Lauren Conrad's Life After Reality TV: From 'The Hills' to Fashion Empire
Lauren Conrad's Life After Reality TV: From 'The ...
By Oliver Wiener August 27, 2024 07:44
Lauren Conrad first came to the public's attention as a teen on MTV's reality show Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County in 2004. She became the lead on the spin-off series The Hills, which focused on her life in L.A. and aired from 2006 to 2009. Though it was "The Hills" that made Conrad a celeb, it was just the beginning for the soon-to-be entrepreneur and fashion designer/author.
From TV Star to Fashion Designer
Long before "The Hills," Conrad built the foundation for her fashion empire. She graduated from Belmont High School in 1997 and then attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles before she interned at Teen Vogue magazine.
Conrad made a huge move in 2009 when she famously paired with Kohl's to debut her initial LC Lauren Conrad fashion line. The two designers, who were best known stateside at the time for designing red carpet dresses and glamorous gowns. Their big break all began with the company releasing clothing and accessories for women. They have since expanded to include shoes, fine jewelry, bedding, and even a kiddie line of products called Little Co. by Lauren Conrad.
Lifestyle Brand Empire
This was just the start of Conrad's hit line for Kohl's. She quickly realized the impact of her brand and strategically branched out into multiple lifestyle categories, such as:
- Fashion Lines: Conrad launched a pricier line called Paper Crown in 2011 and her Kohl's collection. This allowed it to show more upscale models and access a different market sector. She's also teamed up with other brands, including a sustainable line for the eco-friendly brand Bluemarine.
- Beauty Products: As a brand new beauty ambassador, Conrad also offered six fragrances under the moniker Loved by Lauren Conrad in 2022, with that signature California girl aesthetic.
- Home Decor: Conrad's aesthetic is not limited to fashion; she also designs lines for the home. Her Kohl's collection even has bedding, bath towels, and more home products to help fans incorporate her style into their abodes.
- Books: Another example of her versatility is her numerous books. She parlayed that into a series of novels that became best sellers on the New York Times list and several lifestyle books covering fashion, beauty, and entertainment.
Entrepreneurial Endeavors Away from Fashion
Conrad has expanded her entrepreneurial efforts beyond fashion and lifestyle, with the former reality star saying:
- Little Market: Conrad co-founded The Little Market, established in 2013 as an online nonprofit fair trade shop where customers can purchase products handmade by artisans worldwide. The entrepreneurial journey reflects her mission to run an ethical business and empower women.
- Podcast: Conrad embraced new media by launching a podcast in 2019 called "Lauren Conrad: Asking for a Friend," where she shares lifestyle tips and interviews experts on entrepreneurship, relationships, and wellness.
How to Use the Power of Celebrity for Business Success
After transitioning from a reality TV star to a real-life executive, Conrad did not become a successful entrepreneur by chance. Strategically used her public recognition and the talents she learned from fame:
- Brand Building: Conrad was able to craft a relatable persona thanks in part to her time on "The Hills" while also establishing the aspirational lifestyle that she eventually sought out. She has continually upheld this brand image through all her business actions.
- Media Savvy: So that confidence turned into skill over many years in front of the camera, and she learned to market her brands through TV appearances and social media promotions.
- Target Audience Understanding: Knowing who her steady consumers are, twenty-and-thirty women for whom she's been a TV fixture since they were tweens, has allowed Conrad to create products and content that speak even more effectively to these masses.
Keys to Success
- Authenticity: Conrad has been true to herself and maintained a consistent persona during her tenure in the industry. The products she sells and the brands she creates fit well within her style, giving her ventures a greater sense of authenticity.
- Diversification: Through entering different lifestyle categories, Conrad has diversified his revenue streams and decreased dependency on any one product line.
- Strategic Partnerships: Long-standing partnerships with retailers like Kohl's have helped expand Conrad's reach across categories.
- Quality and Affordability: Conrad Products Conrad products are budget-friendly and high-quality, appealing to the consumer with their wide variety.
- Continuous Learning: Conrad has proven she is dedicated to working and has an innate instinct for the business world, but being mentored and educated on how this industry works will only take her brand that much further.
Personal Life and Motivations
As she built her empire, Conrad also focused on herself. She married William Tell in 2014, and they have two sons. The balance of being a mom, a wife, and an entrepreneur became part of the core story she told publicly.
Previously, Conrad talked about how she wanted to build a legacy to outlast her reality TV days. "I mean, I even knew that it was ideally something I wanted to build and eventually outlast a TV show," she said in an April 2019 interview with entrepreneur.
Impact and Future Outlook
Lauren Conrad Being a mentor to young women who are seeking entrepreneurship is what Lauren Conrad has proven over the years. How she transformed her initial fame into a successful suite of relevant and profitable brands showcases how personal branding alongside smart, longer-term business planning can effectively work as an enduring commercial power boost.
By 2024, Conrad will have several successful business ventures. This is just the start of what we can expect from this up-and-coming entrepreneur, who has a proven track record for successful brand expansions and an intimate understanding of her target market.
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