Lazare Kaplan International specializes in cutting, polishing, and marketing premium-priced diamonds, as well as diamond jewelry. The company buys rough diamonds (primarily from Diamond Trading Company, a sales arm of De Beers), cuts and polishes the gems for maximum sparkle, and laser-inscribes the branded Lazare Diamonds with the firm's logo and an ID number. Plants in Namibia, South Africa, and Russia handle the processing. Lazare sells to wholesalers, manufacturers, and jewelry retailers worldwide.

Instead hopes that women adopt its alternative to pads and tampons. Its primary product, the Instead Softcup, is a feminine hygiene product that sits inside a woman's body and collects, rather than absorbs, menstrual flow. Developed by a group of reproductive health scientists, the Softcup is sold in major US drugstores (including chain stores Wal-Mart and Target) and through its Web site. It's also distributed in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, and about a half-dozen other countries worldwide. Instead is also researching the possibility of using a version of its Softcup as a contraceptive device.

Stefanel makes the clothes that make the man. Or the woman. The company makes knitwear and casual clothes under the Stefanel and Hallhuber brands. In 2007 the company launched the upscale casual clothing brand HIGH through its Interfashion subsidiary. Stefanel's fashions are sold primarily in Europe, and in Asia to a lesser extent, through its roughly 700 stores. It also owns a 50% stake in airport retailer Nuance Group, which has more than 340 shops in some 70 airports across the globe. Stefanel's knitwear is produced at the company's Italian factory while Hallhuber goods are made in its home country of Germany. The company was founded in 1959 by Carlo Stefanel, whose family still runs the business.

L'Oréal Canada company, founded in 1958 as Cosmair Canada, develops cosmetic products in four main areas: consumer, professional, luxury, and active. In addition to products, the company manages the L'Oreal Canada Academy for training beauty care professionals. It operates a manufacturing plant as well as a distribution center in Montreal. L'Oreal Paris, a division of L'Oreal Canada, has sponsored Canadian Idol and LG Fashion Week. L'Oreal Canada provides the next best thing to the fountain of youth. A wholly owned subsidiary of France-based L'Oreal SA, L'Oreal Canada manufactures and manages about 20 cosmetic brand names, including Cacharel, Kerastase, Lanceme, Matrix, Ralph Lauren, and Redken.

Wella brushes off much of its competition. One of the world's leading haircare companies, it sells professional and retail haircare products, cosmetics, and fragrances. Its Wella brand is its top seller; hair coloring products (Koleston, Wella Viva) are also leaders. Its Tondeo unit supplies professional products and appliances to salons. Wella's fragrances include Alfred Dunhill, Anna Sui, and Gucci, among others. Reluctantly for Wella at the time, Procter & Gamble acquired a majority stake in the firm in 2003 from four families (Ebert, Pohl, Sander, and Stroeher) that owned some 80% of Wella. Through a Domination Agreement transaction, P&G in November 2007 acquired the rest of its outstanding shares.

Panoptx Inc. company manufactures performance eyewear -- a combination of protection goggles and sunglasses -- under the 7Eye brand name. Its target audience is sports enthusiasts from skiers to bikers whose eyes are routinely subject to intensified sun glare. The company's Web site offers a build-your-own feature, which allows customers to choose a variety of frame styles and lens colors suitable for the user's chosen sport. The eyewear, also available with prescription lenses, is sold through opticians and specialty stores such as Harley-Davidson throughout the US.

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).

CCA Industries Inc. company was founded in 1983 and is based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. CCA Industries, Inc. engages in manufacturing and selling health and beauty aid products primarily in the United States and Canada. The company offers oral health care products under the Plus+White brand; skin care products under the Sudden Change brand; nail treatments under the Nutra Nail and Power Gel brands; pre and after-shave products under the Bikini Zone brand; dietary products that primarily include green tea under the Mega-T brand; and anti-oxidant dietary products, including chewing gums under the Mega-T brand. It also provides depilatories under the Hair Off brand; foot-care products under the IPR brand; sun-care products under the Solar Sense brand; shampoos under the Wash N Curl brand; vanilla fragrances, including perfumes under the Cherry Vanilla brand; topical analgesic products under the Pain Bust-R brand; and scar diminishing cream under the Scar Zone brand. CCA Industries, Inc. sells and markets its products through its sales force and independent sales representatives to drug and food chains, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, and wholesale beauty-aids distributors.

Tommy Bahama Group retails the island life. The company designs and markets relaxed sportswear and other items under the Tommy Bahama name. Tommy Bahama's Fishbone pants, Cayman Camp shirts, and other clothing are sold through specialty stores, vacation resorts, and more than 80 namesake stores, as well as through a handful of tropical-themed Tommy Bahama restaurants in the US. Licensees have extended the Tommy Bahama brand to such items as footwear, golf bags, luggage, handbags, eyewear, small leather goods, and home furnishings. In 2003, Oxford Industries bought the company, which was founded in 1992 by marketing director Bob Emfield, designer Lucio Dalla Gasperina, and former president and CEO Tony Margolis.

These exclamations and more can be found on any one of the company's heady Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps labels. Sold primarily through natural foods retailers, Dr. Bronner's liquid and bar soaps (made of vegetable oil) rely on low prices and word-of-mouth for advertising. Devoted customers use the soaps for everything from bug repellant to pet shampoo. The company focuses on soap, lip balms, and lotions, as well as ALPSNACK hemp-nut nutrition bars. Founded by master soap maker, world peace visionary, and "Pope of Soap" Dr. Emmanuel Bronner, the company is still family owned and operated by his descendants.

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