Messy_JJ Guys_NN2 Make_VV0 Millions_NNO2 Selling_VVG Green_JJ Cleaning_NN1 Products_NN2 How_RRQ two_MC 27-year-old_JJ entrepreneurs_NN2 made_VVD a_AT1 fortune_NN1 selling_VVG eco-friendly_JJ products_NN2 ._. 
Eric_NP1 Ryan_NP1 and_CC Adam_NP1 Lowry_NP1 were_VBDR having_VHG dinner_NN1 with_IW their_APPGE new_JJ investors_NN2 ._. 
The_AT 27-year-old_JJ entrepreneurs_NN2 had_VHD finally_RR gotten_VVN a_AT1 million_NNO dollars_NNU2 in_II venture_NN1 capital_NN1 to_TO kick-start_VVI their_APPGE company_NN1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 came_VVD with_IW stiff_JJ financial_JJ targets_NN2 ._. 
It_PPH1 turned_VVD out_RP this_DD1 was_VBDZ the_AT least_DAT of_IO their_APPGE problems_NN2 that_DD1 night_NNT1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 were_VBDR passing_VVG our_APPGE credit_NN1 cards_NN2 under_II the_AT table_NN1 to_II each_PPX221 other_PPX222 ,_, "_" Ryan_NP1 recalls_VVZ ,_, "_" but_CCB none_PN of_IO them_PPHO2 worked_VVD ,_, because_CS we_PPIS2 had_VHD maxed_VVN them_PPHO2 out_RP ._. 
Eventually_RR ,_, we_PPIS2 persuaded_VVD the_AT restaurant_NN1 owner_NN1 we_PPIS2 were_VBDR good_JJ for_IF the_AT money_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II the_AT eight_MC years_NNT2 since_CS that_DD1 embarrassing_JJ moment_NN1 ,_, Ryan_NP1 and_CC Lowry_NP1 have_VH0 built_VVN Method_NN1 into_II the_AT world_NN1 's_GE largest_JJT eco-friendly_JJ cleaning_NN1 brand_NN1 ._. 
Their_APPGE green_JJ products_NN2 use_VV0 natural_JJ ingredients_NN2 like_II corn_NN1 ,_, coconut_NN1 oil_NN1 ,_, and_CC palm_NN1 oil_NN1 and_CC are_VBR packed_VVN in_II attractive_JJ ,_, recyclable_JJ containers_NN2 ._. 
In_II the_AT process_NN1 ,_, the_AT two_MC changed_VVD the_AT perception_NN1 of_IO green_JJ home-care_JJ products_NN2 --_NN1 and_CC the_AT industry_NN1 too_RR ._. 
Ryan_NP1 and_CC Lowry_NP1 had_VHD been_VBN friends_NN2 since_CS high_JJ school_NN1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 was_VBDZ n't_XX until_CS after_II college_NN1 that_CST they_PPHS2 hit_VVD on_II the_AT idea_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 home-care-products_NN2 company_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 were_VBDR shocked_VVN to_TO learn_VVI how_RGQ toxic_JJ cleaning_NN1 products_NN2 were_VBDR ,_, "_" says_VVZ Ryan_NP1 ._. 
Why_RRQ could_VM n't_XX they_PPHS2 create_VVI green_JJ products_NN2 that_CST would_VM be_VBI just_RR as_RG stylish_JJ ,_, fragrant_JJ ,_, and_CC environmentally_RR pure_JJ as_CSA Aveda_NP1 's_GE skin-_NN1 and_CC hair-care_NN1 lines_NN2 ?_? 
When_CS Ryan_NP1 's_GE mom_NN1 heard_VVN about_II the_AT plan_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 stared_VVD at_II him_PPHO1 blankly_RR :_: "_" I_PPIS1 've_VH0 never_RR even_RR seen_VVN you_PPY clean_VVI your_APPGE room_NN1 !_! "_" 
Undeterred_JJ ,_, Lowry_NP1 ,_, the_AT chemical_JJ engineer_NN1 ,_, experimented_VVN with_IW nontoxic_JJ ways_NN2 to_TO clean_VVI ,_, while_CS Ryan_NP1 ,_, the_AT ad_NN1 guy_NN1 ,_, focused_VVN on_II marketing_NN1 ._. 
