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

Commerce media
A Look at the Rise of Commerce Media Networks: How Nift Helps Brands Own How Their Message Shows Up
July 2, 2025

As traditional digital advertising struggles to retain consumer trust, brands are exploring new, more authentic ways to connect with shoppers. Platforms like commerce media networks, which weave together commerce, content, and data, are emerging as powerful tools in this shift. Research from MG2 Advisory reveals that only about 37% of consumers feel brands genuinely…

Read More
Hospitality leadership
Heart-First Hospitality Leadership: How Saying ‘Yes’ Transforms Guest Experiences, Boosts Staff Morale, and Drives Business Results
July 2, 2025

As the hospitality industry emerges from years of pandemic-driven upheaval, hospitality leadership is evolving to meet new challenges. Leaders are looking for new ways to retain staff, elevate guest satisfaction, and drive revenue without burning out their teams. One trend gaining traction is the power of “Yes”: empowering employees to say yes more often,…

Read More
civic leadership
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth’s Civic Leadership Journey: What Politics Teaches About People
July 2, 2025

What does a mayor learn about human nature? In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Gerard Hudspeth, longtime mayor of Denton, Texas, and a respected figure in civic leadership. Drawing from his years in public service, Hudspeth explores how leading a city reveals the core…

Read More
sepsis
Debunking Sepsis Myths – Episode 1
July 1, 2025

In the first episode of The Michael Rothman podcast, we address misconceptions about sepsis in healthcare. Although it’s often claimed that sepsis accounts for nearly a third of hospital deaths, many of these deaths are linked to chronic conditions with sepsis as a secondary factor. The frequently cited statistic that delays in treating sepsis increase…

Read More