Kendra Scott
In 2002, with just $500, Kendra Scott launched a mini jewelry collection out of the spare bedroom in her home in Austin, TX. With determination, her newly born son in a BabyBjörn and her designs in a tea box, Kendra went door to door to sell her line to local shops — and sold out all her pieces on the first day.
Today, Kendra Scott Jewelry is a global multimillion-dollar label sold at topmost retailers including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and over a thousand specialty boutiques worldwide, including international locations in Dubai, Singapore and more. In 2010, Kendra Scott opened The Kendra Scott flagship store in the birthplace of her company, Austin, which is also home to her design studio, where each piece is meticulously designed. Since then, Kendra has opened eight additional boutiques in Dallas, TX; Scottsdale, AZ; Houston, TX; Plano, TX; San Antonio, TX and Newport Beach, CA; and a showroom in New York City with plans to expand into additional cities, including Baton Rouge, LA; Atlanta, GA; Alpharetta, GA; The Woodlands, TX; and more in the near future.
In December 2013, Kendra introduced Kendra Scott LUXE, the brand’s first foray into special occasion jewelry, which fuses fashion and fine jewelry, and updates classic Kendra Scott silhouettes with genuine stones and intricate design techniques.
Kendra Scott has become a household fashion name to women around the world. She has cultivated partnerships with fashion luminaries like Oscar de la Renta and Randolph Duke and served as the exclusive accessory designer for many of their runway collections. Her unique designs are featured in top fashion and lifestyle magazines as well as a wide range of television and talk shows. Kendra recently co-hosted CNBC small business reality competition show “Crowd Rules.” Celebrity fans of the line include Sofia Vergara, Eva Longoria, Jessica Alba, Molly Sims, Cameron Diaz, Hilary Duff and Brooklyn Decker.
Since 2011, Kendra’s business has doubled in revenue each year, and the company has grown from a mere eight employees to over 120. The company’s incredible growth is a true testament to Kendra and her team’s hard work and steadfast determination to never give up.
As the Kendra Scott brand continues to expand, Kendra remains committed to her founding philosophies, “family, fashion & philanthropy,” which have been instrumental in directing the company’s course. Kendra’s “family first” mantra continues to be a core value for her and her company, while philanthropy is a driving force for this fashion-forward and savvy entrepreneur. Kendra is co-founder and co-chair of LEAP (LifeWorks Entrepreneurs & Professionals), was honored as the 2013 Lady Bird Johnson Humanitarian of the Year and is the keynote speaker for the American Heart Association’s Go Red Campaign for Women. Kendra Scott has been awarded the Hire Power award by Inc., honoring the company as one of the top job-creating private companies in the country. Kendra has also been named Austinite of the Year and awarded the 2013 Austin Under 40 Business & Entrepreneurship Award.