Through its Appliance Smart stores, ARCA is one of the nation’s leading retailers of special-buy household appliances, including such leading brands as Maytag, GE, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool. These special-buy appliances include close-outs, factory overruns, and scratch-and-dent units. As of April 2008, Appliance Smart was operating 15 factory outlets. ARCA is also one of the nation’s largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities.