Why Lew, long time CEO of Coach, calls himself the bag man

In this episode of question everything, Coach’s longtime CEO Lew Frankfort joins me to share the lifetime of lessons he documents in his new memoir Bagman.

Lew breaks down why an outsider’s perspective can be an advantage, how “magic and logic” shaped Coach, and what scaling a $6 million leather goods company into a $5 billion global lifestyle brand really took: personally and professionally.

Comment Lew and I’ll dm you this episode of question everything 👜

2025/12/3 Edited to

... Read moreLew Frankfort's journey as CEO of Coach is a remarkable story of growth, innovation, and leadership in the luxury leather goods industry. His memoir, titled 'Bagman,' offers an authentic and detailed perspective on what it means to scale a relatively small company into a global powerhouse valued at billions. One of the key takeaways Lew shares is the benefit of approaching a business with an outsider's perspective. This fresh viewpoint allowed him to challenge conventional thinking and infuse new ideas into Coach’s strategy and culture. The concept of combining “magic and logic” highlights the balance between creative vision and pragmatic execution—two forces that often define successful brands. Magic represents the creative energy and aspirational storytelling that connect with customers emotionally, while logic involves disciplined operations and strategic planning. Additionally, Lew’s leadership reveals the importance of resilience and personal commitment. Scaling from $6 million to $5 billion did not happen overnight; it required years of dedication, adapting to market changes, and evolving the product line without losing the brand’s authenticity. Coach’s transformation also emphasizes the value of storytelling in brand building. Lew’s choice to call himself “the bag man” connects directly with the company’s core product and identity, reinforcing the personal and emotional attachment people have with quality goods. For those interested in brand evolution, entrepreneurship, or luxury fashion, Lew Frankfort’s memoir provides invaluable insights not just into business growth but also into the mindset and leadership qualities necessary to sustain success in a competitive market. His story encourages aspiring leaders to embrace both creative passion and logical discipline as they build their own paths. This episode and the memoir 'Bagman' are essential listening for anyone looking to understand how legendary brands are built from the ground up through purposeful vision and persistent effort.

Related posts

What makes a great leader? Lew, Long time CEO of Coach, weighs in In this episode of question everything, Coach’s longtime CEO Lew Frankfort joins me to share the lifetime of lessons he documents in his new memoir Bagman. Lew breaks down why an outsider’s perspective can be an advantage, how “mag
Danielle Robay

Danielle Robay

1 like

A person in blue shorts and a sports bra holds a dumbbell, with various food items like meat, eggs, peas, shrimp, yogurt, and tofu floating around them. The text overlay reads 'Foods For Glute Growth What to Eat for Muscle Growth & Recovery'.
A chart titled 'PROTEIN SOURCES CHART' displays various foods like chicken breast, eggs, cottage cheese, salmon, lentils, tofu, shrimp, and bison, along with their protein content per 100g.
An infographic titled 'Top 5 Foods for Recovery' features images and descriptions of chocolate milk, tart cherry juice, peanut butter and banana sandwich, yogurt and granola, and a fruit smoothie.
Foods & Drinks I eat to Grow BIG & Strong GLUTES🍑
Muscle-building foods I use to fuel my fitness goals, along with some meal ideas I often to incorporate into my diet: 🥚Eggs: ✅Breakfast: Veggie omelette with eggs, spinach, onion, chicken sausage, and tomatoes. ✅Lunch: Egg salad sandwich on whole grain bread. ✅Dinner: Quiche with eggs, cheese
Chalie_Baker

Chalie_Baker

3549 likes

what's in my lewkin bag
hiii! first post on here:) gonna post cute things that i like<3 #gettoknowme #HelloLemon8 #whatsinmybag #lewkin #psvita
j ꩜⋆.°⭑

j ꩜⋆.°⭑

3583 likes

Crazy Discard Books
So long story short I work at my college library and currently we are going through our collection of books 📚 and getting rid of any books that are out of date, false information, and have not been checked out in a long time. Let me tell you some of the books I have come across…… were interesting t
BLJequine

