Lillian Vernon
Lillian Vernon Corporation is an American catalog merchant and online retailer that sells household, children's and fashion accessory products. In business since 1951 (when it was founded by housewife Lillian Hochberg out of her Mount Vernon, New York apartment; the business name is a combination of her first name and her hometown. It is owned by Glen Taylor's Taylor Corporation.Company founder Lillian Hochberg is now retired and is no longer involved with the business.
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[edit] History
The privately held company was sold in July 2003 to investment firm Direct Holdings Worldwide, which in turn sold the company to Sun Capital Partners in May 2006.[1]
On February 15, 2008, following a particularly bad holiday season and faced with worsening credit market conditions, the company gave notice to half the employees in its headquarters and distribution facilities that they were being laid off. The following Wednesday, February 20, the company announced that it was filing for bankruptcy and that it would either be sold, or wind down the business.[2] Following the bankruptcy filing, the company was sold to Current USA, the highest bidder, in April 2008.[3]
In November and December 2008 the company held special online coupon promotions for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
In March 2011, Current USA closed the Virginia Beach warehouse location to reduce costs. Warehouse and call center operations were moved to a Colorado location operated by the parent company Taylor Corporation.[4]
Lillian Vernon has re-established itself post-bankruptcy, expanding its internet presence through Facebook and Apple's iTunes marketplace. In September 2010, Lillian Vernon released a free storybook for iOS devices including the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch called "Dusty D. Dawg has feelings too".[5]
Lillian Vernon was given the lowest score (55 out of 100) of any rated apparel company (there were 11 total) in the Human Rights Campaign's 2008 Corporate Equality Index, a measure of gay and lesbian workplace equality.[6]
[edit] Pop culture
Several Hollywood celebrities began their careers as Lillian Vernon models including Jason Biggs, Monica Potter and Marla Maples.[7] Funny products from the similarly named but imaginary Lillian Verner company are featured in The Lillian Verner Game Show, which was a recurring game show spoof on the television sketch comedy series MADtv.
In the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the song "Sugar Daddy" includes a lyric in which Hedwig tell his American military boyfriend that "I want all the luxuries of the modern age, / Every item on every page / Of the Lillian Vernon catalogue."
[edit] Awards and honors
Ms. Vernon is a recipient of numerous awards including the Project Sunshine Award for Philanthropic Leadership and The International Center in New York's Award of Excellence.[citation needed]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Lillian Vernon Corp. Sold to Sun Capital Partners
- ^ AP:Two Gift Retailers File for Bankruptcy
- ^ Bankrupt catalog co. Lillian Vernon finds buyer
- ^ Local News Site Coverage of Waerhouse Closing
- ^ iTunes Link to Lillian Vernon App
- ^ http://www.hrc.org/documents/HRC_Corporate_Equality_Index_2008.pdf 2008 Corporate Equality Index. Accessed 27 November 2007.
- ^ According to the company's official website
