George Schaeffer

I would say that i am living the american dream. My partner, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, and I both immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary—I came to New York City in 1956, and she came in 1969. After receiving my college degree in International Economics from City College of New York, I began my career in the family garment manufacturing business in Manhattan. But I had a dream of an even better lifestyle, so I moved my family to California in 1981. I purchased a dental supply business called Odontorium Products Inc., and Suzi, who had earned her degree in biology, joined me that same year.

We soon discovered that the acrylic porcelains used to make dentures were similar to and, in fact, even better than, the materials that were being used by nail professionals for crafting acrylic nails. At the time, acrylic nails were just starting to be worn by Hollywood actresses and wealthy women who could afford them. But we seized on what we saw as an opportunity to bring beautiful nails to the masses. We applied our knowledge of dental technology to the nail industry to formulate superior and safer products for nail technicians.

We partnered with a chemist and developed what has fondly become known as the "rubber band special," an acrylic system based on the dental formulas but developed specifically for nails (the bottles were held together with a rubber band). I basically peddled the rubber band special door-to-door to nail salons in Los Angeles. Once they tried it, nail technicians clamored for more of this new acrylic system.

We decided to keep the initials of the dental supply company, and started OPI Products in 1981 in a few square feet of office space in Hollywood. Because we missed the dynamics of the fashion industry and the thrill of working with colors, we entered the world of color in 1989. Today, OPI Nail Lacquer is known as one of the world's best-loved professional nail lacquers. It was a combination of Suzi's spot-on ability to choose the latest colors, our wonderful shade names, and the power of public relations that put OPI on the map. Today, OPI Nail Lacquer is beloved by Hollywood celebrities and worn by women in nearly 100 countries.

The Colors of Success

Suzi Weiss-Fischmann

I believe that OPI truly revolutionized the world of nail color with its nail lacquers. With two extraordinary collections released each year, each themed around a specific geographic location and filled with 12 of that season's most fashion-forward shades, OPI brought glamour back to nails, transforming them into an integral part of the style picture.

OPI's newest line, the India Collection, includes (from left to right) Keys to my Karma, Moon Over Mumbai, Black Cherry Chutney, Curry Up Don't be Late!,and ElaPhantastic Pink.

It used to be that you only saw supermodels on magazine covers, and then, only their faces. Today you see the whole look, and nails are an important part of magazine editorials, as well. Back when we started selling OPI Nail Lacquer, the professional brands had names like Pink #2 and Bright Red #1. We started using names like Coney Island Cotton Candy and I'm Not Really a Waitress, and the idea caught on with the rest of the industry. We evolved the nail polish category even further with our patented lacquer bottle, ergonomic cap, and, more recently, the ProWide Brush, which is designed for the ultimate in professional application.