Case Study - Chinaberry Catalog (2,875 words)

DeMaine says a DPO makes more sense for Chinaberry than an IPO. "Research shows that if you make customers shareholders, you make them better customers. They spend more money with you, and they recommend you to more people."

Strict regulations control DPOs, notes DeMaine, and the laws vary from state to state. "Going public is not a panacea for all that ails a company," he says. "But we needed outside capital to grow even more."