The history of Berjaya Corporation dates back to 1984 when the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun acquired a major controlling stake in Berjaya Industrial Berhad (formerly known as Berjaya Kawat Berhad) from the founders, Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd, Australia and National Iron & Steel Mills, Singapore. The shareholding change also resulted in a major change in the business, direction and the dynamic growth of a diversified conglomerate under the flagship of Berjaya Corporation Berhad.

West Coast Novelty Corp., founded in the 1920s, doesn't make concessions as one of the largest suppliers of licensed sports merchandise in the US. The firm has grown from its beginnings as a souvenir and concession operator to a nationwide distributor of licensed items, such as jerseys, T-shirts, and headwear. West Coast Novelty boasts a vast portfolio of team licenses based on its agreements with the NFL, MLB, NBA, WWF, and the Collegiate Licensing Company. To extend its reach into the Eastern and Southern US, the company operates a distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee, to supplement operations at its Alameda, California, facility.

The studious-looking research types are likely to be at Procter & Gamble Technical Centers Limited. Also known as Rusham Park Technical Centre (RPTC), the division conducts research related to its parent's health and beauty care products. A subsidiary of consumer products giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) and one of nine research centers within Western Europe, the unit is involved in the development of the company's hair care products, skin care items and cosmetics, oral care products, fragrances, deodorants, and respiratory medicines. President Laurent Philippe succeeded Paul Polman, who retired in June 2005.

KAYO of California would be happiest if everyone had Tattoos, despite what your mom says. The company makes women's clothing (stretch jeans and pants, denim leggings, and Capri pants) in junior, missy, plus size, and maternity sizes under the KAYO and Tattoo Jeans labels. KAYO of California, established in 1968, also makes pants, jeans, and shorts for juniors under private labels, such as Organically Grown. They're sold online, in retail stores, and in catalogs. The company's products are sold through mass merchants and department stores, including J. C. Penney, Sears, Wal-Mart, and Target, as well as through catalogs such as Newport News and Nordstrom.

Since 1927 Agustín Reyes®, Inc. has created fine perfumes and personal care products. Using handcrafted recipes, a tradition of quality was established that continues today. Agustín Reyes I, began his career as an apprentice to a pharmacist. In his youth he learned to formulate products for health and beauty. He possessed a natural aptitude for chemistry, but also an entrepreneurial curiosity. The firm manufactures cosmetics and fragrances. Its first product, called Royal Violets, has been used as a baby cologne and was first created in Havana, Cuba. Royal Violets is also marketed to adults, capitalizing on their youthful nostalgia. The company has a strong distribution presence and following in Latin markets. Agustin Reyes also makes scented soaps and sprays, baby shampoos, and operates as a contract manufacturer for fragrances.

Mulberry Group was founded in 1971 by former chairman and CEO Roger Saul and his mother. Saul was ousted in 2003 by Ong Beng Seng and Christina Ong, owners of Challice, which controls Mulberry Group with more than a 59% ownership stake. Mulberry Group makes and sells high-end accessories, which account for most of sales, as well as select women's and men's apparel. The company's products, which include fashion handbags, briefcases, scarves, sunglasses, and footwear, are sold through a handful of company-owned stores (many are located in the UK), select department stores, and a Web site.

Bonne Bell and the teenage game of spin the bottle go hand in hand. The company's Smackers lip gloss brand (introduced in 1973) is geared toward 'tweens who want their lips berry sweet. In addition to Bonne Bell's lipsticks and glosses, the company makes eye makeup (eye shadows, eye liners, mascara), as well as face and body products (bronzing and self-tanning items). Its brand names include Lip Glam, LipLITES, Lip SHAKE, VitaGloss, and Eye Style, among others. Founded in the late 1920s by J. G. Bell, a Kansas salesman whose first factory was in the basement of his family's rented home and named after his daughter, Bonne Bell now operates worldwide and is in its third-generation of family management.

Leebern founded Georgia Crown as Columbus Wine Company Distributor in 1938, the same year Georgia prohibition was repealed. After the first rail shipment of legal liquor was received, someone -- reportedly the Dixie Mafia -- murdered him. Today the family-owned company distributes beer, wine, liquor, bottled water, juices, and soft drinks to Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. The bottler also distributes its brand of bottled water, Melwood Springs. CEO Donald Leebern Jr. is the grandson of the company's founder. The Leebern family still owns the business.

Signet Armorlite, Inc. company, a maker of plastic ophthalmic lenses for more than 60 years, originated the plastic eyeglass lens in North America. It makes premium plastic lenses in Mexico while glass lenses and molds are made by its Crossbows Optical unit, located in Northern Ireland. It operates a lens technology center, Signetek, in California. Signet holds the exclusive rights to distribute Kodak lenses worldwide and is an authorized distributor of 3M adhesive optical supply items in the US. Signet distributes lab supplies, such as blocking pads and lens protectors. Ophthalmic products maker and supplier Essilor International agreed to buy Signet.

Smead Manufacturing Company was founded in 1906 by Charles Smead. After his death, the company was purchased by an employee (P. A. Hoffman) whose granddaughter, Sharon Avent, is president and CEO. Smead Manufacturing wants to keep its customers organized. Accordingly, it makes a variety of paper-related and software products to organize and manage offices. Smead's first product, a bandless expandable file, is still among the more than 5,000 items it makes for retail sale in office supply stores nationwide (including Office Depot). Offerings range from hanging folders, labels, and binder covers to SmeadSoft software, which manages hard copy and computerized documents.

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