Greensboro, N.C. -- Weekend fun became big business for a Bob Page of North Carolina when he turned his hobby into a $80 million a year business.

"I was at the point when I literally dreaded going to work everyday. I lived for Fridays," Page said. He worked as an auditor for the state of North Carolina.

Page's thirst for Fridays led to enjoyable weekends of shopping for great deals.

"I loved the flea market and I hated my job. I thought, 'If I could just make a living at this, great. I may never make as much money but it's something I would love doing.'"

As friends heard of his weekend hobby, they asked Page to be on the lookout for their china patterns, as well as crystal and silver. The requests kept growing. In 1981, after quitting his job, Page started Replacements Ltd. in the attic of his home.

Now, Replacements, employs 580 people full time. Page expects his company to generate $80 million in 2007. The company bills itself as the largest supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles in the world, with a current inventory of nearly 12 million pieces from more than 277,000 patterns --some more than 100 years old-- made by more than 7,500 manufacturers.

"Almost every family has china, crystal or silver… something that is important to them." Page said. "I can hardly go anywhere without hearing from people. If Replacements comes up, people are always fascinated by what we do."

The company also has a 12,000-square-foot showroom and museum in Greensboro, N.C. It's now a tourist attraction that brings people by plane, car and bus from all over the country. Rand McNally has named Replacements as one of the top 25 free attractions in the U.S.

"Sometimes there are men who come into the showroom with their wives. The think they are going to be bored," Page said. "But they are fascinated with what they see here and they are fascinated with our tours through the building."

Page shared a story about a young man who called his company in a frantic search to replace a piece of broken crystal before his parents returned from a trip. "He wanted it there the next morning," Page said.

"Unlike my other job, where nobody felt like you were helping them, this job is pretty neat."'

Page started his business more than a decade before the Internet came into popular use. But now, he knows online services are key to fulfilling customer needs.

"So many of the publications that we used to advertise in are not as effective. We know that we regain those customers from the people who visit our Web site."

Nearly 65 percent of Replacements' business happens online. Internet Retailer magazine ranked Replacements as the 174th largest online retailer in the U.S. for 2007 based on 2006 Internet sales.

But with all of the success in growing a weekend flea market hobby into an $80 million a year business, Page said there's clearly one thing that he is most proud of -- "Being selected as a best company to work for here in the Triad of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem."