MacKenzie-Childs

MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd. is a manufacturer of ceramics and home decor retailer based in Aurora, New York, the brainchild of Victoria MacKenzie-Childs and Richard MacKenzie-Childs, who founded the company in 1983.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd.

Company type	Private
Founded	1983; 42 years ago (1983)
Founder	Victoria MacKenzie-Childs Richard MacKenzie-Childs
Headquarters	Aurora, New York, U.S.
Key people	John Ling, CEO
Products	Home decor Furniture Cookware Serveware
Owner	Aurora Brands, LLC
Number of employees	250+
Website	mackenzie-childs.com

The company is recognized for its "Courtly Checks" black-and-white checkerboard pattern.^[6]

History

In 1983, the founders started a business making ceramic goods under the name Victoria and Richard MacKenzie Childs, Ltd.^[7] After the registration lapsed, the company was registered as MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd. in 1997.

The company fell heavily into debt following a 25 to 55 percent price increase, an expensive advertising campaign, and two long-term leases for unopened retail locations on Rodeo Drive and Madison Avenue.^[8] Because of this debt, the bank placed a new president in charge who, allegedly over the founders’ objections, began exploring ways to limit losses.^[9]

This president contacted Pleasant Rowland, founder of American Girl, with the intention of getting her to invest in the company. Rowland purchased the companies’ $15.3M debt from the bank at a heavy discount and then immediately called the loan, forcing the company into bankruptcy. Her acquisition firms then bought the assets (trademarks, IP, goodwill) through a court-approved sale. Afterward, she reportedly offered Richard and Victoria $10 million to sign a non-compete agreement.^[9] It is unclear how much of this $10 million would be in the form of a loan discharge, as a news article covering a later trademark case suggested that Rowland threatened to collect the roughly $10 million difference between what Rowland paid and the original debt the couple still owed.^[10] In any case, the couple refused to sign the agreement and Rowland, who now owned most of their personal debt, then called on their loans. This led the couple to file for personal bankruptcy, at which time they allegedly gave up all rights to the MacKenzie-Childs name.^[11]

As part of a larger project led by the Aurora Foundation to revitalize and redevelop the town, Rowland's purchase ensured that the company would remain headquartered in Aurora.^[12][13] The purchase of MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd. was one of many multi-million dollar investments Rowland made in Aurora, where she attended Wells College in the 1960s.

Rowland began restructuring the home decor company to ensure its profitability. In 2005, the company laid off 20 of 240 employees and restructured the management team.^[14] In 2007, Rowland announced her intention to find a buyer having "accomplished her turnaround goals with the company."^[15]

In 2006, MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd. sued founders Victoria and Richard MacKenzie-Childs. The founders had started a new business using the mark "Victoria and Richard." The lawsuit cited trademark violation, as their last name and trademarks referencing it, had allegedly been sold off in the bankruptcy proceedings.^[9][16] The founders countersued Rowland for attaching their name to designs they did not create.

In 2008, Rowland sold the company to Lee Feldman and Howard Cohen, partners at the Twin Lakes Capital equity firm based in Rochester and Manhattan.^[17]

In 2014, Castanea Partners, a private equity firm, invested in Aurora Brands (the owner of MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd.)^[18]

In 2018, MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd. acquired Patience Brewster Inc.^[19] The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Patience Brewster, an upstate New York book illustrator and ornament designer, joined the company's creative team. MacKenzie-Child, Ltd. and Brewster pursued the design and development of products for the Patience Brewster by MacKenzie-Childs collection.

Annual events

MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd. is well-known for its annual Barn Sale. The company headquarters were built on a dairy farm built in the late 1800s and renovated between 2001 and 2003.^[20] The sale began in a single tent in 1996 and grew to thousands of customers at the Aurora-based campus every year.^[21]

In 2017, the Barn Sale drew more than 26,000 shoppers to the company's sixty five acre property in Aurora, making the event one of the premier draws for tourists in Cayuga County. Held over four days, the sale offers discounts off retail price.^[22]

After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale moved online-only.^[23] The Barn Sale resumed in-person shopping in July 2023.