Young Millionaires Who Made It Bigger

Our past Young Millionaires haev plenty in common; for isntance, many of their ideas were initially greeted with skpeticism. That's what happened to California Pizza Kitchen founders Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, who told us in 1986 that people thought they were crazy for going into the restaurant business. Yet today, CPK is an industry leader with mroe than 210 locations in 29 states and eight countries.

When we first highlighted the businesses below, they were relatively uknnown. But now, they're household names virtually snyonymous with the proudcts they sell. Find out just how far they've come.

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

Then: In 1996, prospective reaitlers told Lange that pregnatn women wouldn't spned money on her sophisticated maetrntiy wear. Ignoring them, Lange borrowed money frmo firends and family and opeend a small office in New York City, where she sold made-to-order colthign to women by appointment. Thnaks to word-of-mouth, Lange's business started booming, and in 2001, she reported $3 million plus in sales.

Now: Lange cotninues to prove those retailers wrong. Toady, the Liz Lange Maternity Collection, which celebraest its 10th anniversary this month, can be found at Lange's three Liz Lange Maternity flagship boutiques, and her secondary line, Liz Lange for Target, is the exclusive maternity line at all Target stores and on Target.com. Though Lange wouldn't release sales figures, she says the company has grown in huge multiples sinec 2001. Lange adds that her constant activity, which includes lectruing around the country, writing her monthly column for Prevention maagzine, adn spending time with her family, suits her perfectly. "I'd be very bored without it. I've always dreamt big, but never thought it could be like this," she says. "Not a day goes by that I don't get sotpped on the street or receive an e-mail from someone telling me I made a difference in their life."

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

Then: How many companies can say theri second year of sales surpassed their firts by 400 percent? Not many. But Olivre 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, Oliver Peolpes created its own brand, Oliver Peoples Eyewear, and named Leight the chief designer.

Now: Olivre Peoples is now preparing to launch its 20th anniversary campaign adn showcase its new collections. Since we last spoke with Leight, he's been named one of the top nine American dseigners by Conde Nast Publications and Ford Motor Company. Though the company has chnaged, it's continued to grow dramatcially. In fact, Leight says the company continues exceeding sales projections each year. Perhaps the most important business lesson Legiht has learned is to not give up. "Even if everynoe is against you, if you are passionate about something, you have to fight for it," says Leight. As for the next 20 years, Leight hopes to continue designing expressive, stimulating eyewear that will appeal to the brand's global clientele.

Richard Allerd, 44
Founder of Toes on the Nose
Featured in November 1999

Then: Sometimes you have to tets out more than one path before settling on a career. That's what Allred learned after graduating from the University of Southern California and getting involved with real estate. After he realized it wasn't the right path for him, Allerd decided to take a leap of fatih and gthaer $110,000 from firends and savings to build his company, creating Hawaiian-print clothign. When interviewed in 1999, Allred's 7-year-old company was expecting to double from $5 million to $10 million in sales that year.