10 Luxury Brand Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start A Luxury Brand

Statistics show the global luxury products market will grow by a CAGR of 3.75. Increased wealth and income among the affluent members of society are some factors fueling the growth.

If you are looking for an eCommerce business opportunity, consider starting a luxury brand and selling online. You can sell fashion and accessories online or set up a store locally, targeting the affluent class in your locality.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a luxury brand:

1. Maxwell Scott Bags Ltd ($3.6M/year)

William Scott Forshaw, founder of Maxwell-Scott, noticed professionals carrying plastic bags and poor-quality briefcases while working in corporate London. Recognizing a gap in the market, he launched Maxwell-Scott in 2002 to provide high-quality, functional briefcases for these professionals. The brand, which now offers a range of luxury leather goods, has grown to take in $400,000 a month across multiple countries and has gained recognition in the market, including becoming official suppliers of Saracens Rugby Club.

How much they make: $3.6M/year
Current team size: 14

article

$3.6M Per Year Selling Luxury Italian Leather Bags

Maxwell-Scott is a British-born luxury leather goods company handmade in Tuscany that sells to AB degree-level educated professionals with high disposable income and is now taking $400,000 a month across websites in 7 countries.

About
William started Maxwell Scott Bags Ltd over 22 years ago
Revenue
William grew the business to $300K/month
Read by 7,895 founders

2. SKNMUSE ($180K/year)

Ezinne Iroanya-Adeoye, the founder of SKNMUSE, came up with the idea for her beauty brand after experiencing the inconvenience of traveling with products that didn't meet her needs as a black woman. With a background in the beauty industry, she recognized the lack of representation and decided to create a brand that authentically catered to black women. Since launching with a pop-up event, the brand has seen significant growth, achieving a 169% increase in revenue and on track to hit its first 6 figure year.

How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 3

article

I Created A $120K/Year Skincare Brand For Black Women Recommended By Beyoncé

SKNMUSE, a premium beauty brand dedicated to elevating the beauty experience for Black Women, has a 40% customer retention rate, achieved a 169% increase in revenue, and made $30,000 in Q1 alone.

About
Ezinne started SKNMUSE almost 4 years ago
Revenue
Ezinne grew the business to $15K/month
Costs
It cost Ezinne $1000 to start the business
Read by 3,225 founders

So... can you actually make money with a luxury brand?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

3. M.M.LaFleur ($31M/year)

How much they make: $31M/year
Current team size:

M.M.LaFleur: Sarah LaFleur: How I Built This with Guy Raz

A founder with no fashion experience grows M.M.LaFleur into a multi-million dollar company with elegant and well-tailored clothing for working women.

Revenue
They grew the business to $2.58M/month
Read by 641 founders

So... can you actually make money with a luxury brand?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

4. a:musé ($96K/year)

Eva Maganja, a designer with a love for fragrance, came up with the idea for a:musé candles after experiencing coughing fits from burning paraffin wax candles. She discovered the benefits of beeswax and saw a gap in the market for aesthetically pleasing beeswax candles. With the help of 3D printing and a focus on sustainability, Eva and her partner Urban Bradesko launched their line of luxury candles and are now making $8,000 per month.

How much they make: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $6K
Current team size: 1

article

How We Built A Sustainable Luxury Candle Product Line That Generates $8K/Month

A:musé Candles is a two-person team that bootstrapped their way to success by creating luxury, sustainable candles using only natural, eco-friendly materials and locally sourced beeswax and soy wax, and they currently make $8,000 per month.

About
Eva started a:musé over 2 years ago
Revenue
Eva grew the business to $8K/month
Costs
It cost Eva $6000 to start the business
Read by 1,236 founders

5. Linjer ($10M/year)

How much they make: $10M/year
Current team size: 10

article

How This Founder Built a Successful Boutique Brand from Scratch

Linjer, a sustainable jewelry, luggage and watch brand, founded by Jennifer Chong & Roman Khan, generated $10 million in revenue in just three years and has plans to expand via influencer marketing, pop-ups, new product markets & wholesale partners.

About
They started Linjer over 10 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $833K/month
Read by 990 founders

So... can you actually make money with a luxury brand?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

6. ANIMA IRIS ($1.2M/year)

How much they make: $1.2M/year
Current team size:

article

This 25-year-old entrepreneur turned her side hustle into a ‘Beyoncé-approved’ luxury brand

25-year-old Wilglory Tanjong turned her side hustle of designing geometric hand-stitched women's handbags into a Beyoncé-approved luxury brand, generating over $700,000 in lifetime sales since its launch in February 2020, including $603,819 in 2021 alone, and bringing in approximately $100,000 per month in recent months.

About
They started ANIMA IRIS about 4 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $100K/month
Read by 583 founders