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How Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Kathy Ireland Became a $350 Million Mogul
Forbes ^ | February 8, 2012 | Dorothy Pomerantz

Posted on 02/20/2012 3:37:29 PM PST by SunkenCiv

Warren Buffett, who appreciated their shared experience as newspaper deliverers, once told her that fashion changes but the home remains far more secure. In apparel every celebrity with a Q rating above zero either had a line or was pitching one. But precious few celebrity licensors dabbled in home furnishings, even though the dynamics of buying a dresser are no different from buying a dress. "A known brand name gives people a comfort level when buying," says furniture industry analyst Wallace Epperson.

In 1999 Ireland went to the biannual furniture convention in High Point, N.C. with a line of sofas, chairs and end tables. "She had a passion and she was very smart," says Irv Blumkin, head of Berkshire Hathaway's Nebraska Furniture Mart, a 450,000-square-foot megastore that helps drive the direction of the industry. "As she told me the stories of her different products I felt we should give her a chance."

With furniture Ireland mandated that her brand would mean something: "Finding solutions for families, especially busy moms," which is now the company’s motto. So rugs were treated with a spill protection chemical that also holds the colors and allows the rugs to have longer lives. Tables were designed with rounded corners so running children don’t get hurt falling on the edges.

The furniture business showed potential, and within a year Ireland signed with Berkshire's Shaw Industries to expand into carpets, flooring and floor tiles. She remains a staple for the company.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: kathyireland; warrenbuffett
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To: SunkenCiv

Good for her!


21 posted on 02/20/2012 4:15:47 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: freedumb2003

She and Christie Brinkley are 2 of my favorite super models.


22 posted on 02/20/2012 4:19:15 PM PST by funfan (and his crew)
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To: SunkenCiv

I always considered her one of the most beautiful of that supermodel boom crop that became popular in the 80s. To know she was as beautiful on the inside and super-smart just made her all the better.


23 posted on 02/20/2012 4:19:15 PM PST by mnehring
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To: freedumb2003

She and Christie Brinkley are 2 of my favorite super models.


24 posted on 02/20/2012 4:19:29 PM PST by funfan (and his crew)
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To: Hatteras
I always liked Moms Mabely.


25 posted on 02/20/2012 4:27:15 PM PST by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: mnehring

I have heard her on interviews, she is not that smart....but who cares! :) :) :)


26 posted on 02/20/2012 4:28:25 PM PST by RaceBannon (Romney would surrender to Islam as fast as Obama promotes it)
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To: Hatteras

Only one reason Kathy is my fav model.

YIKES!!!


27 posted on 02/20/2012 4:29:39 PM PST by newfreep (I am a "terrorist". I am Sarah Palin!)
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To: funfan

Both Ireland and Brinkley are extremely attractive women whose looks have held up through the years. Ireland seems, tho, to lead a more exemplary life.


28 posted on 02/20/2012 4:35:37 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: RaceBannon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFfhnH_humY&feature=related

Here’s an example of her “acting” and her squeaky voice from the movie “Alien from L.A.”, MSTK3 style!


29 posted on 02/20/2012 4:47:52 PM PST by 21twelve
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To: SunkenCiv

Well done. Thanks for posting this.


30 posted on 02/20/2012 4:49:52 PM PST by Thud
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To: Hatteras

Thanks for the mamar — uh — memories.


31 posted on 02/20/2012 5:02:00 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: SunkenCiv

The only time I’ve ever seen Kathy Ireland was when I was in school at UC Santa Barbara in 1980/81, and found myself at a party in Hope Ranch. There was one girl at the party who stood above all the others and was constantly surrounded by guys. She was 17 at the time and was staggeringly hot. Everyone knew who she was so I guess she had already been discovered by that time. I forgot about her until I saw her in SI, and then instantly remembered her from that party. Man was she beautiful....and tall!


32 posted on 02/20/2012 5:48:12 PM PST by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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33 posted on 02/20/2012 5:59:13 PM PST by RedMDer (Forward With Confidence!)
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To: RaceBannon

Well, she’s smart enough to be a conservative, so she’s probably got 9/10 celebrities beat in that department.


34 posted on 02/20/2012 6:09:40 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Jonty30

Most of them are out of stock in the rug department.


35 posted on 02/20/2012 7:19:00 PM PST by Erasmus (Able was I ere I saw this crappy little island.)
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To: SunkenCiv

How to make money in America: get your name attached to a product.


36 posted on 02/20/2012 7:37:14 PM PST by IDontLikeToPayTaxes
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To: Hatteras

A friend who used to (before he got married and had to put away his childish things) like softcore porn (what a waste of time that stuff is, borrr ring) had a Playboy tape that was a beach shoot and included Kathy Ireland. At the beginning of her segment they showed her up in the tall grass, on a towel reading the Bible.

[bookmarking for later]


37 posted on 02/20/2012 7:52:57 PM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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To: IDontLikeToPayTaxes

First you have to make your name mean something.


38 posted on 02/20/2012 7:53:24 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (Liberals, at their core, are aggressive & dangerous to everyone around them,)
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To: rabidralph
...who does a lot of well-known shots of celebrities.
Well, wouldn't you? ;')


39 posted on 02/20/2012 7:56:02 PM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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To: Yossarian

Hey, maybe that’s what it’s for.


40 posted on 02/20/2012 7:59:06 PM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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