Entertainment
Celebrity Businesses: Major Flops or Huge Successes?
It's a rite of passage for most celebrities to join forces with retail. I mean, just look at the perfume industry–most of it is celebrity branded. Some celebs have developed their brand even further, producing lines of clothing, makeup or shoes, and some have created their own companies completely. Whether they were successful or not is a different story.
Image: Domaine Home
Jessica Alba, The Honest Company
Best known for starting a business endeavor unrelated to her celebrity status, Jessica Alba started The Honest Company that sells all-natural cleaning products and diapers. “I created a company because I felt like I wanted these products to exist. I wanted clean, safe, effective products that were affordable and beautifully designed… I think it can be healthy, but it can be cute,” said Alba on Jimmy Fallon. The company launched in 2012, and since then has raised over $52 million.
Gwen Stefani, L.A.M.B.
No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani dominated the early 2000s with her Japanese-inspired outfits and a product line that annually grossed $90 million at its peak in 2007. Her perfume line, Harajuku Lovers, became one of the most popular teen perfume brands, thanks to the innovative design of the bottles.
Jessica Simpson, Jessica Simpson Collection
Jessica Simpson makes really cute shoes. The country singer-reality TV star has sold almost everything–clothes, shoes, perfume, handbags–in various department stores and online. Even though her products are affordable, Simpson was the first (maybe only) celebrity designer to hit $1 billion in annual sales. And that was in 2010.
Lauren Conrad, Lauren Conrad
Since her stint on reality TV, Lauren Conrad has become a brand in her own right. She started off with a showing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2007 before designing an exclusive clothing line at Kohl’s. Since then it has expanded into shoes, home decor products and jewelry. She recently collaborated with Paper Crown and Blue Avocado to design products for both companies. Conrad also runs her own website, where she and other writers blog about topics her fan base is interested in, along with posting enviable pictures on her Instagram. LC can do no wrong.
Oprah, OWN and O Magazine
This is a tricky one. It’s no secret that OWN didn’t do as well as expected when Oprah launched it back in 2011. Her magazine, however, is much more successful. As of 2011, “Oprah.com averages 71 million page views and 7.5 million unique visitors per month,” according to O Magazine. It’s undeniable that Oprah is an empire, but she may have to fall back on her magazine if the network goes under.
Gweneth Paltrow, Goop
Although ambitious, Goop hasn’t taken off in the Gweneth Paltrow expected. Paltrow described Goop as a “digital media and e-commerce company” focused on healthy living. There’s even some exclusive pieces designed by Cynthia Rowley and Stella McCartney. Despite good intentions (the site is really cute), it just doesn’t pack any punch.
Drew Barrymore, Flower Beauty Makeup & Cosmetics
Drew Barrymore has gone from cover girl to makeup entrepreneur. Her line, found exclusively at Walmart, is budget-friendly (a bottle of foundation is under $14), isn’t tested on animals and is made in the U.S. Flower Beauty Makeup & Cosmetics’ website even has makeup tips and tutorials all done by Drew herself. The products are high-quality, especially at the retail cost they sell for.
Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP
It seems like Sarah Jessica Parker has collaborated with everyone. She’s done exclusive designs for Hallmark and Manolo Blahnik, and too many perfume and jewelry collections to count. Her latest endeavor, the SJP line of shoes at Nordstrom, launches in February and will give Sex and the City fans to finally get shoes like Carrie Bradshaw. The shoe launch may be her most successful yet.