In_II February_NPM1 2001_MC ,_, they_PPHS2 mixed_VVD their_APPGE first_MD four_MC cleaning_NN1 sprays_NN2 and_CC convinced_VVD the_AT managers_NN2 of_IO 20_MC independent_JJ grocers_NN2 to_TO try_VVI them_PPHO2 ._. 
Once_CS they_PPHS2 had_VHD their_APPGE approval_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 tapped_VVD friends_NN2 and_CC family_NN1 and_CC pooled_VVD their_APPGE savings_NN2 to_TO come_VVI up_RP with_IW $90,000_NNU in_II seed_NN1 money_NN1 ._. 
From_II the_AT start_NN1 ,_, "_" Go_VV0 big_JJ or_CC go_VV0 home_RL "_" was_VBDZ their_APPGE mantra_NN1 ._. 
Their_APPGE first_MD financing_NN1 --_NN1 that_CST $1_NNU million_NNO --_NN1 was_VBDZ due_JJ to_TO be_VBI signed_VVN on_II September_NPM1 11_MC ,_, 2001_MC ._. 
By_II the_AT time_NNT1 they_PPHS2 got_VVD it_PPH1 ,_, two_MC months_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, says_VVZ Ryan_NP1 ,_, "_" we_PPIS2 had_VHD $16_NNU in_II the_AT bank_NN1 and_CC personally_RR owed_VVD $300,000_NNU ._. "_" 
Snagging_VVG a_AT1 national_JJ retailer_NN1 proved_VVD just_RR as_RG tricky_JJ ._. 
The_AT friends_NN2 set_VV0 their_APPGE sights_NN2 on_II Target_NN1 ,_, known_VVN for_IF its_APPGE trendy_JJ ,_, affordable_JJ merchandise_NN1 ._. 
"_" But_CCB Target_NN1 did_VDD n't_XX like_VVI the_AT product_NN1 or_CC the_AT brand_NN1 ,_, "_" recalls_VVZ Ryan_NP1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 thought_VVD the_AT deal_NN1 was_VBDZ dead_JJ ,_, but_CCB then_RT a_AT1 new_JJ senior_JJ buyer_NN1 saw_VVD that_CST even_CS21 though_CS22 we_PPIS2 were_VBDR n't_XX selling_VVG big_JJ volumes_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 were_VBDR profitable_JJ ,_, just_RR on_II a_AT1 smaller_JJR scale_NN1 ._. "_" 
They_PPHS2 won_VVD over_II Target_NN1 ,_, but_CCB their_APPGE first_MD bottles_NN2 of_IO dish_NN1 soap_NN1 ,_, shaped_VVN like_II bowling_NN1 pins_NN2 ,_, leaked_VVD all_RR over_II the_AT shelves_NN2 (_( intrigued_JJ shoppers_NN2 removed_VVD the_AT caps_NN2 for_IF a_AT1 whiff_NN1 and_CC left_VVD them_PPHO2 off_RP )_) ._. 
The_AT partners_NN2 got_VVD the_AT mess_NN1 cleaned_VVN up_RP and_CC redesigned_VVD the_AT containers_NN2 ._. 
When_CS they_PPHS2 launched_VVD their_APPGE triple-concentrated_JJ detergent_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 ditched_VVD the_AT huge_JJ boxes_NN2 that_CST were_VBDR the_AT industry_NN1 norm_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 made_VVD it_PPH1 easier_JJR to_TO handle_VVI ,_, less_RGR cumbersome_JJ ,_, and_CC better_JJR for_IF the_AT environment_NN1 ,_, "_" says_VVZ Ryan_NP1 ._. 
"_" Now_RT almost_RR all_DB detergents_NN2 are_VBR concentrated_VVN ._. "_" 
Consumers_NN2 were_VBDR hooked_VVN on_II the_AT natural_JJ ingredients_NN2 and_CC exotic_JJ scents_NN2 like_II ginger_NN1 ,_, yuzu_NN1 ,_, lychee_NN1 ,_, and_CC ylang-ylang_NN1 ._. 
