertainment venues in the United Kingdom. It also holds a 26.2% ownership interest in MovieTickets.com, a seller of online movie tickets. Hollywood Media Corp.’s Intellectual Properties segment owns or controls the rights to certain intellectual properties created by various authors and media celebrities, which it licenses for book and other media. It also owns a 51% interest in Tekno Books, a book development business. Hollywood Media Corp. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

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