Ken & Jennifer Miller 43, 40, co-founders of Thousand Mile, in Vista, California
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Description:Outdoor-clothingcompany
Start-Up: $166 in 1993
Sales: 2003 projected salesnearly $5 million
Swell Idea: Ken started hiscareer in emergency services as a lifeguard in Carlsbad,California. The ill-fitting and faded trunks the lifeguards woreprompted him and then-girlfriend Jennifer to buy $166 worth offabric and make 30 pairs of trunks. When the trunks quickly sold toKen's co-workers, the couple knew their big wave hadarrived.
Swim Meet: Free samples wonover lifeguard agencies that ultimately switched when largercompanies didn't deliver on time. Now the leading provider oftrunks to professional lifeguard agencies as well as the CoastGuard, Ken contends: "[When] you're competing against thebig boys like Nike or Speedo, the only way we could win is if wehad awesome customer service and were a lot of fun to deal with. Wedid, and we won." Thousand Mile has since added a completeline of mail order outdoor wear.
Lifesaver: The thrill ofsaving lives pulled Ken back into the tide five years ago. "Iwanted this company to grow, but there's nothing more rewardingthan a surf rescue." Ken now commutes by plane to Half MoonBay, California, two days a week, where he's afirefighter/paramedic for the Fire Protection District and teachesits surf rescue program. "I can come back to the business andsee things [from a different perspective], see what's workingand what's not."
