Kate Spade’s Impact Found in Brick-and-Mortar Experience

The enduring legacy of Kate Spade is much more than her name on millions of bags carried around the world. While her designs were full of bold prints, her business model was unique, too.

Spade blazed the trail for women entrepreneurs that came after her by being a hands-on designer and owner, which was novel for the time. Her creativity came through all aspects of the brand, down to the details.

The Brand’s Evolution

While the brand was booming and featured in major department stores, Kate Spade New York stores began to pop up. It was Spade who wanted to ensure that the brand’s fans could still see all the designs in one experience, not possible in department stores. Kate Spade brick-and-mortar stores were early to recognize the importance of the experience while shopping, something that has become critically important in the days of Amazon and growing e-commerce.

She was smart and savvy realizing the opportunity of lifestyle brands, which was way before other brands. She was able to do this because she was a real person, one that women admired and wanted to know.

She also understood the fashion ecosystem. She was able to find fans across all ages and lifestyles. There were everyday bags for working women, mixing colorful fabrics and practical details, along with creative clutches for special occasions.

She had an original approach when she launched the brand. The aesthetic was something that hadn’t been seen before.  She offered a taste of luxury with well-crafted designs. But this was an accessible luxury. And a quirky one at that. Her bag designs were often whimsical with special touches like animals or expressions about living a fun and festive life.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More