Accel, inc.

Lewis Center, OH

When Tara Abraham was an Assistant Buyer for Bath and Body Works, she found it extremely difficult to find an external partner who could provide the quality assembly, packaging and distribution services the company was seeking. She realized there was a niche in the market for her to explore so in 1995 with the help of her parents and husband, Tara decide to start her own solutions-driven company — Accel, Inc. The company specializes in quality control, innovative design, packaging and assembly techniques as well as distribution services.

For more than a decade, Accel, Inc. has been the creative expert behind the design and assembly of Limited Brands' trademark gift sets you find at Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret. Accel, Inc., known for its boundless innovation, unsurpassed efficiency and flawless assembly, is a certified woman-owned business headquartered in Lewis Center, OH.

Since 1995, Accel, Inc. has more than doubled its revenues each year and continues to seek opportunity to provide exceptional value to its clients. Today, Accel serves more than two dozen clients across 8 different industries in the U.S. and Mexico with future plans of expanding its global reach through joint ventures in China. Last year alone, Accel earned more than $14 million from Limited Brands.

Accel's internal resources include a management team of engineers, merchants and a design team many of which were former Limited associates. Along with the service of designing and assembling Bath and Body Works' gift sets, Accel also manages the Bath and Body Works gift set inventory that houses over $30 million dollars worth of product. 

The Millcraft Paper Company

Cleveland, OH

If you’ve ever received a postcard in the mail, announcing a semi-annual sale or special event at one of Limited Brands’ nearly 3,700 retail stores, chances are it was printed on paper supplied by The Millcraft Paper Company, a certified woman-owned business enterprise, headquartered in Cleveland, OH.

Since 1990, The Millcraft Paper Company has been supplying Limited Brands with commercial printing paper—primarily coated paper—for various marketing materials used throughout the enterprise. In 2004, Limited Brands did nearly 9 million in business with Millcraft, making the company one of Limited Brands top offset paper suppliers.

Today, the 85-year-old establishment is led by Kay Mlakar, the granddaughter of Millcraft founder Harold Keil, and her husband Charles. Kay became heir of Millcraft in 1986 when her mother turned over the company to Kay and her sister.

Shortly afterwards, Kay’s sister sold her shares back to the company, making Kay the majority shareholder and sole owner of the business. For the past three generations, Millcraft has been shaped and led by women who have advanced the business, molding it into the $200 million plus company it is today.

“Years ago, a women owner was often viewed as being less than competent, but today, it’s something to celebrate and be proud of,” said Ms. Mlakar.

Over the past several years, Millcraft Paper has evolved and grown. Today, in addition to being a paper distributor, The Millcraft Group—the parent company—is also comprised of two other subsidiaries: Deltacraft, which converts paper into different sizes, and Infocraft, which provides supply-chain management services.

Making between 400 and 500 paper shipments each day, The Millcraft Paper Company has approximately 250 employees, seven retail stores and 11 distribution locations in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.