Director Gordon Merchant founded Billabong in 1973. Billabong International makes Billabong brand surf and extreme sports (skateboarding and snowboarding) apparel and accessories. Products sporting its wave logo include board shorts, swimwear, T-shirts, jackets, backpacks, watches, and footwear. Board riders and wannabes can buy the firm's gear at specialty sport stores and a few Billabong stores in more than 100 countries. The company sponsors surfers, skaters, and pro surfing tournaments in Australia, South Africa, and Spain.

Birmingham Budweiser was founded in 1966. Birmingham Budweiser company distributes alcoholic beverages from Anheuser-Bush InBev in the fine southern cities of Birmingham and Jasper, in the Yellowhammer State. Birmingham Budweiser, located in West Oxmoor Industrial Park, is run by members of the Kampakis family. The editors of Business Alabama magazine have named Birmingham Budweiser Distributing as one of the top 100 private companies in Alabama.

Founded in 1949, Frazier Industrial is owned by CEO William Mascharka. Frazier Industrial Company makes structural, as opposed to roll-formed, steel storage racks in about a dozen mini-mills in the US, Canada, and Mexico that can adapt production to demand and receive just-in-time delivery of raw materials. Customers use Frazier Industrial's storage racks in warehouses, factories, farms, and other industrial and commercial facilities. Among the company's storage products is the Glide 'N Pick pallet cart that automatically rolls out for greater ease in retrieving items.

RHE Hatco Inc. company makes and markets western hats for men and women under iconic names such as Stetson, Resistol, and Charlie 1 Horse; it makes dress hats under the Dobbs label. In August 2009, the hat manufacturer was acquired by an affiliate of Pro Equine Group, whose expertise lies in other cowboy accoutrements, such as saddles, ropes, and protective legwear for horses. Previous owner Arena Brands had been shedding its stable of products, such as Imperial Headwear and Montana Silversmiths, when Pro Equine picked up the longtime hat makers.

Tefron's underduds aren't exactly under wraps, considering they're worn by millions of consumers in the company's main market -- the US. Tefron designs and manufactures men's underwear, women's intimate apparel, activewear, and swimwear for sale through well-known retailers, such as Victoria's Secret, The Gap, NIKE, Target, Patagonia, Swimwear Anywhere, lululemon athletica, and J.C. Penney. Tefron's also a leader in the growing seamless (also called Hi-Tex) underwear market and engineered-for-performance activewear niche. The apparel company operates automated manufacturing facilities -- mainly in Israel -- but has been extending its reach worldwide in recent years.

Inverness Corporation Company's piercing system is used in some 5,000 US retail outlets and is sold in about 45 countries. The system accompanies a pierced earring selection of about 200 styles. Customers have included Wal-Mart, Claire's, and Merle Norman, among others. Inverness also offers onsite training for staff. For those who like to go solo, there's a personal piercer and personal care products, such as antiseptics for ear care and body piercing care. The company boasts offices in Canada, Hong Kong, France, Japan, the UK, and the US.

West Coast Cosmetics Inc. firm offers contract manufacturing and private-label services to the personal care products industry. It formulates and packages customized and color-matched cosmetics, including blushes, eye shadows, foundations, lipsticks, mascaras, and powders, in addition to skin care products such as bath salts and perfumes. West Coast Cosmetics is involved in the entire production process, from research and development to packaging and shipping. West Coast Cosmetics is owned by president and CEO Steven Csiszar.

Zkin company is a personal care products manufacturer that specializes in skin care items made with natural ingredients. Products, which are available at spas nationwide and through the company's Web site, include cleansers, lifting creams, toner, sun protection, and regenerative serum. Its brand names include Zulfur Cleansing Bar, Zun Protection, and Zkin Lift Day Cream, among others. Zkin's Dr. Julio Gallo is also the co-founder of the Simons Center for Nasal and Facial Plastic Surgery.

Haworth is owned by the family of Gerrard Haworth, who founded the company in 1948. Haworth company is one of the top office furniture manufacturers in the US, competing with top rivals Steelcase and HNI. Known for innovative design, it offers a full range of furniture, including partitions, desks, chairs, tables, and storage products. Brands include Monaco, Patterns, PLACES, and X99. The company operates about 60 showrooms worldwide and sells its products through more than 600 dealers. Dilbert and other long-suffering office drones have Haworth to thank for inventing the prewired partitions that make today's cubicled workplace possible.

Dege & Skinner was founded in 1865 as J. Dege & Sons; its name changed to Dege & Skinner in 1916 when the first member of the Skinner family joined the firm. The Skinner family now owns and operates the company. Dege & Skinner wants you to strive for the Savile Row-proper look, even if you are on your way to take part in a fox hunt. Dege & Skinner custom-makes suits and shirts and manufactures specialty club ties, hunting coats, ready-to-wear shirts, riding jackets, and shooting suits, as well military uniforms and traditional Scottish Highland dress, such as kilts. Dege & Skinner tailors regularly visit clients in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Japan.

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