INGENUITY; AMONG THE 50 COMPANIES THAT CONSTITUTE THE DAILY NEWS/BLOOMBERG INDEX, THESE FIVE ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR INDUSTRIES AND YET SHOW A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF INGENUITY THAT HELPS THEM STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.Byline: Deborah Adamson Daily News Staff Writer IHOP IHOP International House Of Pancakes (restaurant chain) iHOP Information Hyperlinked Over Proteins IHOP International House of Prayer IHOP International H2O Project IHOP International House of Pain CORP.: ``One thing the world does not need is another restaurant,'' said Richard Herzer - on the surface, a startling star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. statement coming from the chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Glendale-based IHOP. ``But there's plenty of room out there for people who can run a good restaurant,'' he added. He believes IHOP - owner and licensor of 746 International House of Pancakes restaurants in 36 states, Canada and Japan - is one such chain. Indeed, IHOP has much to be proud about these days. Its stock price has hit record highs lately. In the last 10 years, revenues have risen an average of about 12 percent annually, compared with 7 percent in the decade before. But IHOP's path hasn't always been as lump-free as its pancake pancake, thin, flat cake, made of batter and baked on a griddle or fried in a pan. Pancakes, probably the oldest form of bread, are known in different forms throughout the world. batter. In 1958, the company opened its first restaurant in Toluca Lake. It attracted more pancake patrons for lunch and dinner by expanding its menu to include items such as the Colorado omelette for meat lovers and the hamburger club sandwich. Sales grew from $114 million in 1992 to $190 million last year. Earnings were $8 million (89 cents a share) vs. $18.6 million ($1.95). Herzer is optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op about IHOP's future, but keeps a realistic view. ``I'm only as good as my last meal,'' he said. MINIMED INC inc - /ink/ increment, i.e. increase by one. Especially used by assembly programmers, as many assembly languages have an "inc" mnemonic. Antonym: dec. .: Sylmar-based MiniMed makes infusion pumps the size of a pager that drip insulin into diabetics, replacing manual daily injections. It commands 75 percent of the U.S. market and about 20 percent in Europe, said Robert Faulkner, an analyst at Hambrecht & Quist in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of who rated MiniMed a ``buy'' six months ago. Sales were $59 million in 1996, compared with $45 million a year ago. Earnings were $4.7 million (38 cents a share) vs. $1.8 million (17 cents). MiniMed also is working on a treatment for AIDS and a sensor that is inserted under the skin for continuous measurement of glucose levels. ``We're very excited about it,'' said Alfred Mann, founder and CEO. SEMTECH CORP.: After the Berlin Wall fell, signaling the beginning of the end of the Cold War, Semtech saw the handwriting on the wall handwriting on the wall Daniel interprets supernatural sign as Belshazzar’s doom. [O.T.: Daniel 5:25–28] See : Omen . As spending on defense declined, the Newbury Park-based semiconductor company scrambled to find new business, since 80 percent of its revenues came from the military and aerospace sectors. Semtech set its sights on emerging industries in the commercial market - communications and computers. ``We focused on key trends and developed products to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. those trends,'' said David Franz Jr., chief financial officer of Semtech. Today 90 percent of its revenue comes from the commercial market, with only 10 percent from military and aerospace. Semtech sells power integrated circuits Power integrated circuits Integrated circuits that are capable of driving a power load. The key feature of a power integrated circuit that differentiates it from other semiconductor technologies is its ability to handle high voltage, high current, or a , used in powering microprocessors, and transient voltage suppressors A transient voltage suppressor or TVS is a general classification of an array of devices that are designed to react to sudden or momentary overvoltage conditions. One such common device used for this purpose is known as the transient voltage suppression diode that is simply , which protect computers, high-speed data transmission lines and other equipment from static, electrical surges and even lightning. The company also developed a low-voltage regulator, which reduces the power needed to run computers and communications equipment. Last year's earnings reached $7.5 million ($1.18 a share) on revenues of $61.7 million. In 1994, earnings were $198,000 (3 cents) on sales of $29.4 million. Its stock price is hovering around $64, up from $8 a share a year ago. Semtech is doing so well, it was named the 11th-fastest-growing company in the nation by Fortune magazine this month. CHEROKEE INC.: Three years ago, Cherokee was in danger of going out of business forever. After two trips to bankruptcy court bankruptcy court n. the specialized Federal court in which bankruptcy matters under the Federal