Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company makes drawer slides, shelving systems, closet rods, and other storage-related hardware items, plus idea@WORK office lighting and computer-related ergonomic products. KV sells its products mostly to original equipment manufacturers and specialty distributors in the US and Canada, but it also sells directly to consumers. The Knape family, including former chairman and CEO Bill Dutmers (a descendant of one of the founders), sold its controlling interest in the company to private equity firm Wind Point Partners for about $106 million in 2006.

Manhattan Beer Distributors serves more than 20,000 accounts through its five operational sites, one each in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Long Island, and in the Hudson Valley, delivering more than 28 million cases of beer every year. The company's delivery area encompasses 15 counties in the metro NYC area. It manages a fleet of more than 500 delivery trucks and other vehicles. In addition to national brands, the company imports and supplies beers from all points of the globe -- products from 40 beverage companies in all. In addition to beer, the company also wholesales wine, cider, soda, energy drinks, and bottled water.

HCI Direct shapes and colors millions of pairs of legs. The company sells women's sheer and opaque hosiery under the Silkies brand in more than a dozen styles and nearly as many colors. It also sells knee-highs, socks, and tights for girls and products to pamper your legs. The firm manufactures its own products, including personal care items. Other brands include Sculptz Shapewear, Silkies Enriche Anti-Aging Skincare, and a pain-relieving cream named PainVanish. Founded in 1974, HCI Direct sells its hosiery primarily by direct mail (it boasts more than 20 million customer members). It also sells through its Web site. A fund managed by Kelso & Company, Bennett Management, owns a majority stake in HCI Direct.

These exclamations and more can be found on any one of the company's heady Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps labels. Sold primarily through natural foods retailers, Dr. Bronner's liquid and bar soaps (made of vegetable oil) rely on low prices and word-of-mouth for advertising. Devoted customers use the soaps for everything from bug repellant to pet shampoo. The company focuses on soap, lip balms, and lotions, as well as ALPSNACK hemp-nut nutrition bars. Founded by master soap maker, world peace visionary, and "Pope of Soap" Dr. Emmanuel Bronner, the company is still family owned and operated by his descendants.

Stefanel makes the clothes that make the man. Or the woman. The company makes knitwear and casual clothes under the Stefanel and Hallhuber brands. In 2007 the company launched the upscale casual clothing brand HIGH through its Interfashion subsidiary. Stefanel's fashions are sold primarily in Europe, and in Asia to a lesser extent, through its roughly 700 stores. It also owns a 50% stake in airport retailer Nuance Group, which has more than 340 shops in some 70 airports across the globe. Stefanel's knitwear is produced at the company's Italian factory while Hallhuber goods are made in its home country of Germany. The company was founded in 1959 by Carlo Stefanel, whose family still runs the business.

Davies Gate was founded by Ellen and Jack Davies in 1992. Davies Gate opens to a very fragrant garden. The personal care products manufacturer offers botanical bar soaps, bath and body products, skin care products, lotions, baby products, candles, and fragrances. Fragrance scents include rose, lavender, hyacinth, bergamot, sugar plum, citrus, and sea grass. Products are available through high-end retailers and through the company's Web site.

Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing makes Dickies-brand khaki pants, bib overalls, jeans, women's and children's apparel, and Workrite safety uniforms. It also makes apparel and footwear for work and outdoor use under the Kodiak and Terra names. Its work clothes, originally tailored for the blue-collar set, have come back into fashion with teens, which account for a growing portion of sales. Its products are sold worldwide through retailers (Academy, Wal-Mart), directly to businesses, and through its Work Authority stores. It was founded in 1922 by the Williamson family, which still owns the company. Dickies acquired Kodiak Group Holdings in April 2008.

Chairman Juan Bosco Maldonado Quiroga represents the third generation of his family to run Copamex, which was founded in 1928. Copamex ompany is one of that nation's largest makers of consumer paper products. Products include Scottis facial tissue and napkins; Boreal, Flen, Lovly, Tessy, and Regio toilet paper; Saba feminine pads and liners; and Tena adult incontinence products. It also offers Benefit-brand products for institutional use. In addition, the company makes Fastway and VisionBond office paper; Wow! and Shock notebooks; and graphic arts paper. Copamex has operations throughout Mexico, as well as New Mexico, Nicaragua, Texas, and Costa Rica.

Beiersdorf loves the skin you're in and wants to improve it one product at a time. A subsidiary of Beiersdorf AG, the company makes and markets skin care brands NIVEA, Basis, and Eucerin. Beiersdorf's products are sold in some 100 countries. NIVEA, developed and named in 1911 from the Latin word "nivius" meaning "snow-white," marked the foundation of Beiersdorf's portfolio of brands. In addition to body care, NIVEA now extends to lip care, anti-aging creams (DNAge), and men's products. The company discovered Eucerit, the industry's first water-in-oil emulsifier, at the turn of the century. Beiersdorf products are available worldwide through grocery stores and mass merchant retailers, such as Target.

The Tranzonic Companies makes and distributes personal care products, cleaning and safety products, and industrial textiles nationwide. It also manufactures private-label and brand-name products (Maxithins, Precious, and Health Guards) for other companies in the same industry and is a major manufacturer of sanitary-napkin dispensing machines. Tranzonic repackages and distributes industrial wiping materials, cleaning chemicals, and disposable work clothing through its CCP Industries subsidiary. Investment firm Linsalata Capital Partners bought Tranzonic in 1998.

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