Pilot Pen was established in the US in 1970. The US arm of Tokyo-based PILOT Corporation (the oldest and largest writing instrument manufacturer in Japan), the company is a leading maker and marketer of writing instruments. As one of the top writing instrument firms in the US, Pilot Pen operates manufacturing facilities in the US and Japan. Its products include an assortment of pens (gel, roller ball, ball point, fountain), mechanical pencils, highlighters, styli, fountain pens, and markers. The company's products are sold under brands, such as Dr. Grip, G2, Precise, and EasyTouch, among others.

The business was founded in 1950 as Samuel Aaron International. The Aaron Group supplies rocks to those who dig bling. The diamond and gemstone jewelry manufacturer fills two niches -- it makes moderate to low- end jewelry (sold to mass merchandisers and department stores, including Macy's and Belk), jewelry chains, television retailers, catalogs, and Web sites) and midrange to high-end jewelry. Retail customers range from Wal-Mart to QVC to Helzberg Diamonds and Zales. It also is a major exporter, through its Thailand division (Thai-link Trading Co.), to Asian, Australian, European, and South American markets. The firm has operations in Costa Rica (Samuel Aaron Costa Rica) and India (Sai India).

Theo Fennell calls its wares the "unstuffy alternative" to jewelry -- others have called it simply quirky (and expensive). It offers the designs and jewelry of its namesake founder at prestigious locations (such as its flagship Fulham Road store and at Harrods and Bergdorf Goodman). The firm also designs and fabricates watches, silver gifts, and tableware, as well as corporate trophies and awards. Products are pricey: A typical limited-edition watch costs more than $50,000. Customers have included celebrities such as Liz Hurley and Victoria Beckham. The company has been concentrating on expanding its distribution.

Founded by Elbert Allen in 1922, Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corporation was sold to Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison in 2006 for $123 million. Allen-Edmonds' shoes stand their ground in the US. Maker of high-end men's dress and casual shoes, boots, belts, leather care goods, and hosiery, Allen-Edmonds makes most of its shoes in Maine and Wisconsin, resisting the trend of moving production abroad. Its shoes are handmade by skilled craftsmen, and Allen-Edmonds is known for its full range of shoe sizes for men. The company also offers a namesake cologne. Its products are sold in more than 25 company-owned stores in the US, Belgium, and Italy, as well as in department stores (Nordstrom), other specialty retailers, online and by catalog.

Forever Living Products, founded in 1978, sells its goods through a global network of more than 9 million independent distributors. Forever Living Products International, Inc. Company Profile Forever Living Products might not lead you to immortality, but its aloe-vera-based health care products are intended to improve your well-being. The company sells aloe vera drinks, as well as aloe-vera-based aromatherapy products, cosmetics, dietary and nutritional supplements, lotion, soap, and tooth gel products. Owner and billionaire Rex Maughan also owns aloe vera plantations in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Texas; Aloe Vera of America, a processing plant; and Forever Resorts' US resorts and marinas, including Dallas-area Southfork Ranch (of "Dallas" TV show fame).

Manolo Blahnik's name was already well known amongst the rich and the famous, but appearances on HBO's "Sex and the City" brought it into mainstream America's vernacular. Manolo Blahnik USA makes the highest-end footwear (up to $1,600 per pair) that is sold by Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, and a select number of specialty boutiques. All of its designs are created by Manolo Blahnik himself. The company has bowed a small number of handbag styles. Manolo Blahnik USA is owned and run by president George Malkemus.

Justin Brands two-stepped away and returned to its cowboy roots. The footwear firm is most well-known as a manufacturer of western boots, but Justin Brands also makes and markets work, safety, and sports footwear. Its western boots come in a variety of exotic leathers, including lizard and ostrich. The company also caters to cowboys and fillies who want to learn more about the West and its culture. It publishes books on Western history and art and Native American culture through its Northland Publishing unit. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns the company alongside its other footwear firm, H.H. Brown Shoe.

James Lock & Co. London's leading hatter, which was established in 1676, specializes in custom-fit headwear and holds files of impressions of clients' heads taken using a conformateur. From tweed caps to riding headwear, ladies summer hats to couture hats, and fedoras to top hats, James Lock hats can be found in leading shops throughout the world.

Kao Brands Company, a subsidiary of Japan's Kao Corporation, was established in 1882 as a maker of coconut oil soap. The company, pronounced "cow," now formulates and manufactures a wide range of personal care products for men and women. Its brand names include Jergens, Cur�l, Bior�, John Frieda, Guhl, and Ban. Kao Brands' Jergens body wash became popular when liquid soap hit the market. Kao Brands, which sells its products in more than 50 countries, was bought by the American Brands Company in 1970 and the Kao Corporation in 1988.

Vision-Ease Lens Corporation company specializes in designing, making, and distributing the increasingly popular polycarbonate prescription lenses used in eyewear today. Although the company has focused its business on polycarbonate lenses for their impact resistance, light weight, and ultraviolet filtering properties, Vision-Ease makes other styles. It manufactures plastic and glass lenses, as well as photochromic (allowing lenses to darken automatically according to light levels), polarized, anti-reflective, and scratch-resistant lens treatments. The company's two largest clients are LensCrafters and Wal-Mart, accounting for more than 45% of sales.

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