You gotta have friends.

• Position: Triad

Fueled by e-commerce on Facebook, a Lexington company that began in its founder's home is now a rapidly expanding enterprise. "From 2010 to 2011, our sales tripled," says Brandi Tysinger Temple, CEO and founder of Lolly Wolly Doodle Inc., a Web-based retailer that makes and sells personalized children's wear.

The business started in 2006 on eBay, where Temple sold extra dresses and hair bows she had made for her two daughters. But it wasn't until she created a company Facebook page in early 2010 that sales spiked. Though many question the socialmedia website's ability to drive revenue, Lollv VVollv Doodle employs a simple scheme to generate sales: It posts a picture and description of a product about four times a day. If customers want to buy it, they type their email address, size and customizations in the "comments" section of the post. A recent item--a $15 pink shirt with embroidery included--generated more than 80 orders in an hour.

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