Founded in 1906 to make arch supports, New Balance is known for its selection of shoe widths. Besides men's and women's shoes for running, crosstraining, basketball, tennis, hiking, and golf, the firm offers fitness apparel and kids' shoes and owns leather boot maker Dunham. Chairman Jim Davis bought New Balance on the day of the 1972 Boston Marathon. New Balance Athletic Shoe runs on its everyman (and everywoman) appeal. Unlike its rivals, it shuns celebrity endorsers. By spotlighting lesser-known athletes the company claims to emphasize substance over style. The approach attracts Boomer jock clients who are less fickle than the teens chased by other shoemakers.

NIKE, Inc. (NIKE) is engaged in the design, development and worldwide marketing of footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products. NIKE sells athletic footwear and athletic apparel. It sells its products to retail accounts, through NIKE-owned retail, including stores and Internet sales, and through a mix of independent distributors and licensees, in over 170 countries around the world. Running, training, basketball, soccer, sport-inspired casual shoes, and Kid’s shoes are its footwear categories. It also markets shoes designed for aquatic activities, baseball, cheerleading, football, golf, lacrosse, outdoor activities, skateboarding, tennis, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and other athletic and recreational uses. It sells a line of performance equipment under the NIKE brand name, including bags, socks, sport balls, eyewear, timepieces, electronic devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment, golf clubs, and other equipment designed for sports activities.

Nine West Group has put its footprints all over the shoe industry. The top designer and marketer of fashionable women's shoes sells footwear (casual, career, and dress), clothing, and accessories through more than 420 of its own retail and outlet stores and in department, specialty, and independent shoe stores in the US. Nine West also licenses its name for stores outside the US. The footwear firm makes and markets its shoes and accessories under several brand names. These include Nine West, Easy Spirit, Bandolino, and Enzo Angiolini. Manufacturers in Brazil, China, and Italy make the company's shoes. Nine West is owned by Jones Apparel Group, which acquired the company in 1999 for about $1.4 billion.

Oakley, Inc. company, founded in 1975, also makes and markets a line of footwear, as well as watches, apparel, and accessories. Eyewear behemoth Luxottica acquired Oakley in 2007. Oakley makes high-performance sunglasses and goggles for sports and fashion enthusiasts in more than 110 countries. Its vast products portfolio spans the mid-level to upscale range and features high-tech designs, including interchangeable, high-optical clarity lenses and damage resistance. Oakley runs a handful of its own stores (O Stores and Oakley Vault) and others -- totaling more than 220 global locations. It also sells its wares at Dillard's, Sunglass Hut, and specialty retail outlets.

Olympia Gold, Inc. company, which sells its products through mall kiosks, duty-free stores, jewelry stores, department stores, and cruise lines, was founded in 1989. Olympia Gold company does not sell any solid gold items, preferring to stick to 24K gold layered, .925 silver layered, and .925 Italian sterling silver jewelry. The company wholesales necklaces, bracelets, eyeglass and cell phone chains, charm bracelets, purse accessories, and diamond-cut charms. Olympia Gold also offers wholesale store displays, a display for chain-by-the-inch gold necklaces and bracelets, and a wholesale catalog.

OTC International, Ltd. company, a jewelry retailer and wholesaler, makes and markets pieces in fine gold or tarnish-resistant sterling silver with cameos, semi-precious gemstones, and diamond accents. As a volume producer, OTC specializes in private-label licensed jewelry pieces and watches. The company, whose headquarters spans some 100,000 sq. ft., manages a staff of artists, designers, photographers, and advertising professionals. Its products are made in the US, as well as imported from Asia/Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. Rival New York jeweler Dialuck netted OTC's finery when the merchant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008.

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.

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.

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.

Pegasus International Holdings (PIH) manufactures athletic, dress, and leisure footwear. The Chinese shoemaker's products include sports sandals, casual shoes, hiking boots, golf shoes, and athletic shoes for brand names such as NIKE, Timberland, Dick's Sporting Goods, and L.L. Bean. PIH's manufacturing operations are located in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan and have the capacity to produce 25 million pairs of footwear per year. The company also engages in other investment activities and provides administrative services to its companies. The majority of its sales go to the US -- although domestic sales and sales to other Asian countries are growing.

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