Bucking the trend: 7 growing companies in slowing sectors

Retail industry sales dropped 2.7% in 2009, so it's surprising to see the online department store Amazon.com clocking in 28% annual growth as that other big discount retailer Wal-Mart reported a paltry increase of 0.6%.

Of course, Amazon is more than just a online department store. Similar in size to Macy's, Amazon seems to have no worthy online competitor. Last year, it expanded its range of goods by acquiring shoe store Zappos.com and boasted strong sales of the Kindle e-reader.

NEXT: Deckers Outdoor