Lillian Vernon (businesswoman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lillian Vernon
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Vernon in Manhattan, July 2012
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| Born |
Lilli Menasche
March 18, 1927 |
| Died | December 14, 2015 (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Founder and CEO of The Lillian Vernon Corporation |
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Lillian Vernon (born Lilli Menasche; March 18, 1927 – December 14, 2015) was a smart American businesswoman. She was also a kind person who gave a lot to charity. She started her own company, the Lillian Vernon Corporation, in 1951. She led the company as CEO until 1989.
In 1987, her company became the first one on the American Stock Exchange started by a woman. New York University's Lillian Vernon Writers House is named after her. It is a special place for students who want to become writers.
Contents
Early Life and New Beginnings
Lillian Vernon was born Lilli Menasche in Leipzig, Germany, in 1927. Her family had to leave Germany in 1933. This was because of attacks against Jewish people by the Nazis. They first moved to Amsterdam. Then, in 1937, they came to the United States.
They settled in New York City. Lillian's father started a company that made leather goods. Lillian helped design many of these items. She became a U.S. citizen in 1942. Her brother, Fred, joined the U.S. Army and sadly died in the war.
Lillian went to New York University from 1947 to 1949. In 1949, she married Samuel Hochberg. To earn more money, Lillian started a small business from her kitchen. She called it the Vernon Specialties Company. She later changed her own name to Vernon. This name came from Mount Vernon, where she lived.
Starting a Business Empire
The Lillian Vernon Company Begins
When Lillian was 24, she used $2,000 from her wedding gifts. She put her first advertisement in Seventeen magazine. She sold personalized purses and belts. Many people wanted to buy them! This is how her business really started.
At first, Lillian worked from her kitchen table. She sorted and packed all the orders herself. Her company, Vernon Specialties, sold items mainly for young women. They advertised in magazines popular with young people. In the late 1950s, Lillian and her husband started making their own jewelry. They sold it through a catalog.
One of their most popular items was a magnetic bobby pin cup. In 1962, a big company called Revlon wanted to sell it. Soon, other makeup companies like Elizabeth Arden also wanted to work with them.
Growing and Going Public
In 1969, Lillian and Samuel divorced. Lillian kept the catalog business. In the 1970s, she started looking for products from all over the world. She traveled to Europe to find new items for her catalog. In 1980, she was one of the first American business owners to visit China.
The Lillian Vernon Corporation was officially founded in 1965. In 1987, it became a public company. This meant anyone could buy shares of the company. Lillian was the first woman to start a company traded on the American Stock Exchange.
The Lillian Vernon Catalog, which started in 1956, became very famous. It was like the Sears catalog for American women. Each month, the catalog had about 120 pages. It showed around 750 different items. In the 1980s, the company made special catalogs for kids and for people who loved home decor.
Lillian's two sons also worked in the business. Her older son, Fred Hochberg, joined in 1975. He helped the company grow a lot. He later left to work for LGBTQ civil rights and in public service.
In the 1990s, the company started selling things online. They opened a store on AOL in 1995. They also launched their own website. But by the late 1990s, the company faced challenges with online sales. Lillian sold the company in 2003. Her son, David, stayed with the company for a while.
Lillian Vernon's Legacy
Supporting Women and Education
In 1997, Lillian was chosen to lead President Bill Clinton's White House National Business Women's Council. She was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. She helped many political campaigns, including those of President Clinton and President Barack Obama.
Lillian gave a building to NYU. This building in New York City is now called The Lillian Vernon Writers House. It is home to the university's famous creative writing program. It hosts classes, workshops, and readings by famous writers. Many well-known authors have visited this special house. Lillian's sons and her son Fred's partner still support the writing program today.
Giving Back to the Community
Lillian Vernon was known for her kindness and generosity. She served on the boards of many organizations. These included Lincoln Center and Citymeals-on-Wheels. Her company and she gave a lot of money to charities. Some of these were the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and Literacy Volunteers of America.
She also started the Lillian Vernon Foundation. This charity helps groups in New York City and across the country. In 2011, she received an award for her leadership in charity work. Lillian was also a big supporter of women's rights in the workplace. An award for successful women who help their communities is named after her.
Awards and Recognition
Lillian Vernon received many honors for her work. In 1998, she was added to the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. She was also inducted into the Direct Marketing Association's Hall of Fame.
She received awards like the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. She also got honorary degrees from several universities. In 2020, Lillian was featured in a special display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The kitchen table where she started her business is now in the museum. Her picture hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.
Personal Life and Passing
Lillian Vernon lived in New York City with her third husband, Paolo Martino. They married in 1998. She had two sons from her first marriage, David and Fred Hochberg. Fred Hochberg later became the president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Lillian Vernon passed away on December 14, 2015, in Manhattan, New York. She was 88 years old.