BLJequine

2 likes

Why did I take such a long break from art?
For years now I’ve been so focused on finding “my art style” and being original that I lost sight of how lovely it is to paint something that simply makes you happy. I found a photo on Pinterest and felt inspired to recreate it. I’m very happy with how it came out! I love this medium, it rem
Michaela ʕʘ‿ʘʔ

Michaela ʕʘ‿ʘʔ

3124 likes

A couple is hugging in the water with mountains in the background. Text overlay reads "I'm Glad We Waited So Long To Date heres why...".
A close-up of a person's face with a text box explaining how the couple met, their 7-month talking stage, and their current 10-month relationship.
A couple is partially visible with a text box explaining that waiting allowed them to discuss faith, family, and beliefs, reducing pressure in their new relationship.
Why I'm Glad We Waited So Long To Date
My boyfriend and I were talking for around 7 months before we became official. In fact, I had no interest in him at first😂 but now he's the love of my life and I couldn't picture life without him. 🩷 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #love #dating #boyfriendandgirlfriend #rel
Kinsadie

Kinsadie

10 likes

A person wearing a green face mask, with text overlay indicating stress from an unexpected move and a list of self-support strategies.
A close-up of a teacup with a tea bag steeping, illustrating the strategy of prioritizing nervous system regulation.
Raw bone marrow pieces on a light surface, representing the strategy of supporting gut health by prioritizing quality protein and fermented foods.
WE FOUND MOLD!
Yup. We found mold… A few days ago we were cleaning up our closet to figure out why there was a lingering damp smell and low and behold, behind a dresser we found a wall that had been severely damaged by water and had rotted out the base boards and dry wall. Immediately I started to spiral.
Tiana

Tiana

3 likes

Why I Smile More (And Got Braces) Storytime 🍋🤍
From as long as I can remember I’ve always been insecure about my smile. My teeth have been crooked since I could remember and I my insecurities were constantly pointed out by those who were supposed to be lifting me up and building my confidence. My mother would tell me to not smile with my tee
Deja Emani

Deja Emani

140 likes

A title slide with the text "A WEEK IN MY LIFE UNEMPLOYED EDITION SWIPE" in white, overlaid on a blurred background of meal-prepped food containers. The Lemon8 logo and username @leenvisions are at the bottom left.
A person is meal prepping various dishes, including rice, beans, and what appears to be tuna salad, into glass containers. The caption explains they are focused on healthy eating during this new season of life.
A scenic view of a park with a calm lake reflecting the sky and trees. Green grass is in the foreground. The caption states they walk at this beautiful park each morning at 7 am.
What my 1st week of not having a job looked like 😅
If you’ve been following me, you know I made the decision to quit my job. No lie, I have no regrets with that decision and I’m loving every bit of the freedom that I have. This week has been one of the most productive weeks I’ve had in such a long time. I’m completely grateful for the r
LeAndra’s Diary

LeAndra’s Diary

15 likes

A couple kisses outdoors with the ocean in the background. The woman wears a white top and an engagement ring. Text overlay reads, "Why we waited seven years to get engaged," with a heart outline.
Why we waited so long to get married 💍🤍
So many people are shocked when I tell them how long my fiancé and I have been together (7 years) and then again when I tell them how long our engagement is (almost 2 years). Some of the reasons for our longer timeline: 🤍 We started dating at 17 and 18 years old, even looking back now we were
Jenae | MS3 + Romance Writer

Jenae | MS3 + Romance Writer

7 likes

Been doing this way too long 🫣
Also, you can immediately block me if you’re intimidated by Taylor Swift 🫶🏻 #12grapes #latina #grapesunderthetable #newyears
Al 🫶🏻 PCOS LIFESTYLE

Al 🫶🏻 PCOS LIFESTYLE

0 likes

A joyful person in a light-colored strapless dress and glasses stands in a sunny park, with the text "Reasons why I follow everyone..." overlaid, introducing the article's theme.
A hand gently holds a cluster of small white flowers against a light background, accompanied by the text "God said to love everyone!!", reflecting a reason for following others.
A view through a window shows a soft, cloudy sky and tree silhouettes, with the text "I love to help people and be someone you can talk to." overlaid.
Why I follow everyone back!!
I follow everyone that follows me and here's why.... #followappreciation #followsback #followforinspiration #follow for follow #follows #Lemon8 #Lemon8Diary #lemon8creator #lemon8community
Kerry-Ann

