AMAZON

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What started as Earth's biggest bookstore has rapidly become Earth's biggest anything store. Expansion has propelled Amazon.com in innumerable directions. The firm's main Web site offers millions of books, music, DVDs, and videos (which still account for the majority, more than 60%, of the firm's sales), not to mention auto parts, toys, tools, electronics, home furnishings, apparel, health and beauty aids, prescription drugs, groceries, and services including film processing. Long a model for Internet companies that put market share ahead of profits, Amazon.com also made acquisitions funded by meteoric market capitalization and is now focused on profits. Founder Jeff Bezos owns about 24% of the firm.

STARBUCKS

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Wake up and smell the coffee -- Starbucks is everywhere. The world's #1 specialty coffee retailer, Starbucks has more than 16,000 coffee shops in more than 35 countries. The outlets offer coffee drinks and food items, as well as roasted beans, coffee accessories, and teas. Starbucks owns more than 9,000 of its shops, which are located in about 10 countries (mostly in the US), while licensees and franchisees operate more than 7,400 units worldwide (primarily in shopping centers and airports). The company also owns the Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia coffee brands. In addition, Starbucks markets its coffee through grocery stores and licenses its brand for other food and beverage products.