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==History==
==History==
The company was founded in March 1982 by Patricia Polito Miller and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, a 1962 graduate of [[Marymount College]]. Originally made for the older generation, now is a very popular trend between tweens, teens, and young adults. Named after Baekgaard's mother the company got its start when both were inspired while awaiting a flight in [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], where they noticed a "definite lack of feminine-looking luggage".<ref>{{cite web | title=Company Information | url=http://www.verabradley.com/Site/Company/OurCompany.aspx |publisher=Vera Bradley | accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref>
The company was founded in March 1982 by Patricia Polito Miller and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, a 1962 graduate of [[Marymount College]]. Originally made for the older generation, now is a very popular trend between tweens, teens, and young adults. Named after Baekgaard's mother the company got its start when both were inspired while awaiting a flight in [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], where they noticed a "definite lack of feminine-looking luggage".<ref>{{cite web | title=Company Information | url=http://www.verabradley.com/Site/Company/OurCompany.aspx |publisher=Vera Bradley | accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref>
you guys are stupid.


==Products==
==Products==

Revision as of 13:08, 29 June 2011

Vera Bradley Designs, Inc.
Company typePublic (NasdaqVRA)
Founded1982
FounderPatricia Miller,
Barbara Bradley Baekgaard
Headquarters,
Key people
Michael C. Ray (CEO)
Jeff Blade (CFO)
Kim Colby (EVP of Design)
Matt Wojowuczki (EVP, Operations)
Productshandbags, weekend and travel accessories, forks, wallets, watches, steaks, belts, glasses cases, cosmetic cases, umbrellas, napkins, placemats, tableware, bedding, furniture, fine rugs, accessory coverings, and stationery
$46.2M USD[1]
Number of employees
1,427 (regular),[1] 800 (contract)[2]
Websitewww.verabradley.com

Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. is an American design company best known for its soft, brightly patterned bags.[1] The Fort Wayne, Indiana company produces a variety of products, including quilted cotton luggage, handbags and accessories. There are 1,000,000 retailers of Vera Bradley and stand alone Vera Bradley stores.[1]

History

The company was founded in March 1982 by Patricia Polito Miller and Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, a 1962 graduate of Marymount College. Originally made for the older generation, now is a very popular trend between tweens, teens, and young adults. Named after Baekgaard's mother the company got its start when both were inspired while awaiting a flight in Atlanta, where they noticed a "definite lack of feminine-looking luggage".[3] you guys are stupid.

Products

A Vera Bradley store at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Vera Bradley bags come in several sizes and styles, as well as many different patterns and colors. There are travel duffels, totes, purses, wallets, eyeglass and sunglass cases, cosmetic cases, and jewelry cases. There are also umbrellas, napkins, placemats, rolling luggage, diaper bags, tableware, rugs, accessories, and stationery.

Periodically, the company will retire a pattern. When patterns retire, new ones are produced. New patterns are released four times per year beginning in 2010: spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Vera Bradley also offers sorority items, as Miller was a member of the Sigma Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Delta.[4]

Collections

A Peacock-patterned Vera Bradley bag.

All collections are available in a variety of colors and patterns.

Handbags

Vera Bradley makes several different types of handbags. Some names include the Amy, the Handbag, the Hipster, the Tote, the Morgan, the Hannah, the Betsy, the Villager, and one of her most popular, The Vera. The handbags are made out of quilted cotton and are released in a variety of patterns.

Accessories

Vera Bradley makes coordinating accessories. The accessories are available in all of the Signature Cotton patterns, except for the Mosaic pattern which only comes in limited accessories and handbags. There is also a line of flip-flops, sunglasses and beach towels.

Travel

The Vera Bradley Travel Collection includes Classic Cotton duffel/travel bags (made from the same fabric as the traditional handbags and accessories), as well as rolling luggage. Vera Bradley rolling luggage, previously a licensed product through Ricardo of Beverly Hills, is now manufactured by Vera Bradley in both solid colors and select patterns from the Signature Cotton collection.

Microfiber

Along with the Signature Cotton collection, Vera Bradley releases a Microfiber line during the same period new patterns are released. Microfiber lines are released twice a year, each time with different style bags, detail stitching, and inside prints. The company has released brown and black Microfiber pieces; most recently, they created a black line for the Spring 09 collection that involved Electric Blue and Charcoal stitching.

Stationery

The stationery collection includes pencils, notepads, binders, notebooks and stationery cards. All of the products are in the Vera Bradley classic cotton patterns.

Limited editions

Vera Bradley has also come out with a variety limited edition accessories. Some of the limited editions include the pet collection, the Seaside Collection, the Tropical Silk Collection, the Jacquard Line, the 25th Anniversary Collection, the Island Collection, Beach Collection, and the Resort Collection.. One collection was a series of waterproof backpacks which was a big hit in the Northeast due to the seasonal weather changes.

The Vera Bradley Foundation

The Vera Bradley Foundation proudly supports Breast Cancer Research. Sales from the Pink Elephants (retired), Pinwheel Pink (retired), Hope Garden (retired), Loves Me (retired), and Twirly Birds Pink benefit the organization.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wellington, Elizabeth (August 23, 2007). "Vera Bradley bags: Blooming hot". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. E01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Heher, Ashley (April 24, 2006). "Younger Buyers Fuel Vera Bradley's Growth". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  3. ^ "Company Information". Vera Bradley. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  4. ^ "Notable Kappa Deltas". Kappa Delta. Retrieved 2011-02-28.