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United States Kendra Scott founded her eponymous jewelry company, evolving from a home-based business to a billion-dollar brand with extensive retail and philanthropic initiatives.
Kendra Scott jewelry maker expanded its NFL sponsorships, including a suite sponsorship with the Dallas Cowboys and adding three other NFL teams to its roster.
The Wrangler® x Kendra Scott Collaboration features Texas-inspired jewelry and apparel, celebrating cowgirls everywhere.
A retail collaboration offering quality jewelry and accessories at accessible prices on Target.com and in select Target stores, launched on October 22, 2023.
Kendra Scott collaborated with Barbie, demonstrating creative boundaries through this partnership.
A debut collaboration featuring home furnishings for dorms and teen spaces, inspired by Kendra Scott's jewelry designs and signature aesthetic.
BCRF and Kendra Scott have partnered since 2016, with the brand developing annual jewelry collections to support BCRF.
Kendra Scott was born Kendra Baumgartner on March 27, 1974, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Her family relocated to Houston, Texas, where she completed her education at Klein High School. Scott attended Texas A&M University for a year before moving to Austin, Texas, at age 19 to support her ill stepfather. Early in her career, Scott established ‘The Hat Box,’ a business specializing in hats for women undergoing chemotherapy, incorporating a philanthropic model by donating a portion of proceeds to cancer research. This early venture highlighted her commitment to both business and community support.
In 2002, Scott launched Kendra Scott LLC from the spare bedroom of her home in Austin, Texas, with an initial investment of $500, shortly after the birth of her oldest son. She personally sold her first collection to local boutiques in Austin. By 2005, her designs gained national recognition, chosen to accessorize Oscar de la Renta’s spring 2006 runway show. Her jewelry also featured in Randolph Duke’s 2007 runway show. The 2008 financial crisis presented a significant challenge, but an order from Nordstrom provided crucial exposure and enabled the company’s expansion. The first Kendra Scott retail store opened on Austin’s South Congress Avenue in 2010, the same year she launched the company’s e-commerce platform and the customizable Color Bar experience. A second store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills opened in 2011 but later closed. The company then focused on strategic expansion across the South and Midwest.
By 2016, Scott sold a minority stake in her company to the private equity firm Berkshire Partners, valuing the business at $1 billion. Her brand diversified to include fashion jewelry, fine jewelry, home accessories, nail lacquer, and beauty products. By the end of 2019, Kendra Scott operated 102 retail stores. Her merchandise is sold globally through various channels, including Selfridges in London, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Von Maur, Bloomingdale’s, and over 1,000 specialty boutiques. In February 2021, Scott transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairwoman, appointing Tom Nolan as the new CEO. Throughout her career, Scott has maintained a strong focus on philanthropy, establishing the Kendra Cares Program in 2015 to bring customizable jewelry experiences to pediatric hospitals. In 2019, she donated $1 million to The University of Texas to create the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. She has also appeared as a guest shark on the reality television series “Shark Tank” in seasons 12, 14, and 16, sharing her entrepreneurial expertise.
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