Core Insights - Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, built her company from personal savings of $5,000 earned from selling fax machines, without any outside investors, and is now worth an estimated $1.3 billion [2][3] Company Background - Spanx was founded in 2000 when Blakely was 29 years old, after her experience as a national sales trainer and her frustration with finding suitable undergarments led her to create a solution by modifying control-top pantyhose [2][4] - The company has grown to a valuation of $1.2 billion, showcasing the success of its innovative product offerings [2] Investment Strategy - Blakely's unique approach involved self-funding the entire business for 21 years, allowing her to maintain full control over Spanx and its profits [3][4] Marketing and Sales Strategy - A notable marketing tactic included securing placement in Neiman Marcus, where Blakely took initiative to enhance product visibility by repositioning Spanx products throughout the store, despite the store's strict visual merchandising guidelines [5][6]