Glossary

Harry Ray has served our company as corporate attorney for a number of years. His service has been excellent and timely. He has become a friend who always has our best interest in mind.

The Parable Group is a privately held company that services 338 independent retail stores throughout North America, who have a combined annual volume of over $410,000,000. Our focus is on marketing services, such as catalogs and other printed pieces, radio/TV spot production and spot buys, and data collection and manipulation.

We began the company 10 years ago with only a very limited number of stores. As we grew, we recognized our need for written agreements and a more structured working relationship with our stores, and sought legal counsel. As we searched the West Coast we were unable to find anyone who understood our business.

Then I had the privilege of reading an article on buying groups written by Harry Ray. I immediately called him, and after a short conversation, we engaged his services. Patiently he helped us work through the process of membership agreements, contracts with vendors and numerous other projects. His work has always been exemplary.

We would highly recommend Harry to you for any marketing or buying group-related services.

Sincerely,

Steve Potratz

President

The Parable Group, Inc.

It is a pleasure for me to recommend the legal services of Harry B. Ray and his firm with regard to buying and marketing groups. We have worked with Harry since December of 2008.

The School Place, LLC is a marketing group designed to assist retailers in the marketing of K-8 instructional materials, educational toys and games, arts and crafts and teaching supplies. Not knowing any attorney who specialized in buying/marketing group work, we found Harry through an internet search.

We involved Harry from the beginning. He worked with us in preparing all of the documents we needed to get the group up and running. He and his firm have also been helpful in getting our trademarks registered.

I found Harry and his firm to be very detailed, knowledgeable, thoughtful, proactive and easy to work with. A typical corporate attorney would not be able to provide the level of service that they provided due to Harry’s specialization and focus in buying and marketing group work.

If you would like to discuss our experience in using Harry and his firm further, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jack Summersell

President

The School Place (251) 645-8800

Buying Group Services, started in 1995, is a Buying Group Management firm specializing in the formation and management of buying groups.

For over five years I have known Harry Ray. His insightful and original thinking has provided keen observations to critical issues our company has faced over these many years. He manages that delicate balance of providing guidance under the law and guidance of good business. He has a unique ability to explain the law to even those of us who are legally challenged.

In addition to his knowledge of the law, it is his ever-growing experience in the buying group industry that we benefit from the most. His controlled emotional mannerisms make him a great partner at the negotiating table; you don’t want to play poker with this man.

My personal contact with Harry has been enriching and I am continually impressed by the astuteness of his observations. Harry has much to offer in a wide spectrum of practical businesses; his knowledge of the law is just a bonus.

Sincerely,

William R. Mathisen 

Executive Vice President

WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Subject: Legal Services Of Harry Ray

It is my pleasure to provide the following letter of reference regarding the work you and your firm have done for HMI Buying Group and Red Tray.

In the way of background, I started HMI in 1983 as a buying group for private practice optometrists. Virtually all of the legal work we received prior to our relationship with you was high quality, but of a generic nature. The thing we really like about working with you is your background with the special legal needs of buying groups and purchasing alliances.

As I look back on the work you’ve done for us over the last three years, it also includes preparing applications for members, contracts for vendors, antitrust advice, trademark law and our special situation with credit card processing.

You have been excellent about responding to us promptly when needed as well as a pleasure to work with on a personal basis. We like your down-to-earth approach and have been very pleased with the advice and counsel your firm has provided. In my opinion, your services have been both timely and cost-efficient.

In closing, I would highly recommend your services to any buying group needing legal advice, whether they are well-established or just getting started.

Feel free to use me and Shirleen Prescott as personal references.

Respectfully submitted,

Jerry Hayes, OD

Owner and President