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  • March 2018 (Revised December 2019)
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Edward Lewis: Essence Magazine

By: Steven Rogers and Jacqueline Adams
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:52
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Abstract

Essence, the first magazine aimed at African-American women, was created by four, young, Black entrepreneurs in the aftermath of massive racial and political upheaval in the United States in 1968. The venture was a financial, branding and cultural success. By 2005, the company was sold to Time Warner, Inc, the largest magazine publisher in the world at that time, for the highest price ever paid for a single-title magazine company. However, there is still debate about whether the last remaining co-founder, Edward Lewis, jeopardized the iconic Black brand by selling it to a white-owned company.

Keywords

Female; Decisions; African-Americans; Contemporary History; Social History; Culture; Selling; Acquisition; Joint Ventures; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Asset Pricing; Collaborative Innovation and Invention; Innovation and Management; Brands and Branding; Media; Organizational Culture; Valuation; Journals and Magazines; Business History; Fairness; Adaptation; Consolidation; Publishing Industry; New York (city, NY)

Citation

Rogers, Steven, and Jacqueline Adams. "Edward Lewis: Essence Magazine." Harvard Business School Case 318-115, March 2018. (Revised December 2019.)
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Related Work

    • March 2018 (Revised December 2019)
    • Faculty Research

    Edward Lewis: Essence Magazine

    By: Steven Rogers and Jacqueline Adams
Related Work
  • Edward Lewis: Essence Magazine By: Steven Rogers and Jacqueline Adams
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