Chanel No. 5, Chanel has been a haute name in fashion and cosmetics for decades. The company also creates watches and jewelry and has a single license -- for eyewear with Luxottica. Founder Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel opened her first boutique in 1913, touting designs known for simplicity. Coco died in 1971, and Chanel's style stagnated for years until Karl Lagerfeld took over the designs and revived the label by tapping a younger market. The company boasts about 100 boutiques worldwide. Controlled by chairman Alain Wertheimer's family, Chanel also owns Eres and Paraffection.

Northstar specializes in machine-readable MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) printing for banks and other customers. Using special inks, papers, and print methods, the company makes internal bank forms (teller receipts, process-control documents) and negotiable documents (money orders, official checks). Northstar also makes custom business forms ("snap-apart" forms used for invoices and purchase orders, continuous forms used in high-speed data processing) and offers various form-management services. Ennis bought Northstar in mid-2000.

Paul Frank Industries (PFI) the firm has been capitalizing on co-founder Paul Frank's cartoon Julius monkey icon -- and the cute-appeal wave he's been riding -- since the company started in 1997. It also boasts characters Skurvy, Clancy, Sheree, and Worry Bear. Its product lines have expanded from plastic wallets to a themed wardrobe for men and women, children's clothes, bedding, kids furniture, and accessories ranging from eyewear and watches to print towels. PFI also does product collaborations with other pop-icon owners. Its products are distributed through about 20 The Paul Frank Stores worldwide and thousands of specialty stores worldwide.

Ariat, founded in 1990, designs and produces Western and English style riding boots, work boots, casual shoes, and riding apparel and accessories under the Ariat name. Its footwear is designed to maximize performance, comfort, and style, and with competitive and casual horsemen in mind. The company sells its footwear in the US and Canada through more than 4,000 retailers, such as Cavender's Boot City, Tractor Supply, and Nordstrom, as well as through the catalogs of Orvis, State Line Tack, and others. It sells its equestrian footwear in the international marketplace to more than 600 retailers.

Hospital Specialty Company was founded in 1919. Hospital Specialty Company that steps in to make them a little more comfortable. The manufacturer makes and supplies its products to the retail, institutional, healthcare, and commercial markets. The company makes hygiene products, diapers and adult incontinence products, odor-control sprays, soaps, nursing pads, wash cloths and wipes, sanitary napkin dispensers, and other items. A subsidiary of The Tranzonic Companies, Hospital Specialty Company boasts a vast products portfolio that includes brand names Global Clean and Gentle Persistence skin care products, Health Gard first aid kits, and Precious baby products.

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).

Randa Accessories has been making men feel constricted since its inception in 1935. The leading neckwear manufacturer has licensing agreements with Levi Strauss' Dockers, Perry Ellis, Phillips-Van Heusen, and Chaps for private-label department stores, such as Belk, Macy's, Kohl's, Saks, and Sears. Randa has responded to the last decade's trend toward casual wear by reaching into other men's accessories, such as wallets and small leather goods. Its purchases of Trafalgar and Humphreys Accessories brought belts and suspenders. The company, which operates from some 20 locations worldwide, also offers luggage, casual bags, small leather goods, business cases, and gifts for men, women, and children.

Professional Veterinary Products, Ltd. (PVPL) wholesales and distributes pharmaceuticals and supplies to licensed veterinarians. The company carries more than 20,000 products from about 350 manufacturers, ranging from diagnostic equipment to animal identification tags. It boasts two subsidiaries: Exact Logistics (distributes to other animal-health firms) and ProConn (supplies products directly to the consumer). The company was founded by a group of veterinarians in 1982. PVPL says that even its telesales staff has field experience -- phones are manned by veterinary techs and others with animal science degrees.

Founded in 1845 by Count Antoine Norbert de Patek, Patek Philippe has since continued to innovate each year, from its first (a minute-repeating pocket watch) to its last (a watch that can replicate the chimes of Big Ben, calculate the phases of the moon, and follow the changing date of Easter). Far beyond even the fanciest Rolex -- a basic Patek Philippe runs about $17,000, and that's without the company's renowned "complications." Watches are sold through specialty dealers worldwide, such as Tiffany, Tourneau, and Henri Stern. The Charles and Jean Stern family has owned Patek Philippe for some 50 years.

Swiss Watch International is keeping its eye on the time. The Florida-based company designs and makes timepieces worldwide and distributes or owns watch lines including SWI (Swiss Watch International), Edox, Giordano, Jacques Lemans, Magico, Swiss Legend, Triumph Motorcycles, and Ventura. The firm sells watches to other wholesalers, as well as to retailers. Internet discount retailer Overstock.com buys the majority of its timepiece offerings through Swiss Watch. Well known throughout the watch industry, founder and chairman Eli Ben-Shmuel has his sights set on expanding the company's retail operations. Ben-Shmuel and his three sons run Swiss Watch International.

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