Office manager Kathy Door, said the corps currently serves about 9, 900 boys in 550 clubs in the U.S. and Canada, with strong bases of support in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and the Pacific Coast.

WSJ: Amid Boy Scout turmoil, other groups hope to grow

Groupon and other incumbents have built strong user bases, however, the quality of their audience has yet to be proven in terms of long-term ROI for advertisers.

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Strong and devoted fan bases in Boston and New York look for championships above all else.

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Both sports possess strong demographics thanks to fan bases with high disposable incomes and the global nature of the sports.

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However, for those companies with strong development teams, intellectual property, solid geographic footprints and growing consumer bases, the window is open for both financial investors and strategic acquirers.

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The author bases her book around interviews with nearly 200 people who have a strong connection to the sea.

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