SPANX

Sara Blakely had five thousand dollars in savings and zero fashion experience. She bought a pair of pantyhose and cut the feet off with scissors. The result didn't look like much — just a frame of nylon held up by hope. But when she put them on under pants, the lines disappeared. She had solved a problem that millions of women faced twice a day. She spent every dollar she had on patents and filing fees. No investors, no co-founders, no safety net. She pitched to department stores. Neiman Marcus's buyer showed interest but seemed skeptical. Blakely took her into a bathroom, hiked up her pants, and demonstrated the product. The buyer watched. She ordered. Within months, Oprah named Spanx her favorite product of the year.