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KATHY IRELAND
Kathy Ireland, named “best friend to working mothers” by the Associated Press and London Times began her career as a supermodel before undergoing a “metamorphosis to Super Mogul” as stated by Readers Digest. She has since gained far greater fame and fortune as the leading lifestyle designer and manufacturer in many fields of home furnishings and fashion. The Today Show stated Kathy is “named one of the top celebrity entrepreneurs, edging out even Oprah Winfrey.”
Kathy Ireland (born Kathleen Marie Ireland on March 20th 1963 in Santa Barbara, California) was dubbed by Forbes and Newsweek magazine “supermodel-turned-super mogul who has built a business that generates $1.4 billion in retail sales." She followed her initial acclaim by becoming one of the most successful female entrepreneurs and designers in the world, resulting in her being named as the only woman in Inc magazine’s top five celebrity entrepreneurs. Kathy has an honorary Masters Degree from American InterContinental University. Kathy is Chief Designer and CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, a design and marketing firm, whose mission is
“… finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” Women’s Wear Daily, acknowledged her Brand as America’s 7th most popular in its category. Kurt Solomon and Associated named Kathy’s Brand as number one in product innovation, number one in percentage increase of customer loyalty and fifth most recognized brand with women 18 to 49.
Kathy’s designs appear in the same prestigious magazines that ask her to grace their covers: Cosmopolitan, Glamour, McCalls, People, Redbook, Shape Fit Pregnancy, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanity Fair. Her products are regularly featured editorially beside those of Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, Cartier, Liz Claiborne, Charles Jourdan, and Gucci. She is a frequent guest on MSNBC, CNBC, The Today Show, Oprah, Larry King, Access Hollywood and Main Floor and has had specials on E!, VH1 and Entertainment Tonight. In addition, she has also been featured in Business Week, Parade, The New York Times and The Washington Post, Forbes, and Inc Magazine.
Internationally, the Kathy Ireland Brand appears in Elle, Hola, Marie Claire, Latina, Cosmopolitan, People Espanol and Harper’s Bazaar. It has received wonderful reviews from Good Housekeeping, Latina, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Crecer Feliz, People Espanol and Teen People en Espanol.
Kathy parlayed her modeling career into success in nearly all fields of production and design through her firm Kathy Ireland Worldwide, turning her into perhaps the most surefire brand name in the country. Business Week reports that her “label offers 15,000 different products.” Kathy Ireland Worldwide is named furniture manufacture of the year by Furniture Today and The National Furniture Bank Association. Her rug and floor coverings business, in association with a company owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, is one of the biggest Brands in that field. She once had a line of clothing sold at a discount channel and has successfully moved it to the independent channel of distribution which is found in over 50,000 doors in 20 countries world wide. Today, Kathy in concert with her Brand Partners produce more than 15,000 collaboratively designed SKUs in furniture, flooring, lighting and accessories, window treatments, home office and entertainment, leather and microfiber, top of bed, bedding, candles, permanent florals, hand painted fine porcelain, wall covering collections (including appliqués), bath accessories, water features, jewelry and apparel. These products celebrate global influences. Her first venture, a company to manufacture socks, recently sold its one hundred millionth pair. Kathy encourages you to vacation everyday with her innovative Style Guides TM, Aloha, Americana, Architectural, La Vida Buena, European Country, In Russian Style, Far East Dreams, and Ivory Coast. Kathy’s diverse business interests include Specialty Brands led by her Design Ambassadors and experts to facilitate the Brand’s mission statement. Acafe by Kathy’s friend Chef Andre is a Kathy Ireland Brand Solution devoted to food, entertaining and culture. Jardin du Jour (J du J), cultivated by award winning landscape designer Nicholas Walker, is a Kathy Ireland Brand Solution devoted to bringing the outdoors in. Kathy is the author of Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons that Will Change Your Life published by Double Day, which is in its 6th printing. Kathy also authored three children's books entitled An Angel Called Hope, What Do Mommies Do, and Mona’s Favorite Words. Kathy is also the editor of her popular website www.kathyireland.com
Kathy is a sought after motivational speaker. She has appeared at the United Nations speaking to the 4th Annual Youth Assembly addressing how to achieve the Eight Millennium Goals. She was the key not speaker at the Office Depot Success Strategies for Women Conference with Dr. Maya Angelou and Barbara Walters and gave the key note address’ for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Awards, Comerica Bank’s Women’s Initiative and the Women in the Millionaire Zone events. Kathy is the godmother of Carnival cruise lines 22nd ship, the M.S. Carnival Freedom
Kathy’s two Christmas movies, Once Upon A Christmas and Twice Upon A Christmas were the highest rated movies for the network and they continue to air every year. Twice Upon A Christmas, received a special screening at the White House and reunited original cast members John Dye and Mary Donnelly Haskell.
Kathy is a passionate advocate on behalf of various non-profit organizations. She is acknowledged by UCLA as one of the top 10 women’s health advocates in America. Kathy is the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s (EIF) Ambassador for Women’s Health Issues and EIF’s Ambassador for the National Women’s Cancer Research Alliance. She is Ambassador of Hope for the City of Hope and National Chair of Family Services and Parenting for Athletes and Entertainers for Kids. She is active in the Special Olympics, and each holiday season, Kathy partners with Feed The Children and underwrites the distribution of 170,000 pounds of food, clothing and toys to children in need across the nation. Kathy is the National Ambassador for the Help One Up organization whose mission is that no childe should have to sleep on the floor. Kathy also serves as National Ambassador for IMom a web community designed to help moms achieve their desire of caring for their children by learning how to grow wise, healthy, purpose-minded relationally-focused children.
Family Kathy lives in Southern California, with her husband and their three children: son, Erik, and daughters, Lily and Chloe. Her parents are John and Barbara Ireland. She has two sisters: Mary Ireland and Cynthia Ireland.
Events 4th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations
Comerica Bank’s Women’s Initiative
Women in the Millionaire Zone
Office Depot Success Strategies for Women Conference
Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Awards
Committee of C200
California Dreamin’ Conference (Wedbush Securities)
What Women Want Expo
Business of Design Conference
Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference
Maximum Impact Simulcast
Stepping Up Conference
Deal Yourself In Business Conference
References and notes Best Friend to Working Mothers - http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/CA281138.html
Readers Digest - http://www.rd.com/content/kathy-irelands-14-billon-business/
Forbes Magazine – http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2004/0705/116.html
Newsweek Magazine – http://www.kathyireland.com/ContentSystem/ArticlePage.aspx?ArticleID=1278&CatID=180
Inc. Magazine – http://www.kathyireland.com/ContentSystem/ArticlePage.aspx?ArticleID=588&CatID=180
Kurt Solomon and Associates – http://www.kurtsalmon.com/content/main/body/industries/consumer_products/soft_goods_fashion/report.cfm
Business Week – http://www.kathyireland.com/ContentSystem/ArticlePage.aspx?ArticleID=1219&CatID=180
Furniture Today and National Furniture Bank - http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services/4313917-1.html
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