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CRUTCHFIELD CARRIES TORCH FOR OLYMPICS

The 2008 Summer Olympics are in full swing this month, but one multichannel merchant has already had his Olympic moment. Bill Crutchfield, CEO of electronics marketer Crutchfield, carried the Olympic torch in Hangzhou, China, on May 18. How did Crutchfield get this gig? Samsung, one of the event sponsors, invited him to fill one of their sponsored spots in the relay. He looks pretty fired up about it — as he should be.

WOODCRAFT SUPPLY HITS THE BIG 8-0

It started as a tiny shop in Boston's North End in 1928. Today, Woodcraft Supply — which claims to be the oldest-woodworking retailer in the U.S. — includes more than 85 stores and a catalog selling more than 8,000 items. This old-timer was also quick to embrace the Web — its site, which today boast more than 1 million visitors a month — went up in 1995. Happy anniversary to a stellar multichannel seller.