Bankruptcy Act are conducted. There are several bankruptcy courts in each state, and each one's territory covers several counties. and with losses piling up, the company's future looked grim. But its new management team refused to give up. The apparel and footwear maker gambled on one last attempt to survive: Ditch manufacturing and become a pure licensing company. ``Sometimes, the things that make the most sense are the most simple,'' said Patricia Warren, president of Cherokee Inc. It was logical. Business flagged because many major retailers who used to buy goods from Cherokee decided they can manufacture more cheaply overseas. They then slap their own ``store brand'' labels on anything from blouses to belts. But while retailers might be able to make products at a lower cost, their store brands don't have the recognition of the Cherokee label. So Cherokee stopped making clothes and shoes. It closed its Sunland factory and moved to a small Van Nuys office, its work force whittled down to 12 from 345. The strategy worked. Last fiscal year, Cherokee earned $6.7 million (82 cents a share) on sales of $8.7 million. The year before, the company suffered a net loss of $1.4 million (22 cents) on sales of $14 million. Its stock price is trading around $11 a share, up from $2.50 in fall 1995. ``Clearly it's the right move for them,'' said Dixon Yee, an analyst at CS First Boston First Boston Corporation was a New York-based investment bank, founded in 1932 and acquired by Credit Suisse in 1988, when it became 'CS First Boston'. Globally referred to as Credit Suisse First Boston after 1996, the First Boston part of the name was phased out in 2006. in New York whose firm invested in Cherokee. ``The Cherokee name is still very attractive.'' Licensees include Target, Caldor and Venture among many clients worldwide who manufacture everything from apparel to sunglasses sunglasses A tinted pair of glasses used to ↓ light arriving at the eye, which are labeled according to the amount of UV light blocked; nonprescription glasses are classified according to use and amount of UV radiation blocked Sunglasses . Is a Cherokee chocolate bar not far behind? ``We've already got it,'' Warren said. In 1998, Japan and South Korea will launch a Cherokee line of chocolates. 3D SYSTEMS CORP.: For a company that commands almost all of its U.S. market, 3D Systems in Valencia enjoys a rather low-key profile. Not a household name like Microsoft or Intel, the stereolithography The first 3D printing technology, which was pioneered by Chuck Hull of 3D Systems. See 3D printing. company nonetheless controls between 80 percent and 95 percent of its industry. Recently, 3D solidified its market share in Europe by buying a competing business controlled by a European rival. ``There was us and them,'' said Richard Balanson, president of 3D Systems. ``Now it's us and us.'' Founded in 1986 by Charles Hull Charles Hull VC (24 July 1890- 21 February 1953) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. , who developed its technology, 3D makes and markets machines that transform a computerized design into an actual prototype within hours - rather than weeks or months using traditional hand crafting or machining methods. For example, an automobile manufacturer can design and build a prototype part for a car engine with 3D's machines. The company has impressed Michael Braig, an analyst at A.G. Edwards in St. Louis who upgraded his recommendation to ``buy'' six weeks ago. ``It was based on their acquisition. It represented a step in the rationalization and consolidation of the marketplace,'' he said, adding that 3D Systems ``is the largest company in its industry and the best-financed.'' The company is moving into the ``rapid tooling'' market as well. Instead of making the prototypes for testing, the tooling machines make the molds to allow mass production of the part or product. Revenues reached $80 million and earnings $4.6 million (39 cents) in 1996, compared with $43.3 million and earnings of $4.5 million (48 cents) in 1994. CAPTION(S): 5 Photos Photo: (1) Richard Herzer, CEO of IHOP Corp., and company spokesman Cliff ham it up Verb 1. ham it up - exaggerate one's acting ham, overact, overplay dramatic art, dramaturgy, theater, theatre, dramatics - the art of writing and producing plays in the kitchen of the IHOP restaurant in West Hills. Tom Mendoza/Daily News Alfred Mann, founder and CEO of MiniMed Inc. in Sylmar, displays a professional continuous glucose monitoring glucose monitoring Lab medicine The periodic evaluation of any analyte abnormal in Pts with DM, to assess short and long-term control with antiglycemic agents. See Glucose, Glycated hemoglobin. system. Phil McCarten/Daily News David Franz Jr., CFO See Chief Financial Officer. of Semtech Corp. in Newbury Park, holds a silicon wafer with power integrated circuits. Bob Halvorsen/Daily News Patricia Warren, president of Cherokee Inc. in Van Nuys, displays some of the licensing company's signature apparel. David Sprague/Daily News Richard Balanson, left, president of 3D Systems Corp., and founder Charles Hull hold items made by their stereolithography machine. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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