Business Daily Lew Frankfort: Building a billion-dollar brand
Jan 23, 2026
Lew Frankfort, former CEO and chairman emeritus of Coach, transformed a modest family-run handbag company into a billion-dollar global brand over 35 years. He shares his unexpected journey into fashion and how a pivotal meeting with JFK ignited his social consciousness. Discussing the importance of handbags to women, Lew emphasizes accessible luxury and the brand's cultural evolution. He also critiques New York’s housing issues and praises Gen Z’s commitment to ethics and climate, revealing his hopes for the future.
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Meeting JFK Sparked Civic Purpose
- At 13 Lew Frankfort met John F. Kennedy during a Bronx campaign visit, which sparked his social and political consciousness.
- He later marched with Martin Luther King and protested the Vietnam War, shaping his public-service mindset.
Joining Coach And Learning The Customer
- Lew Frankfort joined Coach in 1979 as VP of marketing after researching the brand undercover as a BusinessWeek reporter.
- He opened Coach's first store in 1981 and learned directly from customers, creating lines outside and a strong customer-focused culture.
Bags Build Emotional Customer Bonds
- Frankfort saw handbags as emotional, daily-use products that build lasting relationships with owners through patina and durability.
- He used catalogs and stores to reach consumers directly and deepen that relationship.