Founded in 1910, Hallmark Cards, Inc. is the world's leading creator and marketer of greeting cards and personal expressions products. Hallmark cards are sold at more than 42,000 retail stores with 3,700 bearing the company-owned Gold Crown name.

Pacific Sunwear is a leading specialty retailer of everyday casual apparel, accessories and footwear designed to meet the needs of active teens and young adults. Including its retail concept, demo stores, the company operates over 1,100 stores in throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Restoration Hardware is a specialty retailer of high quality home furnishings, bath fixtures and bathware, functional and decorative hardware and related merchandise that reflects its classic and authentic American point of view. Restoration Hardware operates over 100 retail and outlet stores throughout the United States and Canada, and also sells its merchandise through its catalog and e-commerce sites.

Guitar Center is the leading U.S. retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment, operating over 210 Guitar Center stores across the United States. The Music & Arts division operates more than 95 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental. Guitar Center is also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the U.S. through its subsidiary, Musician's Friend.

Reitmans (Canada) Limited, Canada's largest women's specialty retailer, was founded in 1926 by Herman and Sarah Reitman. More than 80 years later, Reitmans Canada Ltd. has grown to include over 900 stores operating under seven divisions: Reitmans, Smart-Set, RW & Co., Penningtons, Thyme Maternity, Addition-Elle and Cassis.

Burlington Coat Factory offers a broad selection of branded quality merchandise at everyday low prices across many product divisions, including apparel and footwear for the whole family, baby furniture and accessories, and home décor and gifts. Burlington Coat Factory is a multi-department retail chain operating nearly 400 stores nationwide.

David's Bridal is the largest and most successful bridal retailer in the country. Its stores are filled with a vast selection of designer wedding gowns, in stock, in every size, with exclusive color coordination offerings. With over 50 years in the business, David's Bridal has grown to over 250 locations throughout the U.S. and continues to expand its retail store locations, while maintaining its philosophy of beauty, elegance and quality.

Spencer's is a unique retail brand that has been focused on delivering humor and enjoyment to peoples' lives for over 50 years. With over 600 mall locations throughout the United States and Canada, Spencer's is THE destination for entertainment, excitement & fun. Spencer's guests find it impossible to resist the infectious laughter that comes from experiencing a Spencer's store.

Casual Male Retail Group, Inc., the largest retailer of big and tall men's apparel with retail operations throughout the United States, Canada and London, England, operates 465 Casual Male XL retail and outlet stores, 26 Rochester Big & Tall stores, and a direct-to-consumer business which includes several catalogs and e-commerce sites. The company is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, and its common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "CMRG." | Case Study (PDF) »

Founded in 1973, Men’s Wearhouse is one of North America's largest specialty retailers of men's apparel with 1,295 stores. The Men’s Wearhouse, Moores and K&G stores carry a full selection of designer, brand name and private label suits, sport coats, furnishings and accessories and the MW Tux (formerly After Hours) stores carry a limited selection. Tuxedo rentals are available in the Men’s Wearhouse, Moores and MW Tux stores.

Hudson's Bay Company is Canada's largest diversified general merchandise retailer with more than 600 retail locations across the country under the banners Zellers, the Bay, Home Outfitters, and Fields. The company's North American parent company, Hudson's Bay Trading Company (HBTC), also owns and operates Lord & Taylor, the well-known department store located in fine malls across the United States.