Enhancement to cashback search application using PHP and MySQL

**The Background **I have a cashback search web application built in php using a mysql database. (<[login to view URL]>) The search field invokes instant suggestions of store names as you type. These store names come from the database which contains a consolidated list of store names which was gathered from 4 cashback websites. The Problem In many cases the 4 cashback websites dont use the same exact spelling of a particular store like "Bloomingdales" versus "Bloomingdale's". Or the cashback sites contained multiple types of stores like Sony and Sony Canada. This would make it a bit cumbersome as users can only select one suggested store name at a time. Instead, users should be able to select one store name and all relevant search results would display no matter if there are different spellings of store names or different types of stores. As a workaround, a wild card feature was created to help with this situation. For example, using "bloomingdale*" would search any store beginning with the letters "bloomingdale". But I do not like this workaround. For more information, refer to the detailed requirements. ## Deliverables The Background I have a cashback search web application built in php using a mysql database. The search field invokes instant suggestions of store names as you type. These store names come from the database which contains a consolidated list of store names which was gathered from 4 cashback websites. The Problem In many cases the 4 cashback websites dont use the same exact spelling of a particular store like "Bloomingdales" versus "Bloomingdale's". Or the cashback sites contained multiple types of stores like Sony and Sony Canada. This would make it a bit cumbersome as users can only select one suggested store name at a time. Instead, users should be able to select one store name and all relevant search results would display no matter if there are different spellings of store names or different types of stores. As a workaround, a wild card feature was created to help with this situation. For example, using "bloomingdale*" would search any store beginning with the letters "bloomingdale". But I do not like this workaround. The Solution Instead, I need a way to associate multiple stores names with a parent store name so that only that name appears in the search's instant suggestions. However, when a parent store name is selected, the search should display the results from all of the associated child store names. Below are some examples of the parent to child mapping. The parent names are in bold and would be the only store name displayed in the instant suggestions. However, the search results would display for associated child store names as well. The Children's Place The Childrens Place The Childrens Place Canada Sony Sony Canada Sony Store Sony Style Canada Ritz Camera RitzCamera The Ask I need an easy way to create these logical groupings of a parent store name and the associated child store names whether a separate web tool is created or the data is manually manipulated in the database. I mostly see this mapping exercise as a one time event as store names will not be changed very often. When you bid, I would like for you to propose a technical solution and I will be choosing the best one based on simplicity and elegance. Chosen vworker will be provided with ftp login and remote database access info.