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From Great Depression to Nifty Fifty: The Little Known Story About Simplicity Pattern, Part 1
Description
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Preferred Shares Podcast.
Douglas Ott, of Andvari Associates, was the primary researcher for this episode.
In this episode
* The origin story of Simplicity Pattern - an American Dream
* Navigating the Great Depression
* Secular growth in at-home sewing
* Advantages, competition, and positioning dynamics in the pattern industry
* Managing the transition from steady to rapid growth
* Ascent into the Nifty Fifty
* An incredible buyout offer
Resources & additional reading
Pattern Industry Analyzed, Forbes, 2/15/1946, Vol 57 p 42
Pattern for Success, TIME, 6/16/1957
Home-Sewing Booms Singer, Business Week 1948-08-14: Iss 989
James J. Shapiro Succeeds Father as Head of Simplicity, New York Times, 1949
Ad and marketing figures featuring Simplicity Pattern, New York Times, 1955
High Style Sells Patterns, Business Week 1956-02-18: Iss 1381
I was afraid to start sewing, McCall's, June 1956, p. 146-149
Catching the Customers at the Most Critical Age, Business Week 1957-10-26: Iss 1469
Simplicity Pattern IPO - 112,500 shares at $13.50, New York Times, 1958
Patterns - The Market Outlook, Forbes 1958-09-15: Vol 82 Iss 6
MODERN LIVING: Sew & Reap, TIME, 11/10/1958
Supreme Court found in favor of the FTC's findings against Simplicity, New York Times, 1959
FTC is Upheld by Supreme Court in Promotion Discrimination Case, Business Week, June 13, 1959
Court backs Simplicity, New York Times, 1962
Now the Sew‐It‐Yourself Boom, New York Times, March 8, 1964
American Can Company acquires Butterick in all-stock deal valued at $27.6 million, New York Times, 9/13/1967
Simplicity Pattern Ad, Forbes, 4/15/1968