Today_RT ,_, the_AT partners_NN2 sell_VV0 130_MC products_NN2 in_II more_DAR than_CSN 8,000_MC stores_NN2 ,_, and_CC revenues_NN2 are_VBR "_" north_ND1 of_IO $100_NNU million_NNO ._. "_" 
Such_DA hyper-growth_NN1 has_VHZ at_II times_NNT2 stressed_VVD the_AT men_NN2 's_GE friendship_NN1 ._. 
"_" Eric_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 agree_VV0 on_II 'what'_JJ but_CCB never_RR on_II 'how_NN1 ,_, '_" "_" says_VVZ Lowry_NP1 ._. 
"_" Because_CS we_PPIS2 are_VBR willing_JJ to_TO challenge_VVI each_PPX221 other_PPX222 ,_, we_PPIS2 come_VV0 up_RP with_IW interesting_JJ and_CC smarter_JJR solutions_NN2 ._. 
There_EX 's_VBZ a_AT1 little_JJ bit_NN1 of_IO fire_NN1 and_CC ice_NN1 between_II us_PPIO2 ._. "_" 
Getting_VVG Ahead_RL with_IW Ryan_NP1 &;_NULL Lowry_NP1 Q._NN1 You_PPY launched_VVD in_II the_AT middle_NN1 of_IO the_AT 2001_MC recession_NN1 ._. 
How_RRQ did_VDD you_PPY pull_VVI that_DD1 off_RP ?_? 
A._NP1 Eric_NP1 Ryan_NP1 :_: To_TO be_VBI successful_JJ ,_, you_PPY have_VH0 to_TO reinvent_VVI some_DD thing_NN1 ,_, or_CC a_AT1 process_NN1 ,_, or_CC have_VH0 a_AT1 point_NN1 of_IO differentiation_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 recession_NN1 forces_VVZ you_PPY to_TO sharpen_VVI that_DD1 differ-_JJ entiation_NN1 ._. 
Our_APPGE customers_NN2 instantly_RR understood_VVD our_APPGE products_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 got_VVD the_AT whole_JJ style_NN1 and_CC substance_NN1 thing_NN1 ._. 
Q._NP1 What_DDQ do_VD0 you_PPY say_VVI to_II someone_PN1 starting_VVG a_AT1 business_NN1 ?_? 
A._NP1 Adam_NP1 Lowry_NP1 :_: Understand_VV0 with_IW great_JJ clarity_NN1 what_DDQ creates_VVZ value_NN1 for_IF your_APPGE consumer_NN1 ,_, and_CC do_VD0 n't_XX be_VBI afraid_JJ to_TO deliver_VVI ._. 
Q._NP1 Do_VD0 you_PPY worry_VVI when_RRQ companies_NN2 copy_VV0 you_PPY ?_? 
A._NP1 ER_NP1 :_: No_UH ,_, because_CS part_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE mission_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO make_VVI competitors_NN2 follow_VVI us_PPIO2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 get_VV0 copied_VVN all_DB the_AT time_NNT1 ,_, so_CS we_PPIS2 've_VH0 created_VVN an_AT1 organization_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ good_JJ at_II changing_VVG ._. 
Q._NP1 What_DDQ 's_VBZ your_APPGE favorite_JJ product_NN1 ?_? 
A._NP1 ER_NP1 and_CC AL_NP1 :_: Whichever_DDQV one_MC1 we_PPIS2 've_VH0 just_RR launched_VVN !_! 
Q._NP1 Are_VBR you_PPY pro-clean_JJ or_CC anti-chemical_NN1 ?_? 
A._NP1 ER_NP1 :_: We_PPIS2 're_VBR both_DB2 sailors_NN2 ,_, so_CS we_PPIS2 are_VBR very_RG sensitive_JJ to_II changes_NN2 in_II the_AT environment_NN1 ._. 
Green_NN1 has_VHZ always_RR been_VBN core_NN1 to_II our_APPGE beliefs_NN2 ._. 
