Lillian Vernon (company)
| Company type | Public (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail, E-commerce |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Founder | Lillian Vernon |
| Headquarters | Mount Vernon, New York , United States |
| Products | Home goods, children's products, fashion accessories |
| Website | www |
Lillian Vernon Corporation is a United States-based catalog merchant and e-commerce retailer that focuses on products for the home, children, and fashion accessories. The company was established in 1951 by Lillian Vernon (also known as Lillian Menasche) from her apartment in Mount Vernon, New York. Its name is derived from a combination of her first name and her hometown.
History
At the age of twenty-four, Lillian Vernon launched her enterprise by promoting customized purses and belts through an advertisement in Seventeen magazine. This early achievement led to the creation of Vernon Specialties Company, which marketed primarily to young women via magazine ads. The debut of the Lillian Vernon Catalog in 1956 became an essential shopping tool for American women, comparable to the Sears catalog. Usually consisting of around 120 pages and featuring approximately 750 products, the catalog expanded during the 1980s amid the surge of catalogs and shopping malls to include specialized editions aimed at children and homemakers.
The business was officially incorporated as Lillian Vernon Corporation in 1965 and went public in 1987, marking it as the first company founded by a woman to be listed on the American Stock Exchange.
Responding to emerging digital trends, the company launched a storefront on AOL in 1995 alongside an online catalog and website. Nevertheless, it faced challenges competing online following the collapse of the Dot-com bubble. After Fred and David Hochberg declined executive positions, Lillian Vernon sold the company to ZelnickMedia in 2003, while she maintained a non-executive chairman position. The firm underwent several ownership transitions and emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2008. In October 2015, private equity group Regent, led by investor Michael Reinstein, acquired Lillian Vernon.
Notably, several actors such as Jason Biggs, Monica Potter, and Marla Maples started their careers as models for Lillian Vernon.
Pop culture references
The fictional Lillian Verner brand is featured in The Lillian Verner Game Show, a recurring parody segment on Mad TV. Additionally, the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch includes a song titled "Sugar Daddy" which mentions "every item on every page / Of the Lillian Vernon catalogue," underscoring its cultural significance.
Awards and honors
Lillian Vernon earned numerous distinctions including the Project Sunshine Award for Philanthropic Leadership and The International Center in New York's Award of Excellence. She also contributed as a board member of Citymeals-on-Wheels, demonstrating her commitment to charitable leadership.
External links
- www.lillianvernon.com—Official website of Lillian Vernon