Remembering Margot
3 Comments Published by Frank Lane June 9th, 2010 in Differentiation, Execution, Focus, Innovation, Leadership, Personal PerformanceI learned this morning that new products guru Margot Chapman jumped off the Golden Gate bridge ending her brilliant career. I will miss her. We were friends for almost 35 years.
Margot first made waves back in the late 60′s inventing Warm Fuzzies, the very first sheepskin bedroom slipper with the wool inside. Yes, all the fuzzy footwear since then, including fuzzy versions of Crocs, owe their heritage to Margot’s original idea.
She and her sister Leslie then opened the Chapman Sisters Calorie Counter on Michigan avenue in the Wrigley building, the first restaurant to ever price their food by calorie and let you know what you were really eating. It was 1977. It was a Monday-Friday lunch-only concept that did over $1 million a year in revenue. Today, restaurants like Seasons owe their heritage to Margot.
In between Margot helped hundreds of CPG companies come up with innovative new products.
Most recently, Margot and her partner Pam Rose created Swirls near the zoo in Chicago, and literally started the trend toward cup-cake bakeries.
Goodbye Margot. No matter how desperate things must have seemed to you, the business will remember you through your many innovations.
Margot’s relentless passion for product and innovation will never be forgotten. Her friendship and charisma will never be replaced.
Margot and I were friends @ Ray Vogue School of fine Arts in Chicago. I was very proud of my friends accomplishments and so sad to hear of her death. My sympathy to her many friends and family….God Bless, Alice
Margot always had tremendous passion for new ideas and new ways of thinking. She was a treat to work with and was a natural to have a cupcake shop:) I always think of her fondly, particularly at holiday time as she always sent such wonderful holiday gifts. I was saddened to hear of death. My thoughts and sympathies are with her numerous friends and colleagues.