PPE was founded in 1969 by Ted Parker, who left the business to his twin sons, now-joint managing directors, Neil and Nigel Parker. PPE designs, manufactures, and sells point of-purchase merchandising products such as shelf-mounted brochure dispensers, in-store fixtures, and custom-built display systems. It has manufacturing operations in the UK and sells to retailers worldwide. In 2000 it acquired its biggest competitor, Point of Sale Centre, and has since purchased Interbin Storage and Display, as well as Dauman Displays International.

Farouk Systems can iron things out with its own version of CHI energy. The company makes and markets personal care products, including BioSilk hair care and spa items, in addition to CHI styling products and implements (hair dryers, straightening and curling irons, clippers, and hairstyling irons). It also makes CHI men's and women's fragrances, as well as CHI nail polish. The company caters to both consumers and professionals, and in January 2009 opened its Farouk Systems CHI Academy in Houston for training hair professionals. The firm, founded by Palestinian immigrant Farouk Shami (chairman) in 1986, is owned and operated by professional hairdressers.

Hampshire Group, Limited (Hampshire) is a provider of women’s and men’s sweaters, wovens and knits, and a designer and marketer of branded apparel in the United States. As a holding company, Hampshire operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries: Hampshire Designers, Inc. and Item-Eyes, Inc. Hampshire Designers consists of both the Company’s women’s knitwear division, known as Hampshire Designers, and its men’s division, known as Hampshire Brands. Item-Eyes is a designer and marketer of related sportswear for women. Its products, both branded and private label, are marketed in the moderate and better markets through multiple channels of distribution, including national and regional department stores. Keynote Services, Limited, its Hong Kong based subsidiary, assists with its sourcing needs and provides quality control services.

Established in 1984, Suncast acquired some assets and product lines of Consolidated Foam, an outdoor accessories maker, in 2005. Suncast resin and metal storage products help to keep the sun shining. The company manufactures more than 1,000 outdoor storage and garden items, including dog houses, fencing, hose reels, pet feeders, rain barrels, snow shovels, storage systems and bins, and sheds. Products are sold in Canada and the US at retailers such as Ace Hardware, Home Depot, and Meijer.

Kong Company knows dogs can chew their favorite toys to bits so it makes sure its pet chew toys are virtually indestructible. The rubber snowman-shaped pet toy line Kong, was developed by president and CEO Joe Markham as a substitute for his dog's love of eating rocks. The Kong was first produced in 1976 and is sold through pet products retailers. More than 50 million have been sold worldwide. The Kong toy allows owners to fill up the toy with treats, which the dog then has to work to get out of the toy. The line -- primarily for birds, cats, dogs, and ferrets -- also includes grooming, holiday, and pet care items.

Donna Karan International (DKI) defines the metropolitan flair that bridges the difference between stylishly casual and conventional. The firm designs and sells men's and women's clothes, including suits, sportswear, accessories, and shoes, under the Donna Karan New York, DKNY, DKNY Jeans, and DKNY Active labels. DKI sells to upscale department and specialty stores and through its own retail stores. It also licenses third parties to run most of its international stores. Fashion leviathan LVMH holds a majority stake in Donna Karan, although designer Karan still remains in creative control of its fashion lines and is helping to rejuvenate her namesake brand.

Gucci Group, an Italian company with a Dutch address that sells French fashion, does quite well in Japan, too. Offerings include handbags and other leather goods, shoes, ready-to-wear clothing, cosmetics, skin care, jewelry, and watches. Gucci family squabbles and imprudent licensing once nearly doomed the firm. New management revived it with fresh product lines and stricter licensing, as well as heavy investing in its Asian presence. Gucci operates about 425 stores worldwide and wholesales products through franchisees and upscale department stores. French retailer PPR purchased almost all of the remaining shares in the company in 2004, taking its interest up to 99.4%.

Since 1965 Life Uniform has put the shirt on the backs of vets, doctors, dentists, and nurses with those crazy-colored scrubs that can sport bears and hearts. Life Uniform sells its products under the Dickies, Barco, Landau, Cherokee, and NurseMates brands. Since scrubs-buying has changed in recent years, the company caters to clients and their employees, who sometimes pay for their work apparel themselves. Life Uniform operates retail stores, a Web site, and also visits the workplace for increased convenience. In mid-2006 the company acquired rival Uniform City, which sells uniforms through a catalog and in stores. Life Uniform is a division of Healthcare Uniform, owned by Sun Capital Partners.

Owned by John Anderson, Topa has about 40 businesses involved in auto dealerships, beer distribution, insurance, real estate, and more. Topa's beverage operations include Ace Beverage, Mission Beverages, and Paradise Beverages; the firm dominates the Hawaiian beer market. Brands sold include all major US brews and leading US imports, including Guinness, Heineken, and Anheuser-Busch InBev products. Anderson started in 1956 as a distributor of Hamm's beer. UCLA's Anderson School of Business, to which Anderson donated $15 million, is named for him.

The business was founded in 1923 by G.E. Sellstrom and his wife, Ellen, as Excell Sales Company. Sellstrom Manufacturing Company provides protective wear and related products to do-it-yourselfers, as well as corporations, schools, and hospitals. Sellstrom's product line includes eye, face, knee, and head protection (goggles, face shields, knee pads, and hard hats), welding protection (filters and helmets), fall protection (harnesses, lanyards, and lifeline systems) and emergency eye washers and showers.

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