Great Scott

Texas jewelry icon Kendra Scott marks 20-year milestone with very exclusive collection

2022 marks 20 years in business for Kendra Scott.

Courtesy of Kendra Scott

Texas entrepreneur, designer, Shark Tank guest shark, and philanthropist Kendra Scott is reaching a big milestone this year. After starting her jewelry business from home with just $500, the female founder marks two decades in business in 2022, and she's releasing a special collection to celebrate.

Nowadays, Austin-based Kendra Scott is a household name, and customers of every age deem her chic, affordable accessories to be essential wardrobe staples. The hashtag #KendraScott trends every year during rush season for Greek societies at colleges across the country, with 131.3 million views to date.

”I am so proud of what my team and I have been able to create over the past 20 years at Kendra Scott," she tells CultureMap via email. "It’s incredible to see an idea that started in my spare bedroom turn into a fashion brand with over 2,600 employees and 130 stores nationwide. As a company comprised primarily of women, our core values of Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy are at the forefront of everything we do and have played a huge role in our success today."

Even 20 years later, Scott stays true to those core values of family, fashion, and philanthropy, giving back to local, national, and international organizations every year. To date, she has donated over $50 million in philanthropic efforts; partnered with over 10,000 local causes through the Kendra Gives Back program, virtually and in-person; funded over 6,000+ research hours dedicated to improving treatment and prevention of metastatic breast cancer; and raised over $475,000 to support families touched by tragedy in national and local disasters.

As part of celebrating 20 years in business, Scott is releasing a limited edition 20th Anniversary Collection for the holidays.

Kendra Scott 20th Anniversary Collection The extremely limited collection launches Friday, October 14.Courtesy of Kendra Scott

With just three styles, the special collection features a Dira gold diamond 38mm watch in ivory and mother-of-pearl ($8,995); the elegant Ellen 14K yellow gold drop earrings in white diamond ($4,500); and a delicate Dira 14K gold cushion pendant necklace with yellow lab-grown diamonds ($4,000). The extremely limited collection launched Friday, October 14, and will only have 20 pieces of each style available for purchase.

"I cannot wait for the next 20 years," Scott shared, "to continue to show up for our customers, support our communities, and create beautiful, timeless jewelry for all.”

RETAIL APOCALYPSE

Mall favorite Francesca's to close all stores in Dallas and nationwide

Francesca's/ Facebook

Francesca's is known for its boho-chic dresses and tops.

After a decade of falling fortunes, Texas-based women’s clothing chain Francesca’s is clearing out all its racks. The once-mighty retailer is closing all of its stores nationwide, including several locations in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Although the company has not made any official pronouncement, Women’s Wear Daily reports that the brand is currently in the process of liquidating all of its inventory. According to the fashion industry trade journal, some employees are reporting that they were let go without warning, while vendors are allegedly seeking payment on hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices.

Francesca’s was founded in Houston in 1999, becoming sought out for its boho-chic offerings that occupied a similar lane to Anthropologie. Over roughly 15 years, it quickly ramped up its footprint, peaking at over 600 locations by 2016.

That explosive growth did not prove to be popular with shareholders. That same year, the Wall Street Journal reported that its stock prices had plunged to their lowest price since Francesca’s went public in 2011. Despite leadership changes, the chain has been on a downward slope since.

In 2020, Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it sought a buyer for its online operation and brick-and-mortar stores. The chain closed almost 250 of its storefronts by early 2021.

After completing reorganization and being bought out of bankruptcy by an affiliate of TerraMar Capital and Tiger Capital Group, Francesca’s attempted a revival by launching a tween line, Franki by Francesca’s, and gobbling up celebrity-endorsed lifestyle brand Richer Poorer.

Francesca's still had Dallas-Fort Worth stores in West Village, Galleria Dallas, Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, Firewheel Town Center in Garland, The Shops at Legacy in Plano, The Shops at Highland Village, Southlake Town Square, NorthEast Mall, Arlington Highlands, Glade Park in Euless, and Sundance Square and The Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth.

It’s unclear exactly when the local stores will shutter, but the company recently changed its return policy to state all sales are final after January 14. A request to Francesca’s corporate headquarters for comment was not immediately returned.

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