Kate and Andy went from taking вЂњthe nothing black bagвЂќ to a creative personalized purse, now they create merchandise from the simple tote to home decor and bedding. Kate Spade has over 180 stores around the world, and is sold in more than 400 stores worldwide (Cohen 198). was worth $70 million, not including the complementary company Jack Spade. Products are easily and continuously shipped around the world.

The businessвЂ™ clothing and handbag lines are featured in retail stores all across America. The company initially sold handbags, but eventually extended to include stationery, personal organizers, address books, shoes, beauty products, perfume, raincoats, pajamas, and eyewear clothing. In 2004, Kate Spade operated only 13 stores in the United States, and did not ship out of the country (Cohen 198). In 2006, Neiman Marcus Group acquired the remaining 44% stake in Kate Spade for $59.4 M, valuing the company at $134 M. In 1999, Neiman Marcus Group paid $34 million for a 56% stake of the company. By 2006, revenue was reportedly near $99 million. The company started from nothing, and after 1998 it started to expand, with sales totaling $27 million. recommended buying the shares because of the brandвЂ™s growth potential. Kate Spade rose in eight months after a journalist at Cleveland Research Co. In 1996, Spade's company opened its first shop in New York City's SoHo neighborhood. Her debut line infused classic shapes, colors and fabrics into a now iconic square bag with a little black label sewn to the outside of the bag that said вЂњKate Spade New York.вЂќ Their main target market at this time was the upper middle class. Eventually, Andy withdrew $35,000 from his 401K account to fund the production of Kate's handbags. Originally, the business started out with the Sam handbag and was only making colorful lively bags for consumers. Kate Spade New York started after a suggestion from Andy when Katherine wasn't sure about her next career move after logging six years at Mademoiselle. Kate Spade New York was founded in 1993 by Katherine Noel Brosnahan and her husband/business partner Andy Spade.

The team slowly worked their way up the social ladder until they were able to create a company that would be noticed by the public. She also researched the styles, fabrics, and potential production costs of making her own handbags. To get inspiration, Kate browsed local flea markets and secondhand stores. It was in New York that Katherine worked as a style editor for Mademoiselle, but left in 1991 (with the title of senior editor/head of accessories) to start her own handbag line. In 1986, after completing their education, the couple moved to New York City. Katherine majored in journalism, while Andy majored in architecture. It is there that she met her future husband, Andy Spade. Eventually she moved to Arizona, where she attended Arizona State University and graduated in 1985. She grew up in Kansas City and went to an all-girls Catholic high school. Katherine Noel Brosnahan (later known as Kate Spade) was born on December 24, 1962, in Kansas City, Missouri. We strive for accuracy and fairness.Temporary shop in New York Prior to company creation 'We were best friends trying to work through our problems in the best way we knew how.' Fact Check 'We were not legally separated, and never even discussed divorce,' he said. It was a complete shock.'ДЄndy Spade also said the two had hit a bumpy point in their marriage and were living apart, though he shot down the notion that marital problems had pushed his wife over the edge. 'There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. 'She was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives,' he said. The following day, her husband revealed that the designer had been battling severe depression for the past six years. The 55-year-old reportedly hung herself by a scarf tied to a door, leaving behind a note for her daughter.В 'We are all devastated by todayвЂ™s tragedy,' the family said in a statement to the New York Daily News. On June 5, 2018, law enforcement officials announced that Spade had been found dead by a housekeeper in her Park Avenue apartment in Manhattan from an apparent suicide.

Kate spade