Lisa Frank
BornApril 21, 1955
NationalityAmerican
Known forLisa Frank Incorporated
SpouseJames Green (1994 – div. 2005)
Children2
External image
image icon Lisa Frank, photographed in 2003 (two images). Archived from the original on July 18, 2023.

Lisa Frank (born April 21, 1955) is an American businesswoman, the founder of Lisa Frank Incorporated, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. She is known for producing whimsical commercial design for school supplies and other products that are primarily marketed to children.

Early life

Frank's father was an art collector and introduced her to the work of such Pop Art artists as Peter Max.[1] Frank is a 1972 graduate of the Cranbrook Kingswood School,[2] a preparatory school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[1]

Work

Frank is the founder and CEO of Lisa Frank Incorporated.[3] After moving from the Detroit, Michigan, area to Tucson, Arizona, in the 1970s to study art at the University of Arizona, she founded the children's jewelry company Sticky Fingers, which became Lisa Frank Inc. circa 1979 when she was 24.[4][5] She continues to lead it as of 2019. Her corporation's artwork features rainbow and neon colors and stylized depictions of animals, including dolphins, pandas, and unicorns. In the 1980s and 1990s, her products – including school supplies such as lunchboxes and Trapper Keepers, as well as toys and stickers[6] – were popular among elementary and middle school-aged girls.[7] The company's headquarters is in Tucson, Arizona.[8] The company no longer produces its own products and as of at least 2018 licenses its name to smaller companies.[9]

Lisa Frank's qualities as a business owner have been called into question by former employees who indicated that issues at the company were not solely related to Frank-ex-husband Green's leadership.[10] Employees described Frank's leadership as "abusive" and "oppressive" and indicated that it was the worst place they had ever worked.[10] Turnover was extremely high, and Lisa Frank Inc. had to settle a number of lawsuits regarding unpaid contractors and builders, failure to pay severance packages, and refusal to pay out final paychecks.[10]

In 2011, she launched a colorful line of clothing.[7]

Collaborations

Frank partnered with Reebok to release two versions of limited-release Reebok Classic Leathers shoes in 2017.[11]

In 2017, Frank was partnering with producer Jon Shestack to develop a movie inspired by her work.[12]

In 2019, Frank designed the logo for John Mayer's Instagram television series, Current Mood.

Personal life

Frank is "notoriously elusive and private."[9] In a 2012 interview video with Urban Outfitters, the company agreed to obscure her face.[13]

In 1994, Frank married James A. Green, who from 1990 to October 2005 was president and chief executive officer of Lisa Frank Incorporated. They had 2 sons, Hunter (born in 1995) and Forrest (born in 1999). It was reported that Green had drug issues and cheated in the marriage. Employees also cited the mismanagement he caused.[14] Frank filed for divorce in September 2005. That same month, she sued to remove Green from the company, and he resigned the following month.[15] The court agreed to assign control of the company to Lisa Frank.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 Carly, Mark (September 1, 2015). "Lisa Frank on Lisa Frank". Foundations Magazine. Archived from the original on August 31, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Style Magazine Celebrates Six Cranbrook Kingswood Graduates". Cranbrook Schools. July 29, 2003. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012. ...designer Lisa Frank ('72)
  3. ↑ "Lisa Frank's Privacy Policy". Lisa Frank Inc. Archived from the original on January 29, 1999. Retrieved October 10, 2011. Contact Information: Lisa Frank, Inc. ATTN: Customer Service 6760 S. Lisa Frank Ave. Tucson, AZ 85756
  4. ↑ Prendergast, Curt (May 18, 2018). "Tucson's Lisa Frank sues to protect her empire of rainbow unicorns, surfing dolphins". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. ↑ Wichner, David (October 1, 2005). "Girls' crafts business founders file for divorce; control of company in limbo". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona.
  6. ↑ Bent, Gala. "Interview With Cindy Hinant". Asthmatic Kitty Records. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Soldner, Anna (February 16, 2012). "What ever happened to Lisa Frank". The Spectator. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ Bryant, Kenzie (May 17, 2012). "Four things we learned about Lisa Frank from her head designer". Racked. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  9. 1 2 Raphael, Rina (November 29, 2017). "The Second Coming of Lisa Frank". Fast Company. Archived from the original on January 22, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 Egan Morrissey, Tracie (December 12, 2013). "Inside the Rainbow Gulag: The Technicolor Rise and Fall of Lisa Frank". Jezebel. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  11. ↑ Tesema, Martha (30 August 2017). "Your sneaker game is about to improve drastically thanks to this Lisa Frank and Reebok collaboration". Mashable. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Lisa Frank Movie in the Works With 'Air Force One' Producer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  13. ↑ Dollinger, Arielle (31 May 2013). "The Colorful World of Lisa Frank Goes Silent". University of Arizona: The New York Times Student Journalism Institute, Tucson, Arizona 2013. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  14. ↑ "The Real Story Behind Lisa Frank". Dec 13, 2013.
  15. ↑ Simonson, Scott (January 24, 2006). "Ruling due in lawsuit: Lisa Frank vs. spouse". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Control of girl-focused company decided". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. October 21, 2005.
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