When Laurie Aronson decided in 2012 to take the family-owned Haspel menswear brand back in-house from the manufacturer that had been licensing the label since the 1990s, she set lofty goals for herself and the company.
But even Aronson has been surprised by the splash the newly revamped Haspel has made in the world of high fashion. In less than 18 months, Haspel has been picked up by some of the most prestigious retailers in the country, including Nordstrom.
“That was ‘huge,’ Aronson tells Business Report in a feature from the current issue.
Haspel has been featured on the glossy pages and websites of Esquire and GQ. It has been promoted by celebrities, who wear its stylish suits and separates to high-profile events. It even got some free press recently from one of the trade pubs, which did a spread on Haspel’s 105th birthday celebration at a swanky Manhattan nightclub.
“It has been great—so much better than I ever dreamed it could be,” says Aronson, president and CEO of the company. “When we started this, we were aiming high. We’re exceeding those expectations.”
Aiming high is nothing new for Aronson. Besides running Haspel, she is also president and CEO of Lipsey’s, which was founded by her father, Richard Lipsey, and has grown to become the largest wholesale firearm distribution company in the nation. She divides her duties between the two family-owned companies—both of which are chaired by her father—and likens the juggling act to balancing a career with kids.
“You just make time for both and make it all work,” she says.
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