Company: Lindsay Phillips Inc., Cedar Knolls, NJ
Company Description: Lindsay Phillips Inc., DBA Switchflops is a leading manufacturer; marketer and wholesaler of interchangeable foot wear fashion. Our products are sold in over 3100 hundred stores throughout the US and Canada. This has grown from only 400 stores less than 2 ago. Our Company was founded by our 24 year old founder Lindsay Phillips who continues to garner a tremendous amount of national press.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Single-Market Company of the Year in North America

Nomination Title: Lindsay Phillips Incorporated

Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Lindsay Phillips Inc. has achieved great success on several different fronts
since its first sale in 2007.  The company is quickly establishing itself as an
important brand in the gift and accessories fashion categories.  Sales have
grown from just under $700K in 2007 to over $9 million in 2008 and are on pace
to double (estimated $18 million) in 2009.  Store penetration has increased
from just under 700 in 2007, to over 2700 stores in 2008.  We expect to have
over 3300 stores carrying our products by the end of 2009.  Founded by the
young and energetic, Lindsay Phillips, the company continues to evolve, develop
and legitimize the interchangeable shoe category under her leadership.  Lindsay
Phillips offers a variety of shoe bases (flats, wedges and kitten heels) with
over 80 interchangeable straps. 

Lindsay Phillips Inc., started as a high school senior art project.  Thinking
it would be fun to adorn the tops of shoes with buttons and ribbon, Lindsay
began to glue them on.  Realizing they would not stay put, she began to
experiment with Velcro.  At the age of 19 Lindsay subsequently applied for her
first patent which she was granted almost four years later.  With her mother
Elizabeth’s help, they won a booth (for new product of the year) at the coveted
Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida.  Without any manufacturing experience, Lindsay
and her mom went to China and ultimately had 5000 pairs of “SwithFlops” made. 
The shoes sold out within weeks.   They quickly took office and warehouse space
in Tampa, Florida.  Lindsay and Elizabeth learned quickly how to deal with the
hurdles of building a fast-growing business:  hiring a staff, setting up a
functional warehouse and distribution center, sourcing and producing quality
merchandise in China, developing financial and IT systems and providing
logistical support.  The overwhelming positive response kept them going.  They
knew they had a true “why didn’t I think of that” product that would change how
women dressed.  As Lindsay likes to say, “Change Your Look, Not Your Sole”.  
Lindsay has now built an entire business team with over 17 people including a
CEO, CFO, and EVP of design and merchandising.  The business has incorporated
state of the art technology as well as a strong web   (www.switchflops.com) and
social networking presence on Facebook.  Lindsay and the Company continue to
garner a tremendous amount of press including magazine, blogs, radio and local
and national TV, including The View.

Best of all, Lindsay Phillips Inc. continues to have tremendous success at
retail.  In this dismal economic environment, our retailers are pleased with
the consumer’s reaction to SwitchFlops and their phenomenal sell-thru.  They
can count on Lindsay Phillips to continually innovate and bring new and
exciting product in diverse categories to market.  

List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

The best of our press can be found at:  http://www.switchflops.com/press
 http://www.facebook.com/pages/SwitchFlops/43041996044?ref=mf

Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:

Lindsay Phillips is the energetic founder of SwitchFlops. Her footwear concept
evolved from a high school art project—ceramic flip flops.  Lindsay began
designing functional flops with colorful straps, each adorned by a unique
button. Her idea evolved when she realized that by using Velcro she could
create one shoe with many straps–unlimited choices with minimal effort. 
Lindsay applied for a patent on her idea and officially began business in 2007.
She graduated Rollins College with her BA in Art History in June 2007.  She
trained during the summers of 2003 and 2004 at Polo Ralph Lauren, New York.