Kerry-Ann

574 likes

Why fitness is a life long journey
I hear all the time of people going into their fitness journey just to lose the weight vs looking at the whole picture👇 Yes losing weight is amazing but take a deeper look into what you’re accomplishing! You’re bettering your overall health!🔥 - You’re helping relieve the stress, anxiety a
Relentless Soul Fitness

Relentless Soul Fitness

7 likes

LEWKIN TRYON HAUL💋
Agh i wish i had more lewkin clothes i love their brand and fashion ! i just wish they’d expand their sizes and shade ranges 😭 #lewkin #clothinghaul🛍️ #clotheshaul #haul #letschat ps lewkin sponsor me 😣🙏 lemme know if yall want more hails but more stuff ! money be tight lol so sorry su
aba 🌠

aba 🌠

11 likes

CMC vs Ray Lew
#viral #fyp #veezytv
VeezyTV

VeezyTV

35 likes

Lewkin Fit~1 ✨Link in bio✨
Last year I found LEWKIN They have everything: K-Beauty cosmetics-💋 Both Women and Men Fashion-🛍️ Accessories and tons more-💍 💻-LEWKIN👀.com #fitcheck #fashion @Lemon8 Fashion
𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚🧋

𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚🧋

0 likes

K-Beauty Faves from Lewkin
K-Beauty authentic directly from Seoul by Lewkin.com #kbeautyglow #kbeautyroutine #kbeautyfaves
Maria Villa

Maria Villa

0 likes

🫧LewKin Finds✨ (Korean brand)
💌 Brand:Lewkin 💵 Price: expensive 15-30📝Fashion Style:vintage coquette🪷👍Why I like it: it’s very stylish ⭐️Overall rating: /10:100Additional Tips: probably could make the clothes cheaper and it would be a affordable brand that could have potential to attract more customers.🐚 #kstylefashion #fashi
Mina🪷 수미나

Mina🪷 수미나

2 likes

A woman in a yellow polka-dot shirt gently touches green leaves in a natural setting. Overlayed text reads "EMBRACING ALIGNMENT OVER BALANCE," with "Brianna Lavae, HOLISTIC BUSINESS + MINDSET COACH" and a "SAVE FOR LATER" banner at the top, promoting the article's theme.
Why Alignment Beats Balance Every Time
We’ve all heard the advice: “You just need to find balance.” But let’s be honest—balance can feel impossible. When you’re juggling a business, relationships, personal goals, and a to-do list that never ends, trying to give everything equal energy feels like setting yourself up to fail. Here’
Brianna Lavae - Business Coach

Brianna Lavae - Business Coach

4 likes

Why I Stopped Trading Time for Money
I used to think working more hours was the only way to give my family the life they deserved. But over time, I realized the more I worked, the more I missed out on what really mattered—them. It hit me: I was trading time I couldn’t get back for money that was never enough. That’s when I knew
entrepreneurialgigi

entrepreneurialgigi

0 likes

WE LOVE A GOOD EYESHADOW LEWK🤭
P R O D U C T L I S T💅🏾 Nivea Soft moisturizing cream Juvia’s Place I Am Magic Radiant Foundation: (Guinea) Ruby Kisses Eyebrow styling pencil Juvia’s Place concealer in #13 Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blush in Promenade Laura Mercier Translucent setting powder (honey) Sephora Micr
✨A L I Y Y A H✨

✨A L I Y Y A H✨

554 likes

Why I use four Bibles all the time
The more curious you are the more you are hungry to learn. Bob Goff said something like that on the Saddie Robertson podcast and it’s has been on my heart and mind for the past year of how true that is. My Church Bible is all my joys, my sufferings, things about my child who lives in Heaven, he
PinkLemonade

PinkLemonade

419 likes

why we broke up
#exbf #brokeupwithbf #breakingup
Lyla Marie

Lyla Marie

31 likes

Long distance ( what they don’t tell you )
not all breakups start with yelling. sometimes, it’s the silence that ruins everything. flamme gave us a way back. #ldr #relationshipadvice #longdistancerelationship #love #fyp
flamme.lovers

flamme.lovers

0 likes

See more