The Strange Way Jessica Simpson Created a Billion Dollar Business

How did Jessica Simpson build her billion dollar company? Find out all about it in this video!

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Jessica Simpson

If you grew up in the late 90s and early 2000s, you probably know the name Jessica Simpson. Most of us remember Simpson for her public image and persona—that of the stereotypical dumb blonde. She was a pop singer, an actress known for playing eye candy in movies, and a reality TV star. But our memories of Simpson aren’t based in reality, as it so happens. Today, Simpson is perhaps who she always was: a wealthy businesswoman running a 9-figure clothing brand.

Gospel to Pop

Simpson started her singing career in the late 90s. Her father, a baptist preacher in Texas, suggested to young Jessica that she switch to traditional gospel music to the up and coming bubblegum pop music of the day.

Young blonde pop divas were all the rage in the late 90s. While Britney Spears and Cristina Aguilera were known for their sexy chic look, Simpson won her fan base over with southern charm and legitimate singing abilities.

Simpson’s singing career brought her fame, but she didn’t become a household name until Newlyweds. Newlyweds was a reality TV show centered around the life of Simpson and her husband Nick Lachey. Lachey was the heartthrob lead singer of boy band 98 degrees, at the time. So their marriage was akin to a pop music royal wedding. And their reality TV show was a glimpse inside their extraordinary lives, as well as a peek into their high profile relationship.
While Newlyweds may not sound all that special to modern viewers who have 24/7 access to their favorite celebrity’s social media page, it was a smash hit in 2003.

On the show, Simpson played the role of a ditzy blonde, the personality everyone expected her to have. Millions of viewers saw this version of Simpson, and stuck with them for several years to come.

Mainstream Appeal

In 2005, she made her acting debut in Dukes of Hazzard, playing Daisy Duke, a character known for wearing tight cutoff blue Jean shorts. Then, Simpson played a somewhat similar character in Employee of the Month, a 2006 comedy featuring her as the one dimensional attractive love interest.

Still, Simpson’s popularity had never been higher. Millions of women across America wanted to copy the style she wore in interviews and out in public. Simpson noticed this trend when meeting fans, but also when she went out.

Eventually, Simpson’s mother and business manager, Tina, suggested they start their own clothing line.

At the time, Simpson was famous for her shawls and Juicy sweatpants. But she was even more well known for her high heeled shoes, as well as her boots, especially the ones she wore in Dukes of Hazzard.

The possibilities were endless. However, Simpson and her mother had no intention of manufacturing their own clothing. Especially not for the type of clothing they intended to sell.

The Simpson Brand

Jessica Simpson and her family came from humble beginnings in west-central Texas. Most of Simpson’s childhood was spent moving around the state as her dad struggled to find work as a pastor.

Because of these struggles, and growing up in Texas, Simpson didn’t want her brand to be like her peers: a luxury line that sold shoes for $700. Her brand would be for middle America.

Unfortunately, manufacturing clothes and selling them at affordable prices is a tricky business model to follow. You have to sell a lot of clothes while keeping costs down. If you fail to do one or the other the consequences could be devastating for your wallet.

For that reason, the Simpson family would use a tried and true method to sell their clothes: licensing.