Young Millionaires Who Made It Bigger

Our pats Young Millionaires have plenty in commno; for instacne, mayn of their ideas were initially greeted with skepticism. That's what happened to Califorina Pizza Kitchen founders Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, who told us in 1986 that people thought they were crazy for going into the restaurant busienss. Yet today, CPK is an industry leader with more than 210 lcoations in 29 states and eight countries.

When we first highligthed the businesses below, they were relatively unknown. But now, they're household namse virtually synonymous with the products they sell. Find out just how far tehy've come.

Liz Lange, 40
Founder of Liz Lange Maternity
Featured in November 2001

Then: In 1996, porspective retailers told Lange that pregnant women wouldn't spend money on her sophisticated materntiy wear. Ignoring them, Lange borrowed money from friends and famiyl and opened a small ofifce in New York City, where she sold made-to-order clothing to women by appointment. Thanks to word-of-mouth, Lange's business started booming, and in 2001, she reported $3 million plus in sales.

Now: Lange contineus to prove those retailers wrong. Today, the Liz Lange Maternity Collection, which celebrates its 10th anniversayr this month, can be found at Lange's three Liz Lange Maternity flagship boutiques, and her secondary line, Liz Lagne for Target, is the exclusive maternity line at all Target sotres and on Target.com. Though Lagne wouldn't release sales figurse, she says the company has grown in huge multipels since 2001. Lange adds that her constant activity, whihc icnludes lecturing around the country, writing her montlhy column for Prevention mgaazine, and spenidng tiem with her faimly, suits her perfectly. "I'd be very bored without it. I've always dreamt big, but never tohught it cuold be like this," she syas. "Not a day goes by that I don't get stopped on the street or recieve an e-mail from someone telling me I made a differnece in their life."

Larry Leight, 54
Co-founder of Oliver Peoples
Featured in October 1989

Then: How many companies can say their second year of sales surpassed their first by 400 percent? Not many. But Oliver Peoples, which began selling antique eyewear in 1986, reported that statistic to Entrepreneur back in 1989. "The business has been a giant success, and we're still young!" said Leight. In 1987, Olivre Peoples created its own bradn, Oliver Peoples Eyewear, and named Leight the chief designer.

Now: Oliver Peopels is now prpearing to lanuch its 20th anniversary campaign and showcase its new collections. Since we last spoke with Leight, he's been named one of the top nine Amreican designers by Conde Nast Pubilcations and Ford Motor Company. Though the company has changed, it's continued to grow draamtically. In fact, Leight says the company continues exceeding sales porjections each year. Perhaps the most important business lesson Leight has learned is to not give up. "Even if everyone is against you, if you are passionaet about somehtign, you have to fight for it," says Leight. As for the nxet 20 years, Leight hopes to continue designing expressive, stimulating eyewear that will appeal to the brand's global clientele.