Secret Celebrity Entrepreneurs
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Celebrity Entrepreneurs
Some brands will forever be linked with their celebrity endorsers. What would women's wear line Kate Moss Topshop be without, well, Kate Moss?
And yet other bold-face celebs have chosen a decidedly less in-your-face approach. Click through our gallery to check out celebrity entrepreneurs who prefer to fly under the radar.
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Next: Sheryl Crow -
Courtesy Bootheel Trading Company
Sheryl Crow
Bootheel Trading Company
The 46-year-old singer's denim apparel line, Bootheel, rolls out in 200 outlets, including Dillard's, this fall. In spring 2009, another 350 outlets will carry the line. The jeans, will retail for $60. The marketing plan: Initially the denim line will be called Bootheel by Sheryl Crow; eventually, her image will be phased out. For her part, Crow gets an estimated $300,000 upfront annual fee and an undisclosed percentage of sales.
More on Sheryl Crow
Next: Pete Wentz -
AP
Pete Wentz
Clandestine Industries
In 2004, the Fall Out Boy bassist and lyricist launched this apparel line from his parents' basement. The rock-and-comic-book inspired T-shirts, hoodies, tote bags and accessories can be found online and in stores like Nordstrom in the U.S. and U.K. Revenues: $100,000 a month, of which Wentz keeps a third. He also owns 10% of Angels and Kings, a Manhattan bar.
More on Pete Wentz
Next: Sandra Bullock -
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Sandra Bullock
Bess Bistro & Bessence
While the actress micromanaged every aspect of this down-home Austin, Texas, bistro, Bullock's name and throngs of famous friends are notably absent. Bullock wants to make Bess a brand in its own right, with merchandise sold on site and online. Her first merchandise tie-in is a line of handmade, eco-friendly candles; Bullock designed the packaging and chose the scents, but the candles are described as being from the "Bess family." Each retails for $40.
More on Sandra Bullock
Next: Robert De Niro -
Robert De Niro
Ago & Nobu
Los Angeles Italian trattoria, Ago, is such a hit that others have sprung up in Miami and in downtown Manhattan. De Niro looks to partner with world-renowned chefs with excellent track records--examples include Agostino Sciandri of Ago in Las Vegas and Nobu Matsuhisa of Nobu, a sushi haven now with 21 locations in seven countries. De Niro's restaurants aren't so much about celebrity buzz and star sightings (though you get that, too) as they are about world-class food.
More on Robert De Niro
Next: Justin Timberlake -
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Justin Timberlake
William Rast
The marketing blitz for the crooner's denim and casual apparel line was subtle. Photos of Timberlake wearing the tush-hugging jeans began strategically appearing in the tabloids; he also hung out at the William Rast booth at the Men's Apparel Guild in California trade show in Las Vegas. Now Timberlake is flexing his marketing muscle, filming a series of Internet vignettes to promote the brand.
More on Justin Timberlake
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Recent Comments
simple7stepbp 11:05:55 AM Sep 19 2008
Times are tough. You can sit around stewing about it or you can do something about it. Unless you are reading this on your yacht you should follow the advice of experts and start looking for other sources of income. With that in mind, take a few minutes now and investigate the worldâs simplest home based business at: www.simple7stepbusinessplan.com
trainerracehoss 08:21:05 PM Aug 15 2008
I've ate at every one of the Chains listed. They all were over priced, some even had sorry food and over priced. None were a good value or had exceptional food. That's why they all went broke.
lwattsmdsmidwest 03:10:21 PM Aug 15 2008
Support your locally owned restaurants where these people work their butts off to serve you, not your corporate businesses that are so far removed from their stores that they only care about the bottom line and not their place in the community.
carderplbg 12:59:26 PM Aug 15 2008
As with most "chain" bankruptcies, they want to blame the ecomony and consumers not spending as much. As with Bennigan's, I ate there recently before it shuttered the doors, and I knew then it was going to. The table top was peeling up, the temp was a bit too warm, and the food and drinks were very sub-par. Its the EXPERIENCE that will keep the lines out the door. Poor management, product,and bleeding off of cash to pay corporate debts is 99% of every failed chains problem. Please dont blame me for not choosing to spend my money there.Duh!
aearthling59 08:57:50 PM Aug 13 2008
I went back to college at 25 when I was making 28,000 a year - after graduation I took a job worked my way up to 100,000 a year. Education or other training is everything. HIgh school does not TRAIN you for anything. Its suppose to give you a little info on every subject so you will know which way you want your education to go.
rlynch439 07:58:06 PM Aug 13 2008
I am an uneducated worker and I stated picking up burger wrappers in the parking lot for a clown named Ronald about 40 years ago. Today I make the world's finest french fries for the same clown.
RANDYCLAY720 04:45:47 PM Aug 13 2008
I'll miss Steak and Ale........It seems like AOL enjoys reporting these stories about companies that went broke. Why? Most of AOL's subscribers are uneducated, and probably work entry level jobs like those at Bennigans, Applebee's, etc..at best.
sdave7596 05:52:28 PM Aug 12 2008
Just another sign of the economy. I have noticed that most restaurants have little to no waiting on Friday and Saturday nights, another sign of a sagging economy...
ViolaTucker 02:59:09 PM Aug 12 2008
HonestsisterWhat is everybody so upset about, just have your president to ask China for another loan , they own everything now anyway, so let them invest in fast foods!!
IronOne92 02:22:43 PM Aug 12 2008
eh sucks for those who didn't have a good experience at bennigans. The one in my town was great, the food, the service, and everything.
