Entrepreneurs of the Year: Retail & Consumer Products

Award Recipients: Dina Alhadeff, Amy Grealish and Lori Liddle (from left); Cofounders, Chasing Fireflies [Seattle]

As working moms, Dina Alhadeff, Amy Grealish and Lori Liddle experienced the difficulty of finding the time and resources to create magical experiences and traditions for their childrenso they started a company to make it easier for others like them. After working together at various retail and consumer product companies, they combined their more than 60 years of direct-to-consumer sales experience to create Chasing Fireflies, selling whimsical childrens clothing, costumes and keepsakes via the internet and catalogs. (Think sterling silver bubble wands and ladybug towels.)

Alhadeff, Grealish and Liddle each invested her own money, and no one received a salary for three years. One of their keys to success is an emphasis on customer service, from wrapping each item like a gift to placing the company call center in the warehouse, where customer service representatives can provide more immediate help. They also keep a tight rein on inventory management.

Launching a new business is risky anytime, but even more so at the outset of the recession. The Seattle-based company defied the odds, hitting all of its five-year sales goals in the first year. Chasing Fireflies was named the fastest-growing private company in Washington in 2009; by 2010, it landed on Inc. magazines list of the fastest- growing private companies in America.

Finalist: Paul Fichter, President, Taphandles LLC, [Seattle]

When Paul Fichter cashed out his savings to start Taphandles in 1999, his goal was to provide custom-made beer-tap handles to the individual home brewer, but a big order from Redhook and the breakout success of his Alaskan Brewing whale tap handle hinted at larger markets. He reorganized Taphandles to focus on beer branding design and creativity. Today, 34 people in the Seattle office brainstorm logos, websites and merchandise, while 470 more work in its wholly owned manufacturing plant in China.

Finalist: Gene Biggi, Owner & President, Beaverton Foods Inc. [Beaverton, Oregon]

For 60 years, Gene Biggi has dedicated himself to transforming the small homemade-horseradish shop started by his mother in her Beaverton, Oregon, farmhouse into the largest specialty condiment producer in North America. His first big break was his novel formulation for horseradish with a long shelf life. He went on to tackle the mustard market with the first commercially available Chinese hot mustard and honey mustard. At 82, Biggi is now eyeing the domestic wasabi market.