As the Woodstock era stretched and opened its eyes, it gave birth to much more than just acid rock and tie dye. A new generation of entrepreneurial spirit was emerging, founded in the counter-culture, anti-establishment ethos of the day. These were companies whose start-up capital was measured not in dollars or stock options, but in innovation, ambition and a desire to mold their own destiny. The refusal to simply accept the status quo, to challenge convention, brought a fresh perspective to a generation that would forever change the rules of Business As Usual.Certainly, not every endeavor was a success. Many young entrepreneurs were quickly overwhelmed by the harsh realities of the marketplace, and the stark realization that the rules of economics bent only so far. Others became victims of their own success stories, too naïve or ignorant of the disciplines of management and organization to sustain their momentum. Only a few have managed to grow and prosper, and even fewer have maintained the essence of that independent, innovative spirit.

From its origin as a manufacturer of tennis ball machines, Prince has proven itself to be an industry leader in the innovation and manufacturing of performance racquet sports products. Prince has continually revolutionized the game with introductions of racquet technologies such as "Oversize" and "Longbody" and most recently with O3 and Speedport. Prince is committed to continually delivering top-quality tennis products in all categories – outfitting players with the very best in footwear, apparel, strings, balls, accessories, and more. Prince has leveraged its international exposure by sponsoring some of the sport's most elite athletes, including Maria Sharapova, Nikolay Davydenko, Jennifer Capriati, Patrick Rafter, Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova. Their success at the highest level of competition has heightened consumer interest in the brand as well as the sport of tennis overall.

Yamaha began over one hundred years ago when a young entrepreneur named Torakusu Yamaha set out to craft a high-quality reed organ. Before long, the company he founded had not only gone on to manufacture Japan's first piano, it had also gained recognition abroad with a Yamaha piano and organ being awarded an Honorary Grand Prize at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.Yamaha has grown to become one of the best-loved manufacturers of musical instruments in the world. And as it has grown, the company has capitalized on its unique heritage of artisanship and technological know-how to diversify into an astoundingly wide range of products and services. Today, Yamaha is a leader in businesses ranging from musical instruments and audio & video products to products related to information technology, new media services, home furnishings, auto components, specialty metals, music education and resort facilities.

Flexsteel Industries, Inc. engages in the manufacture, import, and marketing of residential, recreational vehicle, and commercial upholstered and wooden furniture products in the United States. The company's products include sofas, loveseats, chairs, reclining and rocker-reclining chairs, swivel rockers, sofa beds, convertible bedding units, occasional tables, desks, dining tables and chairs, and bedroom furniture. Its products are used in home, office, motor home, travel trailer, yacht, pontoon, health care, and hotel applications. The company distributes its products through its sales force and independent representatives to furniture dealers, department stores, recreational vehicle manufacturers, catalogs, hospitality and healthcare facilities, and national and regional chains. Flexsteel Industries was founded in 1929 and is based in Dubuque, Iowa.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Walnut, CA, Apex Digital Inc. is one of the country’s leading providers and marketers of consumer electronics, including high-definition LCD televisions, home entertainment media devices, solar powered lights and digital set top boxes. Recognized as one of the fastest growing in consumer electronics history, this privately held company produces products that are carried in hundreds of retail outlets nationwide.From the beginning, Apex Digital has embraced a philosophy of total value, in which lower prices do not compromise product quality or superior customer relations. The company responds rapidly to customer needs, carefully listening to consumer feedback in order to better anticipate future requirements.

The company makes board games, coloring books, activity kits, foam sports toys, playing cards, and puzzles under the Lauri, Patch, and Smethport brands. Its best-sellers include Buzzword, Swap!, Tall-Stacker, and Wooly Willy. Patch Products sells through big-box and specialty retailers nationwide as well as through its e-commerce site. Popular games for older kids and adults include What's Yours Like? and Jeff Foxworthy's You Might Be a Redneck If. Patch Products was founded in 1985 by Fran and Bryce Patch, with the PuzzlePatch line of educational puzzles for kids.

La-Z-Boy Incorporated manufactures, markets, imports, distributes, and retails upholstery products and wood casegoods furniture products under the La-Z-Boy name in the United States and Canada. It operates in three segments: Upholstery Group, Casegoods Group, and Retail Group. The Upholstery Group segment manufactures and sells upholstered furniture to furniture retailers and proprietary stores. Its products include recliners and motion furniture, sofas, loveseats, chairs, ottomans, sleeper sofas, sectionals, and modulars. The Casegoods Group segment imports, markets, and distributes manufactured or imported wood casegoods furniture to furniture retailers. Its products include tables, chairs, entertainment centers, headboards, dressers, accent pieces, and various coordinated upholstered furniture. The Retail Group segment sells upholstered furniture to end consumers through the retail network. As of April 25, 2009, La-Z-Boy Incorporated had 68 company-owned La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores. The company was formerly known as Floral City Furniture and changed its name to La-Z-Boy Incorporated in 1996. La-Z-Boy Incorporated was founded in 1927 and is based in Monroe, Michigan.

Haier America is the US sales and marketing arm of Chinese home appliance and consumer electronics giant Haier Group. Haier Group makes refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry machines, and small appliances, as well as mobile phones, Wi-Fi media players, and plasma and flat-screen televisions. Its more recent product additions include freestanding and built-in wine refrigerators, beverage centers, and beer dispensers to cater to the trend of home media rooms, gamerooms, and outdoor kitchens. Haier's products are sold through retailers such as Wal-Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target. The division was founded in 1999 and has operations in New York and South Carolina.

Founded in 1946, Stanton Magnetics is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of professional audio products for club and mobile DJs and turntablists. The company's product range includes turntables, high-performance cartridges, CD players, DJ mixers, accessories and FinalScratch—a breakthrough system which allows DJs to play, mix and scratch music files from their computers using standard turntables. With over 50 years of innovation, Stanton is the name DJs trust.

Lung Cheong International Holdings started making toys in 1963 with a second-hand plastic injection machine. Today its OEM customers include some of the biggest names in toys, including Mattel and TOMY. The US is the company's largest market with radio control and electronic toys accounting for the majority of sales. Lung Cheong also makes PC hardware for children, video games, and its own brands of digital cameras and electronic baby-monitoring systems. The company distributes licensed toys through more than 400 outlets in China and has made acquisitions including Kid Galaxy (creator of Bendos bendable action figures) and Standard Tooling and Products.

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