CASE INCIDENT 2 The Youngest Billionaire Then she worked on marketing, manufacturing, and fi- nancing, treating each as its own project. After numerous rejections, she finally found mill owners in North Carolina willing to finance the manufacturing. "At the end of the day, the guy ended up just wanting to help me," Blakely said. "He didn't even believe in the idea." For a time, Blakely relied on stores like Neiman Marcus to set up her table and on word of mouth to get the news out to the public. Her big break came when she sent sam- ples to Oprah Winfrey's stylist. Harpo Productions called to say that Winfrey would name Spanx her favorite product of the year and warned Blakely to get her website ready. Picture this. The billionaire owner and founder stands in the conference room trying on bras while the CEO stands behind her, adjusting the straps. The floor is lit- tered with underwear. The owner takes off one bra and puts on another. Five executives in the conference room barely blink. Welcome to Sara Blakely's company, Spanx. In just a few years, Spanx became to slimming underwear what Jello is to gelatin and Kleenex is to facial tissue: So dominant that its name is synonymous with the industry. At 44, Blakely is one of the youngest billionaires in the world. Like many stories of entrepreneurial success, hers is part gritty determination, part inspiration, and part circumstance. The grit was easy to see early on. As a She didn't have a website. Billions of dollars in sales later. Blakely has no plans

Management, Loose-Leaf Version
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ISBN:9781305969308
Author:Richard L. Daft
Publisher:Richard L. Daft
Chapter6: Managing Start-Ups And New Ventures
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What evidence is there in the case to suggest that Blakeley is not risk-averse? 

CASE INCIDENT 2 The Youngest Billionaire
Then she worked on marketing, manufacturing, and fi-
nancing, treating each as its own project. After numerous
rejections, she finally found mill owners in North Carolina
willing to finance the manufacturing. "At the end of the
day, the guy ended up just wanting to help me," Blakely
said. "He didn't even believe in the idea."
For a time, Blakely relied on stores like Neiman Marcus
to set up her table and on word of mouth to get the news
out to the public. Her big break came when she sent sam-
ples to Oprah Winfrey's stylist. Harpo Productions called
to say that Winfrey would name Spanx her favorite product
of the year and warned Blakely to get her website ready.
Picture this. The billionaire owner and founder stands
in the conference room trying on bras while the CEO
stands behind her, adjusting the straps. The floor is lit-
tered with underwear. The owner takes off one bra and
puts on another. Five executives in the conference room
barely blink.
Welcome to Sara Blakely's company, Spanx. In just a few
years, Spanx became to slimming underwear what Jello is
to gelatin and Kleenex is to facial tissue: So dominant that
its name is synonymous with the industry.
At 44, Blakely is one of the youngest billionaires in
the world. Like many stories of entrepreneurial success,
hers is part gritty determination, part inspiration, and
part circumstance. The grit was easy to see early on. As a
She didn't have a website.
Billions of dollars in sales later. Blakely has no plans
Transcribed Image Text:CASE INCIDENT 2 The Youngest Billionaire Then she worked on marketing, manufacturing, and fi- nancing, treating each as its own project. After numerous rejections, she finally found mill owners in North Carolina willing to finance the manufacturing. "At the end of the day, the guy ended up just wanting to help me," Blakely said. "He didn't even believe in the idea." For a time, Blakely relied on stores like Neiman Marcus to set up her table and on word of mouth to get the news out to the public. Her big break came when she sent sam- ples to Oprah Winfrey's stylist. Harpo Productions called to say that Winfrey would name Spanx her favorite product of the year and warned Blakely to get her website ready. Picture this. The billionaire owner and founder stands in the conference room trying on bras while the CEO stands behind her, adjusting the straps. The floor is lit- tered with underwear. The owner takes off one bra and puts on another. Five executives in the conference room barely blink. Welcome to Sara Blakely's company, Spanx. In just a few years, Spanx became to slimming underwear what Jello is to gelatin and Kleenex is to facial tissue: So dominant that its name is synonymous with the industry. At 44, Blakely is one of the youngest billionaires in the world. Like many stories of entrepreneurial success, hers is part gritty determination, part inspiration, and part circumstance. The grit was easy to see early on. As a She didn't have a website. Billions of dollars in sales later. Blakely has no plans
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