Draft:ROYCE New York
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ROYCE New York (formerly Emporium Leather, doing business as ROYCE Leather) is an American leather goods company headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey. Founded in 1974 by Harold Bauer, the company traces its origins to a leather workshop established by the Bauer family in Vienna in the 1880s.[1] The company produces leather bags, wallets, and travel accessories, which are sold through department stores including Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States, as well as Harrods and Selfridges in the United Kingdom.[2][3]
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Leather goods, accessories |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founders | Harold Bauer |
| Headquarters | Secaucus, New Jersey, United States |
Key people | Kathy Bauer (president, co-owner) William "Will" Bauer (managing director, co-owner) |
| Products | Leather bags, wallets, travel accessories |
| Website | royce |
The company appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States three times, in 2013, 2014, and 2016.[4][5] In 2016, ROYCE Leather won the New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award in the under-$10 million revenue category, presented by the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University.[3] ROYCE New York is a family-owned business, currently operated by Kathy Bauer and her son William Bauer.[6]
History
Origins (1880s–1940s)
The Bauer family's involvement in leatherworking began in Vienna in the 1880s, where Josef Bauer operated a leather workshop. Under Josef and his son Eugene, the business grew into a factory and retail operation.[3] During World War II, the factory and store were destroyed on Kristallnacht; Josef was sent to Auschwitz, where he was murdered.[3] Eugene survived a French labor camp and was eventually reunited with his four siblings, each of whom had survived the war separately.[1]
After the war, Eugene emigrated to New York City, bringing only his leatherworking skills and no knowledge of English.[1] He married Augusta "Gusti" Blitzer, who had fled Germany with her family after Kristallnacht.[1] The couple established a small leather goods company in the Flatiron District of Manhattan.[4][1] The family initially lived in Washington Heights before moving to Rego Park, Queens; Gusti served as the company's bookkeeper.[1]
Harold Bauer era (1974–2023)
Eugene and Gusti's son, Harold Joe Bauer, was born on July 30, 1947, in New York City.[7] He attended Forest Hills High School and St. John's University, where he competed in track, particularly cross-country running.[7] Harold joined his father's leather goods business and eventually took over its operations.[1]
In 1974, Harold officially founded Emporium Leather, with its brand name "ROYCE."[3] According to family accounts, the name was inspired by his father Eugene's expectation, upon emigrating to the United States, that American streets would be lined with Rolls-Royce cars.[1] Harold expanded the business beyond his father's smaller operation, building relationships with department stores including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.[2]
In the 1990s, the company relocated from the Flatiron District to a warehouse in Secaucus, New Jersey.[1] Harold's wife, Kathy Bauer, joined the company in 2001.[1]
In August 2013, ROYCE Leather was included on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States.[4] The Jersey Journal reported that the company had expanded from its origins as an assembly line, showroom, and distribution center in New York to a global operation using e-commerce and overseas manufacturing.[4] The company appeared on the Inc. 5000 list two more times, in 2014 and 2016.[5]
In October 2015, The New York Times featured ROYCE Leather in an article about small business disaster preparedness. The article reported that the company's fulfillment center in Secaucus had been flooded during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, causing damage to inventory and destroying a server containing customer records. At the time of the article, the company had 29 employees and reported $6 million in annual revenue.[8]
In 2016, ROYCE Leather won the New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award from the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University, in the category for businesses with annual revenue up to $10 million.[3] At that time, the company had 18 employees, four of whom were family members: Harold Bauer (founder), Andrew Royce Bauer (creative director), William Bauer (managing director), and Kathy Bauer (president).[3]
Harold Bauer died on March 13, 2023, after a prolonged illness including kidney disease.[2][1] He was 75.[7]
Current leadership (2020s–present)
Following Harold Bauer's declining health, his son William "Will" Bauer took on a larger role in the company's operations. Will Bauer and his mother, Kathy, share ownership of the business.[6]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company transitioned from a primarily in-person retail model to e-commerce, a shift that required significant internal debate about strategy and investment.[6] The New York Times profiled the company in March 2023 as part of an article about family business succession, describing the generational dynamics between Kathy and Will Bauer as they managed the transition.[6]
Products and services
ROYCE New York produces leather bags, wallets, briefcases, and travel accessories.[2][4] The company's products are made with American leather.[4]
Personalization
In September 2017, ROYCE opened a monogramming boutique on the first floor of Bloomingdale's flagship store on 59th Street in Manhattan. The boutique offered personalization of leather goods through embossing and foil-stamping, including initials, names, zodiac signs, numbers, and emojis in pastel and metallic hues. Customers who purchased leather goods at Bloomingdale's, including products from other brands, could receive complimentary personalization within seven days of purchase.[9]
Philanthropy
Harold Bauer was active in the Rotary Club in Secaucus, New Jersey, and supported charitable organizations including the United Way in Hudson County, Bottomless Closet in New York City, and Blue Card, a Holocaust survivor support organization.[7][1]