European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 20, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Eva Gator displays one of the wig fashions from her company s collection. Eva Gabor stars As businesswoman by Beatrice Motamedi United press International first you notice the eyes. Next the smooth skin and the Cloudo Golden hair. Act the there is that voice like  says Eva Gabor. Have some Lea. Havo a Crumpet Gabor. It appears would t dream of talking business before she gets of know you ii is a sir elegy that has served this canny hungarian born actress Well during her 40-year career in films stage and television. Eva Gabon plays an equally challenging though loss visible Rote As chairwoman of her own company Eva Gabor International the world s largest wig maker. I wanted to do Only one thing and do it  she says sipping Tea in a san Francisco hotel during a recent visit. When Gabor was approached one Day by a businessman with the idea of starting a wig company she was ready to listen. I had done 0 lot of movies and plays Wilh costumes and wigs and they used to be ghastly Gabor says they used to weigh sons " sixteen years ago Long before Elizabeth Taylor began pushing pc tume. Eva Gabor began Selling her trademark a mop of Golden curls some limes up swept Inlo a boudoir1 look. Her company s line of Eva Gabon inspired wigs Gabor says remains its Broad and butter Model. To sailed Iho company and we almost got  she says laughing Gabon sold part of the company dropped the idea of Selling franchises and focused on making wigs for salons and others who would resell him to the Public. To got bigger and bigger and now we Are jus me biggest producing some 1.3 million wigs a year Gabor says. Although Gabor won t divulge her company s revenues Industry sources put them at about $30 minion a year. Wig sales in the United states including imports Are estimated to reach an annual $550 million. Eva Gabor International is now based in los angelas Wilh offices throughout the United states and Europe and production plants in Korea and China where the company expects to open a second Plant in september. Gubor s wigs which sell for s35 to $110, Are modelled on a hapless design in which strands of syn Holic hair like Libers arc sewn to lace bands resulting in a wig that conforms closely to inc Scalp and weighs less than two ounces. Gabor boasts Hal Iho wigs can be washed Wilh everyday shampoo and blow dried in minutes. They re very line wigs. Very Nice Quality not too expansive confirms Aida Grey owner of a cosmetic company in Beverly Hills Calil. Wig sales at Chicago based Rota Lei Marshall Fields arc up substantially since March when the store began blocking Gabor wigs an executive said. Her wigs Range from the inexpensive to the boiler wigs so she s reaching Oul to a Vasily of people and incomes said Corinne Arr Tsana a Beauly Salon buyer Wilh sales up Imp Cronl in inc Lisl half we should have a very Good wig year Ardisana said. Buying a wig in a Dep ariment Siloro easy to do a generation ago. Is now the exception to Iho Rule Only half of Gabor s wigs Are sold Hal Way the rest through Beauty salons and by mail order wig makers have come up with trendy new products such As braids arid ponytails thai blend in with existing hair in an Etlor to woo younger customers Bui Iho bulk of their customers rom in i Host who use wigs to cover hair loss due to age or illness such As cancer. This is where the wig business makes one feel exl Remolly Good and  Gabor says. I was lecturing and i saw a boat till Blond girl in id front Row and she was crying she recalls. And t got Elf the Slago and i said i m so sorry did i say something to Upsel you and she said no by i wanted you to know Hal you saved my Lite " the girl recovering rom chemotherapy had lost her hair. I had sent her one of the wigs and she was reborn Gator said. And i could t Tell hat she was wearing  the glamorous Gabor her vivacious Good looks belying her 67 years Drums up business by making personal appearances at stores around Iho world. Sha also keeps an Eye on new designs including celebrity knockoffs inspired by Princess Diana and first lady Nancy Reagan. I am extremely involved Gabor says but nol Day to Day. I have a president and vice presidents. You could t possibly just do business in you re an Arliess too. Bui 1 know everything and i Pul my to bits Inlo everything. I know what direction we go and what we have to do. I work very hard she says. Gubor was born on feb. 11,1921, in Budapest Hungary them a daughter of Vilmos and Jolie Gabor. After attending schools in Hungary and Switzerland. She emigrated to the United slalom followed by her Sisters Magda and Zsa Zsa. Gabor Mado her Broadway debut in Rodgers and Hammerstein s the Happy time and went on to act in a score of Sims and plays including cig Trie trouble Wilh women and you can t take ii Wilh you. But Gabor is perhaps Besl known for her role on television s barnyard farce. Green acres where she played the dizzy but sophisticated Wile of the pompous City Slicker who opts Lor farm living in the country. Gator s company became part of Sears. Roebuck and co. In april when the Chicago retailer bought Gabor International s Parent. Western Auto Supply ice is recent acquisitions. Gabor says she won t agree to a Sale unless i could know that the company would improve and Stie retains a major role in ils  still Hopes to Lake her company Public in a few years. Gabor is driven but by reasons that appear to have More to do with her Long journey from Hungary than her life in Hollywood. I like Loca Well even when i m not working it s simple Gabor says. In a Way Gabor s company is her inter Bretalion of Hollywood s unspoken Rule our body is our  to be an actor it s the most wonderful thing in the world but you cannot rely on it All your life. Because even if you arc at the very top you can t work All Iho time. You la Burn yourself out she says. I thought that a business on the Side would be extremely Good. I was vary Lueky. Bui i worked on it very hard. Very  the stars and stripes