C&J Clark International Ltd. company is one of the largest makers of casual shoes in the world, manufacturing and selling its notoriously homely Clarks, Bostonian, and K Shoes brands for men, women, and children in department stores in more than 150 countries, as well as online. C&J Clark also operates some 550 Bostonian, Clarks, Hanover, and K company-owned stores, mostly in the UK, but also worldwide. C&J Clark is the UK market leader in shoes, ahead of Marks and Spencer. Founded in 1828 as a sheepskin tannery, about 70% of C&J Clark is now owned by the 500 living descendants of co-founder James Clark.

The office products maker was founded in 1952 by its namesake, Peter Pepper. Peter Pepper Products company designs and manufactures office furniture and accessories, including clocks, coat racks, magazine holders, tables, benches, waste baskets -- even planters. Peter Pepper also imports items from Canada, Europe, and Asia. Products are sold through corporate and government contract sales, as well as through retailers (which have included Boise Office Solutions, Ivan Allen Workspace, and Herman Miller). The company operates two facilities in Southern California, runs a showroom in Chicago, and has factory representatives across the US.

Sothys USA wants women to be able to wash away the stress of the day so that they can keep their girlish glow alive and well. Sothys USA offers high-end skin care products, including three collections: basic, specialized care, and intensive care. In its licensed salons, trained estheticians create custom skin care programs for individual clients, including spa treatments, classes and workshops and home skin care. The firm also provides sun care, body care, and makeup items. Sothys USA is a subsidiary of Sothys Paris and has had a US presence for more than two decades.

Tevco Enterprises has nailed down its corner of the US fingernail polish manufacturing industry. Tevco makes nail polishes and polish ingredients for such iconic companies as Chanel, Revlon, and Shiseido. The company, which operates in the Americas, was the North American unit of Durlin (which, in turn, was part of French chemicals powerhouse SNPE, a maker of nitrocellulose, an ingredient in propellants, inks, and varnishes). In mid-2006 SNPE sold Tevco Enterprises to an independent investment group.

Randa Leather Goods makes men's and boys' belts and other personal leather goods as part of Randa Accessories, which is known for its neckwear expertise. The division also makes and distributes lines of suspenders, packaged gifts, and boys' neckwear. Parent Randa Accessories boasts more than 10 licensing agreements to make accessories under the Levi's, Dockers, Dickies, Columbia, Izod, and Arrow brand names, among others. The company also markets products under its own handful of proprietary labels, such as Bill Adler Studio, Reward, and Dante. Randa Leather Goods sells its products through retail and specialty stores and catalogs.

Marchon Eyewear, Inc. company designs and distributes eyeglasses and sunglasses in some 100 countries. Marchon sells collections of eyeglasses and sunglasses, including Calvin Klein, Coach, Disney, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Nautica, Michael Kors, Sean John, and NIKE brands (all under license); the patented Flexon metal memory frames; and its own eponymous frames. Marchon also makes optical software under names such as OfficeMate (management), and ExamWRITER (health record software) and offers continuing education courses and various publications for eyewear professionals.

ICICLES Eyewear (formerly Icicles Performance Eyewear) keeps your eyes cool when they're fighting the glare of the hot sun. The company makes and markets men's and women's aluminum, metal, and nylon sunglasses, as well as sun goggles. ICICLES offers its customers prescription and non-prescription glasses under brand names including I-Wire, Slider, Switch Blade, and Viper, among others. Some of the company's top sellers are its replacement lenses and its accessories, such as sport cords. Its products are distributed through dealers in California. It also sells items online and via catalog and extreme sports specialty stores.

Founded in 1919, family-owned CalCedar is a leading supplier of wooden slats used in making wood-cased pencils, including art and cosmetic varieties. The company also makes its own brand pencils (California Republic Stationers and ForestChoice) and pencils for other customers. CalCedar's products are sold worldwide. The company has moved its slat production plant from California to China and also operates a factory in Thailand. CalCedar sold its Duraflame log business, which it invented in 1969, to Clorox in 1978 and has exited the supply siding and decking business.

St. John Knits International has clothed some of the nation's most couture-worthy women, including Hillary Rodham Clinton and Diane Sawyer. St. John makes brightly colored, classically styled knitwear under the St. John, St. John Sport, and St. John by Marie Gray names and sells them in upscale department stores worldwide. It also operates more than 15 boutiques, about 10 outlet stores, and sells its pricey apparel online. In addition, the company offers accessories, jewelry, shoes, and home accessories through its own stores. Vestar/Gray Investors LLC, a partnership between the Gray family and Vestar Capital Partners, owns a majority of the company.

In the 1950's there were dozens of ballpoint models, and nearly every one took a different cartridge. In 1953 Paul Fisher invented the "Universal Refill" which could be used in most pens. It was a good seller, since stationery store owners could reduce their stock of assorted refills.Fisher Space Pen makes pens containing pressurized visco-elastic ink, which makes it possible to write upside down, underwater, in all temperatures, and in zero gravity. The company's pens have starred in space as the official pen of NASA and on TV in a "Seinfeld" sitcom episode. Urban legend has it that NASA spent millions to develop the pen.

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