Natori is a risk taker, intimate apparel maker, and, after more than 30 years in the lingerie business, still a ground-breaker. The company makes four branded collections: Josie Natori Collection, Josie, Cruz, and Josie Natori Couture. Its Natori lines are sophisticated, using silks and fine fabrics. Its Josie brand is playful, while Cruz is more relaxed; both are more loung-erie than lingerie. Natori's accessories include handbags and scarves. It distributes its under-wares across the US through major high-end department stores, such as Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, and Macy's. Former child prodigy pianist Josie Natori and her husband, Ken, own and operate the company.

The creator of the women's wristwatch (in 1888) also made the first wristwatch with a leather strap -- for a Brazilian aviator in 1904. Now a global symbol of cosmopolitan fashion, the glittering Cartier trademark bedecks jewelry, clocks, watches, perfume, leather goods, apparel, and accessories. Nearly three-fourths of sales come from jewelry and watches. Cartier baubles and beads are distributed worldwide through more than 250 Cartier boutiques and through licensees and retail concessions. Cartier is the jewel in the crown of Swiss group Compagnie Financier Richemont, one of the world's largest luxury goods companies.

KAYO of California would be happiest if everyone had Tattoos, despite what your mom says. The company makes women's clothing (stretch jeans and pants, denim leggings, and Capri pants) in junior, missy, plus size, and maternity sizes under the KAYO and Tattoo Jeans labels. KAYO of California, established in 1968, also makes pants, jeans, and shorts for juniors under private labels, such as Organically Grown. They're sold online, in retail stores, and in catalogs. The company's products are sold through mass merchants and department stores, including J. C. Penney, Sears, Wal-Mart, and Target, as well as through catalogs such as Newport News and Nordstrom.

Safco was founded in 1967. Safco Products Company does its best to bring some of the comforts of home to the office. The company is a distributor of organization products for the office, as well as pieces to make work feel as comfortable as home. Its 2,200-plus items include back rests and seat cushions, drafting tables, desk chairs, filing and storage systems, footrests, shelving, and garbage cans. Safco distributes its products through dealers, national retailers (Corporate Express, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples), and wholesalers (S.P. Richards, United Stationers), as well as through a catalog and the Internet.

Bills Khakis company, headquartered in a refurbished Rust Belt factory, makes all of its premium khaki pants, five-pocket jeans, corduroys, seersucker pants, shorts, shirts, headwear, and other apparel in the US. Products are distributed through men's and women's clothing stores, including Nordstrom and specialty shops, as well as the company's Web site. Limited edition products are issued annually while retired items are "archived." CEO Bill Thomas founded the company when he could no longer find the WWII army surplus khakis that he loved.

The family-owned and -operated company was founded by Charles Evans in 1952 to sell serums and vaccines for farm animals. United Pharmacal Co. (UPCO) has answered the call of the wild, as well as the domesticated. The company provides some 15,000 pet products online and through its two catalogs: a full catalog and one specifically for feathered friends. UPCO ships books and training tools, collars, grooming supplies, medicines, food, and toys for family members as big as horses or as small as hamsters.

International Paper Company was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. International Paper Company operates as a paper and packaging company with operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Russian Federation, Asia, and north Africa. Its Printing Papers segment produces uncoated printing and writing papers, including uncoated papers, market pulp, and uncoated bristols. The company's Industrial Packaging segment manufactures containerboards. Its products include linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium, and saturated kraft. Its Consumer Packaging segment produces coated paperboard for various packaging and commercial printing end uses. The company's Distribution segment provides services and products to various customer markets, supplying commercial printers with printing papers and graphic pre-press, printing presses, and post-press equipment; the building services and away-from-home markets with facility supplies; and manufacturers with packaging supplies and equipment, as well as offers warehousing and delivery services. Its Forest Products segment owns and manages forest lands primarily in the United States. International Paper Company's Specialty Businesses and Other segment consists of a joint venture with Ilim Holding S.A. that operates a pulp and paper business in the Russian Federation.

"Avon calling" -- calling for a younger crowd, overseas reps, and improved global operational efficiencies. Avon Products, the world's largest direct seller of cosmetics and beauty-related items, is busy building a global brand and enticing customers younger than its typical middle-aged buyers. Direct selling remains the firm's "modus operandi", but sales also come from catalogs and a Web site. Its products include cosmetics, fragrances, toiletries, jewelry, apparel, home furnishings, and more. Avon boasts about 5.8 million independent representatives. With sales operations and distribution in some 110 countries and territories, the firm has expanded on a multiyear turnaround plan launched in late 2005.

The Factor brothers are confident you won't smash your makeup box if it contains their lineup of cosmetics. In addition to its makeup for the lips, eyes, and face, Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics offers makeup brushes, pencils and sharpeners, stylist bags, makeup removers, cleansers, and moisturizers. The company's products are sold in stores the likes of Ulta, Sephora, and Nordstrom, primarily in the US but also in Canada. The company boasts cruelty-free products and recyclable packaging. Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics came into existence in 1997 when brothers David and Dean Factor (great-grandsons of legendary makeup artist Max Factor) became fed up with the quality of cosmetics made for photographic use.

Seiko Holdings (formerly Seiko Corp.) is way beyond its tradition of marking time -- whether it's wristwatches, clocks, or precision timing devices for athletic events. The corporation serves as a holding company for subsidiaries, such as Seiko Watch, maker of watches such as the Kinetic and Thermic series that generate power by the movement of the owner's wrist or body heat. The watchmaker also makes mass-market watch brands Pulsar and Lorus. Seiko Watch's other timepieces range from small bedside alarm clocks to large-scale public clocks. Seiko Holdings other subsidiaries include Seiko Clock, Seiko Instruments, Seiko Optical Products, Seiko Sports Life, and Seiko Precision. The Hattori family controls Seiko.

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