Methodology

General Criteria for Inclusion

Apparel Specialty - Companies specializing in the sale of apparel, accessories and related products. Retailers must have a minimum annual sales volume of $500,000 with the exception of children specialty stores which is $250,000. (Examples: Gap, Ross, Stein Mart).

Automotive Aftermarket/Marine - Companies operating 5 or more locations specializing in the sale of automotive aftermarket products and accessories. (Examples: AutoZone, Pep Boys). Wholesale distributors must indicate annual sales of at least $100 million.

Computer, Consumer Electronics and Music/Video - Retailers must operate at least 5 or more locations or report a minimum of $500 million in annual sales. Wholesale distributors must indicate a minimum of $900 million. (Examples: Best Buy, Circuit City, Verizon Wireless).

Convenience Store - A small, easy access food retailer with limited product lines. Many convenience stores also sell fast food and gasoline. (Examples: Circle C Stores Inc., Giant Industries Inc., USA Petroleum Corp., Tom Thumb Food Stores Inc.). Must operate two or more stores and generate at least $2 million in annual sales.

Department Store - Chain and independent companies primarily selling moderate, better and designer merchandise. Typically provides checkout service and customer assistance within each department. (Examples: Sears, Dillard's Inc.). Companies must have a minimum sales volume of $250,000. Jewelry, leather/luggage and optical retailers must operate two or more locations and generate annual sales of at least $250,000.

Discount & General Merchandise/Specialty Retail - Retail establishment selling a variety of merchandise for less than conventional prices. Retail companies in this category must generate at least $500,000 in annual sales. Also includes book, candy, card/gift/novelty, houseware/giftware, membership club, military exchange, office products, pet and toy retailers. (Examples: Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Godiva, Party City, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Sam's Club, AAFES, Staples, PETsMART, Toys 'R' US).

Dollar Store - Retail companies who sell merchandise at one of the following price points: extreme value, odd-lot/close-out or single-price. Must indicate a minimum annual sales volume of $250,000. (Examples: Dollar General, Family Dollar).

Drug Store - Companies operating two or more drug stores with annual sales of at least $250,000. Other retailers that meet the criteria for inclusion are supermarkets and mass merchandise chains that own and operate two or more pharmacies. (Examples: Walgreen Co., Longs Drug Stores Corporation, Medicine Shoppe).

Foodservice Distributor - Companies selling food, equipment and/or supplies to restaurants and other foodservice venues. The company must have a minimum of $500,000 in sales to foodservice companies and no more than 95% of its foodservice distribution sales volume may be from self-manufactured merchandise. (Examples: SYSCO, US Foodservice).

Health & Beauty Care/Cosmetic Store - Companies selling health and beauty care products and/or cosmetics, but no prescription drugs. Must operate two or more stores with annual sales of at least $250,000. (Examples: General Nutrition Inc., Bath & Body Works, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Crabtree & Evelyn).

Home Center & Hardware Chains - Companies selling wood products, a range of hardware products, and home furnishings. Companies must have an annual sales volume of at least $1 million. Hardware stores must have an annual sales volume of at least $1.5 million or operate at least two locations. (Example: Home Depot, Lowe's)

Home Furnishings Store - Retailers that operate two or more stores or generate at least $10 million in annual sales from home furnishings. (Examples: Pier 1, IKEA, Rooms To Go, Haverty Furniture Companies Inc.).

High Volume Independent Drug - Single-unit, retail drug stores with pharmacy departments and sales of $500,000 or more. (Examples: Doctor's Center Pharmacy, Volume Drugs, Powell's Pharmacy Inc.).

High Volume Independent Restaurant - Full-service, single-unit restaurant operator that has at least $1 million in annual sales. (Examples: Charlie's Bar & Grill, Big Rock Chop House, Waldo's Pizza, The Great Greek).

Leading Chain Miscellaneous - Companies that operates 5 or more locations and business classification falls outside of CSG's traditional retail markets. (Examples: Amscot, Fantastic Sams).

Restaurant Chains - Company must generate at least $1 million in annual foodservice sales, either systemwide or corporate and operate two or more units. Hotel/Motel companies must control two or more foodservice operations. (Example: McDonald's, Starbucks, Darden Restaurants).

Single Unit Supermarket - Single-unit operator whose primary business is grocery retailing and generates at least $250,000 in annual sales. (Examples: Stop & Shop Market, Palmer's Supermarket Inc., Cascade Foods Inc., Abe's Grocery).

Supermarket & Grocery Chains - Companies operating two or more stores whose primary business is grocery retailing and generates annual sales of at least $2 million. (Examples: Publix, Albertson's, Safeway, Kroger).

Wholesale Grocer - Companies selling packaged goods to supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail venues. To qualify for inclusion, a company must distribute more than one product line and no more than 95% of its wholesale grocer sales volume may be from self-manufactured merchandise. The company must have a minimum of $500,000 in sales to grocery retailers. (Examples: McLane, Associated Wholesale Grocers).