Budding entrepreneurs can examine Michael Stopka's road to success and learn some valuable lessons to apply to their own businesses:

Do something unique. "Do something that someone else isn't doing-either a product or a methodology — that hasn't been done or that you can do better."

Treat customers the way you'd like to he treated. "You've got to make the U.S. consumer feel they're benefiting from your product or service.

Stopka also has a clear picture of his typical customer and what he or she is looking for. "They want to buy things they can't find anywhere else."

E-commerce is a must-have component for practically any business today. For example, during last year's holiday season, 30 percent of Design Toscano's orders came via the Internet.

Besides picking the right products to sell and knowing who is likely to purchase them, a sense of responsibility is important, too, says Stopka. "You have to offer the world something other than physical goods." he says. "You don't want to produce your goods as a result of child labor, for instance. I am an entrepreneur, but I am sensitive to the social aspects of this. The workers in China might make $1,200 or $1,400 a year, but given their standard of living, they can work for a few years and take their money back to their families in the countryside and live like kings. I learned about ethical business practices, and they're an even bigger concern today."