In the annals of business history, few stories are as captivating as that of Lisa Frank. Her brand, once a symbol of the vibrant ’90s, now stands as a testament to the complex interplay of success and downfall. Amazon MGM Studios’ four-part docuseries, Glitter & Greed, delves deep into the darker side of this beloved name synonymous with technicolor.

Uncover the Hidden Truths Behind Lisa Frank's Brand

Who is Lisa Frank?

Lisa Frank founded her namesake company, Lisa Frank, Inc., in 1979. Born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., her artistic inclinations were nurtured from a young age. As she moved to Arizona for college and eventually settled in Tucson, she began designing and selling stickers that would soon take the world by storm. Her father's automotive company and parents' encouragement laid the foundation for her creative journey.In a now-deleted interview on Urban Outfitter's blog, she shared, "I think from about age five on, they sent me to art classes, and I was a huge colorer. I think to keep me quiet, they would bring the coloring books and crayons, and I would fill up the books."

When did Lisa Frank start her company?

In 1979, Lisa renamed Sticky Fingers, the plastic jewelry line she started at 20, to Lisa Frank, Inc. In 1984, she achieved a major milestone by landing her first million-dollar order from Spencer Gifts. This success led her to shift the company's focus from stickers to school supplies and stationery, and she hired her first in-house illustrator, James Green. The two started dating and got married on Oct. 22, 1994, in Tucson. James took over as CEO in the early ’90s, and together they welcomed two sons, Hunter Green and Forrest Green.

What happened to Lisa Frank?

Throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, Lisa Frank's company was a roaring success, bringing in over $60 million a year. However, in 2005, when the Arizona Daily Star reported that James filed for divorce, sales began to wane. Lisa filed a suit to remove her ex-husband from his CEO position, and he resigned. In Glitter & Greed, James claimed that their marriage ended because Lisa believed he was unfaithful. Former employees also cited the divorce and Lisa's alleged hesitancy to evolve the empire as reasons for the brand's decline.James, an art director hired in 2015 to create new characters, said, "She just wanted to fall back on some of her previous legacy characters. I think it's because she felt ‘It was successful once, let's try it again.’ I say it with some remorse too because I saw the potential. But I think Lisa stood in her own way, honestly."

Why was Lisa Frank not interviewed for Glitter & Greed?

The reason for Lisa Frank's absence from the docuseries remains unclear. A company official told The New York Times Student Journalism Institute in 2013 that the CEO doesn't grant interviews. Even in a previous video interview with Urban Outfitters, she asked not to show her face.Despite not appearing on camera, her statement at the end of each episode of Glitter & Greed shows her gratitude and excitement for the future. It reads, "I have loved art and have been an artist ever since childhood. Lisa Frank is the result of that passion. I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing artists and team members who helped bring my vision to life. I’m so excited about the future, as the next generation takes the helm. Stay tuned — the best has yet to come!"

Where is Lisa Frank now?

Although she has stayed out of the spotlight, as of 2021, Lisa is still the CEO of Lisa Frank, which continues to operate. The Lisa Frank website offers a wide range of accessories, beauty, and tech products and collaborates with brands like ORLY nail polish and CASETiFY phone cases.In 2018, the iconic 300,000-square-foot Lisa Frank factory in Tucson was abandoned and for sale for $17 million. Built in 1996 and closed in 2013, it held a special place in the brand's history. However, in November 2023, Lisa Frank posted a TikTok video showing two rainbow-colored mascots embracing in front of the factory, with a caption that read, "We’re baaaack!."Forrest, who serves as the director of business development and partnerships, told Bustle that country singer Kacey Musgraves convinced his mother to launch an Instagram account in 2018. The brand's first post, showing Lisa holding hands and waving with Musgraves while wearing mascot heads, has nearly 900,000 followers as of December 2024.

What happened to Lisa Frank’s sons?

As of 2021, Forrest serves as the director of business development and partnerships. He started formally working for the company in 2015 and even attended meetings at a young age. He said, "My mom has allowed me to combat her time and time again, from a [young] age. I always thought I was right [about the business]. I would always fight for my opinion and try to prove it to my mom."Hunter, on the other hand, claimed in Glitter & Greed that the family is split and he doesn't have a relationship with his sibling. He said, "It was me and my dad and my mom and Forrest. We love Forrest. My mom treated Forrest a little differently than me, a little bit softer. She treated him more like her child than me." Forrest did not appear in the docuseries.